Читать книгу The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso (3 Classic Unabridged Translations in one eBook: Cary's + Longfellow's + Norton's Translation + Original Illustrations by Gustave Doré) - Dante Alighieri - Страница 28

E'en thus the cook bestirs him, with his grooms,

To thrust the flesh into the caldron down

With flesh-hooks, that it float not on the top.

Me then my guide bespake: "Lest they descry,

That thou art here, behind a craggy rock

Bend low and screen thee; and whate'er of force

Be offer'd me, or insult, fear thou not:

For I am well advis'd, who have been erst

In the like fray." Beyond the bridge's head

Therewith he pass'd, and reaching the sixth pier,

Behov'd him then a forehead terror-proof.

With storm and fury, as when dogs rush forth

Upon the poor man's back, who suddenly

From whence he standeth makes his suit; so rush'd

Those from beneath the arch, and against him

Their weapons all they pointed. He aloud:

"Be none of you outrageous: ere your time

Dare seize me, come forth from amongst you one,

"Who having heard my words, decide he then

If he shall tear these limbs." They shouted loud,

"Go, Malacoda!" Whereat one advanc'd,

The others standing firm, and as he came,

"What may this turn avail him?" he exclaim'd.

"Believ'st thou, Malacoda! I had come

Thus far from all your skirmishing secure,"

My teacher answered, "without will divine

And destiny propitious? Pass we then

For so Heaven's pleasure is, that I should lead

Another through this savage wilderness."

Forthwith so fell his pride, that he let drop

The instrument of torture at his feet,

And to the rest exclaim'd: "We have no power

To strike him." Then to me my guide: "O thou!

Who on the bridge among the crags dost sit

Low crouching, safely now to me return."

I rose, and towards him moved with speed: the fiends

Meantime all forward drew: me terror seiz'd

Lest they should break the compact they had made.

Thus issuing from Caprona, once I saw

Th' infantry dreading, lest his covenant

The foe should break; so close he hemm'd them round.

I to my leader's side adher'd, mine eyes

With fixt and motionless observance bent

On their unkindly visage. They their hooks

Protruding, one the other thus bespake:

"Wilt thou I touch him on the hip?" To whom

Was answer'd: "Even so; nor miss thy aim."

But he, who was in conf'rence with my guide,

Turn'd rapid round, and thus the demon spake:

"Stay, stay thee, Scarmiglione!" Then to us

He added: "Further footing to your step

This rock affords not, shiver'd to the base

Of the sixth arch. But would you still proceed,

Up by this cavern go: not distant far,

Another rock will yield you passage safe.

Yesterday, later by five hours than now,

Twelve hundred threescore years and six had fill'd

The circuit of their course, since here the way

Was broken. Thitherward I straight dispatch

Certain of these my scouts, who shall espy

If any on the surface bask. With them

Go ye: for ye shall find them nothing fell.

Come Alichino forth," with that he cried,

"And Calcabrina, and Cagnazzo thou!

The troop of ten let Barbariccia lead.

With Libicocco Draghinazzo haste,

Fang'd Ciriatto, Grafflacane fierce,

And Farfarello, and mad Rubicant.

Search ye around the bubbling tar. For these,

In safety lead them, where the other crag

Uninterrupted traverses the dens."

I then: "O master! what a sight is there!

Ah! without escort, journey we alone,

Which, if thou know the way, I covet not.

Unless thy prudence fail thee, dost not mark

How they do gnarl upon us, and their scowl

Threatens us present tortures?" He replied:

"I charge thee fear not: let them, as they will,

Gnarl on: 't is but in token of their spite

Against the souls, who mourn in torment steep'd."

To leftward o'er the pier they turn'd; but each

Had first between his teeth prest close the tongue,

Toward their leader for a signal looking,

Which he with sound obscene triumphant gave.