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    "endpoint": "/api/sources/divine-comedy/inferno/canto-21.json"
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  "work": {
    "slug": "inferno",
    "name": "Inferno"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "divine-comedy",
      "name": "Divine Comedy",
      "url": "/sources/divine-comedy/"
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  "chapter": {
    "num": 21,
    "slug": "canto-21",
    "title": "Inferno · Canto 21",
    "of": 34,
    "words": 1264,
    "text": "## Inferno Canto 21\n\n\nCanto XXI\n\nArgument\n\nStill in the eighth circle, which bears the name of Malebolge, they look\ndown from the bridge that passes over its fifth gulf, upon the barterers or\npublic peculators. These are plunged in a lake of boiling pitch, and guarded\nby Demons, to whom Virgil, leaving Dante apart, presents himself; and license\nbeing obtained to pass onward, both pursue their way.\n\nThus we from bridge to bridge, with other talk,\nThe which my drama cares not to rehearse,\nPass'd on; and to the summit reaching, stood\nTo view another gap, within the round\nOf Malebolge, other bootless pangs.\n\nMarvellous darkness shadow'd o'er the place.\n\nIn the Venetians' arsenal as boils\nThrough wintry months tenacious pitch, to smear\nTheir unsound vessels; for the inclement time\nSeafaring men restrains, and in that while\nHis bark one builds anew, another stops\nThe ribs of his that hath made many a voyage,\nOne hammers at the prow, one at the poop,\nThis shapeth oars, that other cables twirls,\nThe mizzen one repairs, and main - sail rent;\nSo, not by force of fire but art divine,\nBoil'd here a glutinous thick mass, that round\nLimed all the shore beneath. I that beheld,\nBut therein naught distinguish'd, save the bubbles\nRaised by the boiling, and one mighty swell\nHeave, and by turns subsiding fall. While there\nI fix'd my ken below, \"Mark! mark!\" my guide\nExclaiming, drew me toward him from the place\nWherein I stood. I turn'd myself, as one\nImpatient to behold that which beheld\nHe needs must shun, whom sudden fear unmans,\nThat he his flight delays not for the view.\nBehind me I discern'd a devil black,\nThat running up advanced along the rock.\nAh! what fierce cruelty his look bespake.\nIn act how bitter did he seem, with wings\nBuoyant outstretch'd and feet of nimblest tread.\nHis shoulder, proudly eminent and sharp,\nWas with a sinner charged; by either haunch\nHe held him, the foot's sinew griping fast.\n\n\"Ye of our bridge!\" he cried. \"keen - talon'd fiends!\nLo! one of Santa Zita's elders. Him\nWhelm ye beneath, while I return for more.\nThat land hath store of such. All men are there,\nExcept Bonturo, barterers: of 'no'\nFor lucre there an 'ay' is quickly made.\"\n\nHim dashing down, o'er the rough rock he turn'd;\nNor ever after thief a mastiff loosed\nSped with like eager haste. That other sank,\nAnd forthwith writing to the surface rose.\nBut those dark demons, shrouded by the bridge,\nCried, \"Here the hallow'd visage saves not: here\nIs other swimming than in Serchio's wave,\nWherefore, if thou desire we rend thee not,\nTake heed thou mount not o'er the pitch.\" This said,\nThey grappled him with more than hundred hooks,\nAnd shouted: \"Cover'd thou must sport thee here;\nSo, if thou canst, in secret mayst thou filch.\"\nE'en thus the cook bestirs him, with his grooms,\nTo thrust the flesh into the caldron down\nWith flesh - hooks, that it float not on the top.\n\nMe then my guide bespake: \"Lest they descry\nThat thou art here, behind a craggy rock\nBend low and screen thee: and whate'er of force\nBe offer'd me, or insult, fear thou not;\nFor I am well advised, who have been erst\nIn the like fray.\" Beyond the bridge's head\nTherewith he pass'd; and reaching the sixth pier,\nBehoved him then a forehead terror - proof.\n\nWith storm and fury, as when dogs rush forth\nUpon the poor man's back, who suddenly\nFrom whence he standeth makes his suit; so rush'd\nThose from beneath the arch, and against him\nTheir weapons all they pointed. He, aloud:\n\"Be none of you outrageous: ere your tine\nDare seize me, come forth from amongst you one,\nWho having heard my words, decide he then\nIf he shall tear these limbs.\" They shouted loud,\n\"Go, Malacoda!\" Whereat one advanced,\nThe others standing firm, and as he came,\n\"What may this turn avail him?\" he exclaim'd.\n\n\"Believest thou, Malacoda! I had come\nThus far from all your skirmishing secure,\"\nMy teacher answer'd, \"without will divine\nAnd destiny propitious? Pass we then;\nFor so Heaven's pleasure is, that I should lead\nAnother through this savage wilderness.\"\n\nForthwith so fell his pride, that he let drop\nThe instrument of torture at his feet,\nAnd to the rest exclaim'd: \"We have no power\nTo strike him.\" Then to me my guide: \"O thou!\nWho on the bridge among the crags dost sit\nLow crouching, safely now to me return.\"\n\nI rose, and toward him moved with speed; the fiends\nMeantime all forward drew: me terror seized,\nLest they should break the compact they had made.\nThus issuing from Caprona,[1] once I saw\nTh' infantry, dreading lest his covenant\nThe foe should break; so close he hemm'd them round.\n\n[1: \"From Caprona.\" The surrender of the castle of Caprona to the\ncombined forces of Florence and Lucca, on condition that the garrison should\nmarch out in safety, to which event Dante was a witness, took place in 1290.\nSee G. Villani, Hist. lib. vii. c. cxxxvi.]\n\nI to my leader's side adhered, mine eyes\nWith fixt and motionless observance bent\nOn their unkindly visage. They their hooks\nProtruding, one the other thus bespake:\n\"Wilt thou I touch him on the hip?\" To whom\nWas answer'd: \"Even so; nor miss thy aim.\"\n\nBut he, who was in conference with my guide,\nTurn'd rapid round; and thus the demon spake:\n\"Stay, stay thee, Scarmiglione!\" Then to us\nHe added: \"Further footing to your step\nThis rock affords not, shiver'd to the base\nOf the sixth arch. But would ye still proceed,\nUp by this cavern go: not distant far,\nAnother rock will yield you passage safe.\n\nYesterday,[2] later by five hours than now,\nTwelve hundred threescore years and six had fill'd\nThe circuit of their course, since here the way\nWas broken. Thitherward I straight despatch\nCertain of these my scouts, who shall espy\nIf any on the surface bask. With them\nGo ye: for ye shall find them nothing fell.\nCome, Alichino, forth,\" with that he cried,\n\"And Calcabrina, and Cagnozzo thou!\nThe troop of ten let Barbariccia lead.\nWith Libicocco, Draghinazzo haste,\nFang'd Ciriatta, Graffiacane fierce,\nAnd Farfarello, and mad Rubicant.\nSearch ye around the bubbling tar. For these,\nIn safety lead them, where the other crag\nUninterrupted traverses the dens.\"\n\n[2: \"Yesterday.\" This passage fixes the era of Dante's descent at\nGood Friday, in the year 1300 (thirty - four years from our blessed Lord's\nincarnation being added to 1266), and at the thirty - fifth year of our Poet's\nage. See Canto i. v. I. The awful event alluded to, the Evangelists inform us,\nhappened \"at the ninth hour,\" that is, our sixth, when \"the rocks were rent,\"\nand the convulsion, according to Dante, was felt even in the depths of Hell.\nSee Canto xii. v. 38.]\n\nI then: \"O master! what a sight is there.\nAh! without escort, journey we alone,\nWhich, if thou know the way, I covet not.\nUnless thy prudence fail thee, dost not mark\nHow they do gnarl upon us, and their scowl\nThreatens us present tortures?\" He replied:\n\"I charge thee, fear not: let them, as they will,\nGnarl on: 'tis but in token of their spite\nAgainst the souls who mourn in torment steep'd.\"\n\nTo leftward o'er the pier they turn'd; but each\nHad first between his teeth prest close the tongue,\nToward their leader for a signal looking,\nWhich he with sound obscene triumphant gave.",
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}