The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

94 HELL. Canto XXV. Above his shoulders, perched upon his neck With open wings outstretcht a dragon lay, That kindles every one that nears its track. " This one is Cacus," did my master say, *^ " Who 'neath Mount Aventine his rocky lair With blood has very often made a bay. He does not wander with his brethren there, Because the theft was fraudulent which he made Of that great herd of cattle which was near. ^^ On^which his squinting deeds at once were stayed Beneath the club of Hercules, the last Nine-tenths he felt not of the blows on-laid." Whilst thus he spake to me the centaur past. And then beneath our bank three spirits drew. On whom my chief and I no heed had cast. Until they cried out to us, " Who are you ?" On which our conversation we arrest, And then on these we wholly turn our view. I did not know them, but the one addresst Another, as would happen in the case When one would name a comrade 'mid the rest, Eemarking, " Cianfa, dost thou bide a space?" On which to make my leader stand intent I on my chin and lip my finger place. If now, reader, thou shouldst scarce be bent To trust my speech no marvel it will be. Since I who saw it scarcely can consent. As on them I kept fixed my eyes to see. Behold a serpent with six feet forth launch In front of one and seize him suddenly. With its middle feet he closely gript his paunch. And with its upper ones his arms it caught, Then biting both its cheeks its teeth did crunch. Its hinder feet around his thighs he raught. And through between them both it thrust its tail. Which back around his loins it twining brought. Ivy close rooted never did assail A tree so closely as the beast did ring Around the other's limbs its writhing mail.

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Line 25. Dante has taken upon himself to make Cacns a oentaor. In old mythology he was merely a robber whom Hercnles destroyed for stealing his herd of cattle. See Virgil, ^n., Lib. VIII. 193. .Line 43. Cianfa and the other spirits named afterwards are known merely as Florentines of good family. Cianfa had suddenly changed into a six-footed serpent, who appears immediately on the scene, and had thus disappeared to his oompanions.

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Cabto XXV. HELL. 95 Then as if made of molten wax they cling Together, and together mix their hues, And either seemed no more the previous thing. As placed before the flame there doth transfuse O'er the papyrus a duU brownish shade, Not black yet, though its whiteness it doth lose. The other two looked on and cried dismayed, " Ah, Agnolo, how thou dost change and swoon !

Behold, nor two nor one thou now art made.** Already the two heads had merged in one, In which there then appeared in mingled mien Two fiices in one feico where both were gone. Grew the two arms into four stripes, I ween. The thighs and legs, the belly and the chest, Changed into limbs that never yet were seen. All primal aspect there was wholly chased ; Two and not one appeared that shape unmeet, And such slow crawling from the scene it paced.

Just as a lizard 'neath the scourging heat Of dog-days, when it shifts its hedgy bourne. Appears like lightning crossing o'er the street ; So seemed as towards the bellies crept in turn Of the other pair a serpent all ablaze. Livid and sable like a peppercorn. The navel, whence throughout prssnatal days Man draweth nourishment, to one it broke. Then fell beneath him, stretcht at length to gaze. The pierced one looked at it but nothing spoke.

He only gaped erect upon his feet, As smit by sudden sleep or fever stroke. The serpent gazed on him and he on it ; One through the wound, the other from its mouth, Emitted vapour which betwixt did meet. Henceforth be silent, Lucan, when he showeth The sad Sabellus' and Nasidius' fate. And hear what now my song in haste avoweth. Of Arethusa let not Ovid prate. Nor Cadmus, changed to serpent and to fount, I envy not the tale he doth relate.

For two whole natures never, front to front. Were so transmuted that each figure donned The other's, changing from its former wont. Line 68. Agnolo BmnelleBohi according to the earliest commentators. Line 95. Lncan's " Fharsalia," Book II., where he describes the fate of the two soldiers, Sabellus and Nasidius, bitten by serpents. Line 97. Ovid's " Metam.;* Books IV. and V.