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Therefore a longer journey did we make；
Turned to the left； and a crossbow…shot oft
We found another far more fierce and large。
In binding him； who might the master be
I cannot say； but he had pinioned close
Behind the right arm； and in front the other；
With chains； that held him so begirt about
From the neck down； that on the part uncovered
It wound itself as far as the fifth gyre。
〃This proud one wished to make experiment
Of his own power against the Supreme Jove；〃
My Leader said； 〃whence he has such a guerdon。
Ephialtes is his name； he showed great prowess。
What time the giants terrified the gods；
The arms he wielded never more he moves。〃
And I to him： 〃If possible； I should wish
That of the measureless Briareus
These eyes of mine might have experience。〃
Whence he replied： 〃Thou shalt behold Antaeus
Close by here； who can speak and is unbound；
Who at the bottom of all crime shall place us。
Much farther yon is he whom thou wouldst see；
And he is bound； and fashioned like to this one；
Save that he seems in aspect more ferocious。〃
There never was an earthquake of such might
That it could shake a tower so violently；
As Ephialtes suddenly shook himself。
Then was I more afraid of death than ever；
For nothing more was needful than the fear；
If I had not beheld the manacles。
Then we proceeded farther in advance；
And to Antaeus came； who； full five ells
Without the head； forth issued from the cavern。
〃O thou； who in the valley fortunate；
Which Scipio the heir of glory made；
When Hannibal turned back with all his hosts；
Once brought'st a thousand lions for thy prey；
And who； hadst thou been at the mighty war
Among thy brothers； some it seems still think
The sons of Earth the victory would have gained：
Place us below； nor be disdainful of it；
There where the cold doth lock Cocytus up。
Make us not go to Tityus nor Typhoeus；
This one can give of that which here is longed for；
Therefore stoop down； and do not curl thy lip。
Still in the world can he restore thy fame；
Because he lives； and still expects long life；
If to itself Grace call him not untimely。〃
So said the Master； and in haste the other
His hands extended and took up my Guide；
Hands whose great pressure Hercules once felt。
Virgilius； when he felt himself embraced；
Said unto me： 〃Draw nigh； that I may take thee；〃
Then of himself and me one bundle made。
As seems the Carisenda； to behold
Beneath the leaning side； when goes a cloud
Above it so that opposite it hangs；
Such did Antaeus seem to me； who stood
Watching to see him stoop； and then it was
I could have wished to go some other way。
But lightly in the abyss； which swallows up
Judas with Lucifer； he put us down；
Nor thus bowed downward made he there delay；
But； as a mast does in a ship； uprose。
Inferno： Canto XXXII
If I had rhymes both rough and stridulous；
As were appropriate to the dismal hole
Down upon which thrust all the other rocks；
I would press out the juice of my conception
More fully； but because I have them not；
Not without fear I bring myself to speak；
For 'tis no enterprise to take in jest；
To sketch the bottom of all the universe；
Nor for a tongue that cries Mamma and Babbo。
But may those Ladies help this verse of mine；
Who helped Amphion in enclosing Thebes；
That from the fact the word be not diverse。
O rabble ill…begotten above all；
Who're in the place to speak of which is hard；
'Twere better ye had here been sheep or goats！
When we were down within the darksome well；
Beneath the giant's feet； but lower far；
And I was scanning still the lofty wall；
I heard it said to me： 〃Look how thou steppest！
Take heed thou do not trample with thy feet
The heads of the tired； miserable brothers！〃
Whereat I turned me round； and saw before me
And underfoot a lake； that from the frost
The semblance had of glass； and not of water。
So thick a veil ne'er made upon its current
In winter…time Danube in Austria；
Nor there beneath the frigid sky the Don；
As there was here； so that if Tambernich
Had fallen upon it； or Pietrapana；
E'en at the edge 'twould not have given a creak。
And as to croak the frog doth place himself
With muzzle out of water；when is dreaming
Of gleaning oftentimes the peasant…girl；
Livid； as far down as where shame appears；
Were the disconsolate shades within the ice；
Setting their teeth unto the note of storks。
Each one his countenance held downward bent；
From mouth the cold； from eyes the doleful heart
Among them witness of itself procures。
When round about me somewhat I had looked；
I downward turned me； and saw two so close；
The hair upon their heads together mingled。
〃Ye who so strain your breasts together； tell me；〃
I said； 〃who are you；〃 and they bent their necks；
And when to me their faces they had lifted；
Their eyes； which first were only moist within；
Gushed o'er the eyelids； and the frost congealed
The tears between； and locked them up again。
Clamp never bound together wood with wood
So strongly； whereat they； like two he…goats；
Butted together； so much wrath o'ercame them。
And one； who had by reason of the cold
Lost both his ears； still with his visage downward；
Said： 〃Why dost thou so mirror thyself in us？
If thou desire to know who these two are；
The valley whence Bisenzio descends
Belonged to them and to their father Albert。
They from one body came； and all Caina
Thou shalt search through； and shalt not find a shade
More worthy to be fixed in gelatine；
Not he in whom were broken breast and shadow
At one and the same blow by Arthur's hand；
Focaccia not； not he who me encumbers
So with his head I see no farther forward；
And bore the name of Sassol Mascheroni；
Well knowest thou who he was； if thou art Tuscan。
And that thou put me not to further speech；
Know that I Camicion de' Pazzi was；
And wait Carlino to exonerate me。〃
Then I beheld a thousand faces； made
Purple with cold； whence o'er me comes a shudder；
And evermore will come； at frozen ponds。
And while we were advancing tow'rds the middle；
Where everything of weight unites together；
And I was shivering in the eternal shade；
Whether 'twere will； or destiny； or chance；
I know not； but in walking 'mong the heads
I struck my foot hard in the face of one。
Weeping he growled： 〃Why dost thou trample me？
Unless thou comest to increase the vengeance
of Montaperti； why dost thou molest me？〃
And I： 〃My Master； now wait here for me；
That I through him may issue from a doubt；
Then thou mayst hurry me； as thou shalt wish。〃
The Leader stopped； and to that one I said
Who was blaspheming vehemently still：
〃Who art thou； that thus reprehendest others？〃
〃Now who art thou； that goest through Antenora
Smiting；〃 replied he； 〃other people's cheeks；
So that； if thou wert living； 'twere too much？〃
〃Living I am； and dear to thee it may be；〃
Was my response； 〃if thou demandest fame；
That 'mid the other notes thy