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Canto Xviii Hell Translation

In hell is called Malebolge a site
Completely made of ferrous color stones  
As almost all the rim around looks quite.

Of the malignant field the middle zones
Are the seat for a well much wide and deep,
Of which I will portray order it owns.

The remaining band is then round and steep
Between the well and the so hard bank tall,
Of which ten valleys just the bottom sweep.

Like, where to guard and defend the walls all
More and more ditches the castles gird then,
The part where are placed gives form to wall,

Such way made there the image of those ten;
And as toward such strongholds from their door
To outer bank there are bridges again,

So from top of the rocks there are stone corps
Put just the banks and ditches down to cut
Until they reach the well which picks them fore.

Here, from back we were brought down on rut
By Geryon, so we found ; and poet thus
Went to the left, me back with no rebut.

Saw new pitiful things at right of  us,
New torment and new wilders of lash,
Of which the first bedlam was full with cuss.

At bottom the sinners were naked as trash;
From middle hither towards us they came,
The same direction, but with stronger dash,

As Romans their large army to acclaim,
The year of jubilee, the drawbridge through
Make people pass then with attentive claim,

So all have their front oriented to
Just the castle and to Saint Peter go,
On the other side to mount their walk do.

Here and there, climbing the dark stone though
I saw horned demons with wips  very big,
Who back stroke them with strength wild and aglow.

Ouch how the souls had to flee and renege 
The first beating! Nobody already
The second expected nor the third dig.

While I was going, my eyes were ready
To recognize one, and I then so told:
“I know this guy, my belief is steady”.

I to see him my feet had to withhold;
And my sweet duke then stopped his walk with me,
And agreed to leave me his way to hold.

And that frustrated thought hidden to be
Moving down his face; but with any hope, 
Since I told: “You whose eyes ground try to see,

If the symbols you carry with truth cope,
Venedico Caccianemico then you are,
But how it happened that you here grope?”

And he : “Reluctantly I give answer;
But I am involved by your speaking clear,
Recalling me old things which happened were.

I brought Ghisolabella to adhere
Willing  the marquis to seduce and try,
For this obscene  yarn now I stay here.

Not only mine is from Bologna cry
In fact of them this place is so much full
That not as many voices  tell and lie

At Savena and Reno “suca” pull;
And if a demonstration wish or need,
Remember then how is our greedy bull”.

While speaking a fiend hit him hard indeed
With his lash, and told: “You must go away 
Pimp! Here no whores you can pay and feed”.

I rejoined my guide after that astray;
Then with few paces in short time we got
There where a rock on bank hindered the way.

Quite rapid we were to surpass this lot;
And turned to right went up to the rock top,
Leaving  eternal circles cozy not.

When we reached the place where it is the drop
Open to admit the lashed souls below
The duke then told: “to see, it’s time to stop,

The face of these more sinners I must show,
Whose visage you did not see even still
Since they came with us together although”.

Of the old bridge we  looked the trace until
We saw people coming on other side,
Similarly chased by the knout with will.

And the good master, by no question tied,
Told : “At that great man you have now to look,
Who seems to pain be indifferent denied:

How regal aspect still here he took!
That one is Jason, who by heart and mind
The muttons to Colcos  could steal and hook.

He went to the Lemnon island to find
The very fierce and ruthless women which
Every male of their to death consigned.

There with deeds and garnished words could bewitch
Isifile deceived, young woman indeed
Who before deceived others with a switch.

Her abandoned there, pregnant, lone mislead;
Such fault then to such a pain has damned him;
And revenge for Medea too was decreed.

With him are those who deceive, people grim;
And this is enough for the valley first
To know and of those who lie in this rim”.

We yet were at narrow of way cursed
Where the second rim is abruptly crossed,
And forms with it an arch open as burst.

Then we heard many people who are lost
In the next circle and with muzzle puff,
Self - beating and with their hands hardly toss.

The banks were encrusted with a mold stuff,
Due to ejection merging from there down,
With which the view and nose fight and rebuff.

The depth is so dark, that only facedown
One has to try to look climbing to top
Of arch, where is allowed seeing around.

Here we came; and then at the trench drop
I saw now people submerged in a ****
Which seemed from humans to be done atop.

And while looking  there with eyes to some meet,
I saw a guy with head so full of crap,
That if cleric or laic he could cheat.

He screemed: “Why are you so avid to trap
With eyes me than any dirty else more?”
And I: “Since if my mind right back can tap,

I yet just saw you with dry hair before,
Alex Interminey from Lucca are:
For this to you I push my eyes then fore”.

And he then, beating his head to answer:
“ By flatteries I was submerged here
So ample in my words I had by far”.

After this my duke “Let now me push near”
He told , “My face a little forward quite
So that the face well to my eyes appear

Of that filthy and dissolute woman might
Who with shitty nails is self -scratching there,
And now she squats or now she stands upright.

She is Thais, the whore who acted unfair
Responding.to hers wanton asking sex
“Yes it is marvelous this lure affair!” 
  
And after this our sight no more expects”

Copyright © Mario De Paz | Year Posted 2014

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