Italian word for “pig, ” or “hog, ” and is also an adjective, “filthy, ” or “of a swinish nature. ”
65-75. Ciacco’s political prophecy reveals the fact that the shades in Hell are able to see the future; they also know the past, but they know nothing of the present (see Canto X, 100-108). The Guelph party, having gained complete control over Florence by defeating the Ghibellines (1289), was divided into factions: the Whites (the “rustic party, ” 65), headed by the Cerchi family; and the Blacks (the “other, ” 66), led by the Donatis. These two groups finally came into direct conflict on May 1, 1300, which resulted in the expulsion of the Blacks from the city (1301). However, they returned in 1302 (“within three suns, ” 68, i. e., within three years), and with the help of Pope Boniface VIII, sent the Whites (including Dante) into exile. Boniface VIII, the “one now listing toward both sides” (69), for a time did not reveal his designs on Florence, but rather steered a wavering course between the two factions, planning to aid the ultimate victor.
For a long time they will keep their heads raised high, holding the others down with crushing weight, no matter how these weep or squirm for shame.
72
Two just men there are, but no one listens, for pride, envy, avarice are the three sparks that kindle in men’s hearts and set them burning. ”
75
With this his mournful words came to an end. But I spoke back: “There’s more I want to know; I beg you to provide me with more facts:
78
Farinata and Tegghiaio, who were so worthy, Jacopo Rusticucci, Arrigo, Mosca, and all the rest so bent on doing good,
81
where are they? Tell me what’s become of them; one great desire tortures me: to know whether they taste Heaven’s sweetness or Hell’s gall. ”
84
“They lie below with blacker souls, ” he said, “by different sins pushed down to different depths; if you keep going you may see them all.
87
But when you are once more in the sweet world I beg you to remind our friends of me. I speak no more; no more I answer you. ”
90
He twisted his straight gaze into a squint and stared a while at me, then bent his head, falling to join his other sightless peers.
93
My guide then said to me: “He’ll wake no more until the day the angel’s trumpet blows, when the unfriendly Judge shall come down here;
96
each soul shall find again his wretched tomb, assume his flesh and take his human shape, and hear his fate resound eternally. ”
99
And so we made our way through the filthy mess of muddy shades and slush, moving slowly, talking a little about the afterlife.
102
I said, “Master, will these torments be increased, or lessened, on the final Judgment Day, or will the pain be just the same as now? ”
105
And he: “Remember your philosophy: the closer a thing comes to its perfection, more keen will be its pleasure or its pain.
108
Although this cursèd race of punished souls shall never know the joy of true perfection, more perfect will their pain be then than now. ”
111
We circled round that curving road while talking of more than I shall mention at this time, and came to where the ledge begins descending;
114
there we found Plutus, mankind’s arch-enemy.
CANTO VII
A
T THE BOUNDARY
of the Fourth Circle the two travelers confront clucking Plutus, the god of wealth, who collapses into emptiness at a word from Virgil. Descending farther, the Pilgrim sees two groups of angry, shouting souls who clash huge rolling weights against each other with their chests. They are the Prodigal and the Miserly. Their earthly concern with material goods prompts the Pilgrim to question Virgil about Fortune and her distribution of the worldly goods of men. After Virgil’s explanation, they descend to the banks of the swamplike river Styx, which serves as the Fifth Circle. Mired in the bog are the Wrathful, who constantly tear and mangle each other. Beneath the slime of the Styx, Virgil explains, are the Slothful; the
65-75. Ciacco’s political prophecy reveals the fact that the shades in Hell are able to see the future; they also know the past, but they know nothing of the present (see Canto X, 100-108). The Guelph party, having gained complete control over Florence by defeating the Ghibellines (1289), was divided into factions: the Whites (the “rustic party, ” 65), headed by the Cerchi family; and the Blacks (the “other, ” 66), led by the Donatis. These two groups finally came into direct conflict on May 1, 1300, which resulted in the expulsion of the Blacks from the city (1301). However, they returned in 1302 (“within three suns, ” 68, i. e., within three years), and with the help of Pope Boniface VIII, sent the Whites (including Dante) into exile. Boniface VIII, the “one now listing toward both sides” (69), for a time did not reveal his designs on Florence, but rather steered a wavering course between the two factions, planning to aid the ultimate victor.
For a long time they will keep their heads raised high, holding the others down with crushing weight, no matter how these weep or squirm for shame.
72
Two just men there are, but no one listens, for pride, envy, avarice are the three sparks that kindle in men’s hearts and set them burning. ”
75
With this his mournful words came to an end. But I spoke back: “There’s more I want to know; I beg you to provide me with more facts:
78
Farinata and Tegghiaio, who were so worthy, Jacopo Rusticucci, Arrigo, Mosca, and all the rest so bent on doing good,
81
where are they? Tell me what’s become of them; one great desire tortures me: to know whether they taste Heaven’s sweetness or Hell’s gall. ”
84
“They lie below with blacker souls, ” he said, “by different sins pushed down to different depths; if you keep going you may see them all.
87
But when you are once more in the sweet world I beg you to remind our friends of me. I speak no more; no more I answer you. ”
90
He twisted his straight gaze into a squint and stared a while at me, then bent his head, falling to join his other sightless peers.
93
My guide then said to me: “He’ll wake no more until the day the angel’s trumpet blows, when the unfriendly Judge shall come down here;
96
each soul shall find again his wretched tomb, assume his flesh and take his human shape, and hear his fate resound eternally. ”
99
And so we made our way through the filthy mess of muddy shades and slush, moving slowly, talking a little about the afterlife.
102
I said, “Master, will these torments be increased, or lessened, on the final Judgment Day, or will the pain be just the same as now? ”
105
And he: “Remember your philosophy: the closer a thing comes to its perfection, more keen will be its pleasure or its pain.
108
Although this cursèd race of punished souls shall never know the joy of true perfection, more perfect will their pain be then than now. ”
111
We circled round that curving road while talking of more than I shall mention at this time, and came to where the ledge begins descending;
114
there we found Plutus, mankind’s arch-enemy.
CANTO VII
A
T THE BOUNDARY
of the Fourth Circle the two travelers confront clucking Plutus, the god of wealth, who collapses into emptiness at a word from Virgil. Descending farther, the Pilgrim sees two groups of angry, shouting souls who clash huge rolling weights against each other with their chests. They are the Prodigal and the Miserly. Their earthly concern with material goods prompts the Pilgrim to question Virgil about Fortune and her distribution of the worldly goods of men. After Virgil’s explanation, they descend to the banks of the swamplike river Styx, which serves as the Fifth Circle. Mired in the bog are the Wrathful, who constantly tear and mangle each other. Beneath the slime of the Styx, Virgil explains, are the Slothful; the
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