INFERNO.

CANTO XXV.

ARGUMENT.

THE blasphemy of Fucci: he is seized by serpents; and, endeavouring to escape, is pursued by Cacus in the form of a Centaur, who is described with a swarm of serpents on his haunch, and a dragon on his shoulders, breathing forth fire. Our Poet then meets with the spirits of three of his countrymen, two of whom undergo a most marvellous transformation in his presence.

INFERNO.

CANTO XXV.

His speech thus closed, the thief insultingly
Pointed his hands in scornful gesture vile,

Exclaiming: "Take them, God, they are for thee."

I from that instant was the serpent's friend;
For one about his throat enwreath'd its coil,
As though it said: "No more shalt thou offend."
Another clasp'd his arms; and with a chain

Of many a fold so tightly bound them down,
That all attempt to move them was in vain.
Pistoia! ah Pistoia! why forbear

To bow thee in the dust, since thou art grown
More rife in crime than e'en thy fathers were?

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No soul throughout the murky rounds of hell

Tow'rds God beheld I manifest such pride;
Not he, from Thebes' high battlements who fell.
He fled--nor spoke again :-then did I see

A Centaur coming, full of rage, who cried:
"This impious, foul blasphemer--where is he?"
More snakes were hissing on his turgid hip
Than in Maremma's marsh may be survey'd,
E'en reaching upwards to his very lip.
Behind the neck, upon his shoulder, lay

A dragon fierce, with ample wings outspread, Breathing forth fire on all who cross'd his way. "Cacus is this," my faithful master said,

Who in the cave of Aventine erewhile

A lake of blood full many times hath made. Not with his brethren doth he onward hie,

Robber accurst,-since he with secret guile Drove off the mighty herd which pastured nigh. But ceased his deeds of evil, when were dealt

A hundred blows by the Herculean mace; Though scarcely ten perhaps the robber felt." While thus he spake, the Centaur fled;—and lo! Three souls beneath us came at rapid pace, Whom neither I nor Virgil saw till now;

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