Inferno: Canto XXII
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Dante Alighieri and Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth
The Navarrese selected well his time; Planted his feet on land, and in a moment Leaped, and released himself from their design.
Whereat each one was suddenly stung with shame, But he most who was cause of the defeat; Therefore he moved, and cried: “Thou art o’ertakern.”
But little it availed, for wings could not Outstrip the fear; the other one went under, And, flying, upward he his breast directed;
Not otherwise the duck upon a sudden Dives under, when the falcon is approaching, And upward he returneth cross and weary.
Infuriate at the mockery, Calcabrina Flying behind him followed close, desirous The other should escape, to have a quarrel.
And when the barrator had disappeared, He turned his talons upon his companion, And grappled with him right above the moat.
But sooth the other was a doughty sparhawk To clapperclaw him well; and both of them Fell in the middle of the boiling pond.
A sudden intercessor was the heat; But ne’ertheless of rising there was naught, To such degree they had their wings belimed.
Lamenting with the others, Barbariccia Made four of them fly to the other side With all their gaffs, and very speedily
This side and that they to their posts descended; They stretched their hooks towards the pitch-ensnared, Who were already baked within the crust,
And in this manner busied did we leave them.