CANTO XXII.

I HAVE pardye cavaliers to break

Their camp up, make assault and pass review, And sometimes to retreat for safety's sake;

I've seen, O Aretines, fleet chargers through

Your land, and foragers, and I could tell
Of runners at the tilt and tournays too,
Sometimes by clarion, and sometimes by bell,
By roll of drum, and cresset-flame on tower,

And native and outlandish signs as well;
But never have I seen to start a power

Of horse or foot by such an uncouth blare,
Nor ship by star nor landmark to this hour.
As forward with the fiendly ten we fare-
O dread society! but a man shall go
With sots in tavern, and with saints at prayer —

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All on the slime my view was fixed, to know

The full extent and fashion of the pit
And of the people, that consumed below.
As dolphins, who their arched backs commit
To air, forewarning mariners that they

To bring their ship to port should use their wit,
So would a sinner sometimes, to allay

His torment, show his back above, and then
Snatch it, within a lightning-flash, away.

And as the frogs, in waters of a fen,

Stand by the very verge, with mouths descried, And feet, and thicker parts concealed from ken, So stood the sinners here on every side,

And so, at Barbacrespa's drawing near,
Did all beneath the boilings quickly hide.
I saw, and still I shudder from the fear,

One wight remain, as oftentimes may stand
One frog, the while another getteth clear;
And Mammockhound, who nearest was at hand,

Enforked him by the agglutinated hair,

And like an otter hoisted him on land.

I knew the names of all now, with such care

I noted them at first, when singled out, And called by one another when they were. "O Rubicaunt, wilt thou not set about

To place thy claws upon, and flay him?" So
Cried all at once that ever-damnèd rout.
"O master mine," said I, "find means to know,
If thou art able, who this wretch may be,
Thus fallen upon the mercies of his foe?"
Thereat my guide approached him speedily,
Demanding who he was. "My birthplace lay

Within the kingdom of Navarre," said he:
"My mother placed me in a seignior's pay,

A ribald having got me, who well nigh
Had ruined her of every staff and stay.
Then in the good king Tibault's household I
Held office, and to trucking there applied,
For which I give account in yonder fry."

Hereat Choroides, who on either side

His muzzle showed a tusk, as do the swine,

Made him to feel one, how it scarified.

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That mouse had fallen among such cats malign!
But Barbacresp his arms about him threw,
And cried, "Stand off, whilst I the man entwine;"
And then upon my master turned his view;

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"Ask now," he said, "if thou wouldst have him show Aught else, before the rest shall him undo." "Then tell me, dost among the caitiffs know,"

Said he, "some others of the Latian seed Beneath the pitch?" "I left not long ago," He answered, "one man from a neighboring breed,

So were I once more with him out of sight, For neither hook nor talon would I heed." Then Libicoccus crying, "Too much spite,

We suffer," caught an arm of him between His prongs, and carried off the joint outright; Then Draconay would at his legs have been

For his part, but their captain over ten Turned round about with much misliking mien. When they were somewhat quieted agen,

To him that his own wound was eyeing still My master said without delay, "What then

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Was he from whom thou tookest leave so ill

will

For thy behoof, it seems, to land abroad?"
"The monk Gomita," said he, "twas my
To name, Gallura's regent, of all fraud

Vessel, who had his master's foes fast bound,
And used them so that each his luck may laud.
He took their fees, and left them safe and sound,
So tells he, and in other functions too
He trucked on princely, not on petty ground.
With him consorts Don Michael Zanchi, who

Had Logodore, and their tongues never ache,

The topic of Sardinia to renew.

O see how that one's grinning; I could make

Mention of others, but my fears prevent,

Lest he be coming up my scurf to rake."

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Then their great chief towards Farfarello bent,

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Whose eyes, to strike, like full-moons opened were,

And cried, "Fall back, thou bird malevolent."

"If you have any wish to see or hear,"

Began again the wretch with fearful face,

"Tuscans or Lombards, I will bring them near,