Still moving on mine eyes athwart the scene I saw another scrip, blood-red, display A goose more white than butter could have been. And one, on whose white wallet blazoned lay A pregnant sow[507] in azure, to me said: 'What dost thou in this pit? Do thou straightway Begone; and, seeing thou art not yet dead, Know that Vitalian,[508] neighbour once of mine, Shall on my left flank one day find his bed. A Paduan I: all these are Florentine; 70 And oft they stun me, bellowing in my ear: "Come, Pink of Chivalry,[509] for whom we pine, Whose is the purse on which three beaks appear:"' Then he from mouth awry his tongue thrust out[510] Like ox that licks its nose; and I, in fear Lest more delay should stir in him some doubt Who gave command I should not linger long, Me from those wearied spirits turned about. I found my Guide, who had already sprung Upon the back of that fierce animal: 80 He said to me: 'Now be thou brave and strong. By stairs like this[511] we henceforth down must fall. Mount thou in front, for I between would sit So thee the tail shall harm not nor appal.' Like one so close upon the shivering fit Of quartan ague that his nails grow blue, And seeing shade he trembles every whit, I at the hearing of that order grew; But his threats shamed me, as before the face Of a brave lord his man grows valorous too. 90 On the great shoulders then I took my place, And wished to say, but could not move my tongue As I expected: 'Do thou me embrace!' But he, who other times had helped me 'mong My other perils, when ascent I made Sustained me, and strong arms around me flung, And, 'Geryon, set thee now in motion!' said; 'Wheel widely; let thy downward flight be slow; Think of the novel burden on thee laid.' As from the shore a boat begins to go 100 Backward at first, so now he backward pressed, And when he found that all was clear below, He turned his tail where earlier was his breast; And, stretching it, he moved it like an eel, While with his paws he drew air toward his chest. More terror Phaëthon could hardly feel What time he let the reins abandoned fall, Whence Heaven was fired,[512] as still its tracts reveal; Nor wretched Icarus, on finding all His plumage moulting as the wax grew hot, 110 While, 'The wrong road!' his father loud did call; Than what I felt on finding I was brought Where nothing was but air and emptiness; For save the brute I could distinguish nought. He slowly, slowly swims; to the abyss Wheeling he makes descent, as I surmise From wind felt 'neath my feet and in my face. Already on the right I heard arise From out the caldron a terrific roar,[513] Whereon I stretch my head with down-turned eyes.