Conversing still from bridge to bridge[575] we went; But what our words I in my Comedy Care not to tell. The top of the ascent Holding, we halted the next pit to spy Of Malebolge, with plaints bootless all: There, darkness[576] full of wonder met the eye. As the Venetians[577] in their Arsenal Boil the tenacious pitch at winter-tide, To caulk the ships with for repairs that call; For then they cannot sail; and so, instead, 10 One builds his bark afresh, one stops with tow His vessel's ribs, by many a voyage tried; One hammers at the poop, one at the prow; Some fashion oars, and others cables twine, And others at the jib and main sails sew: So, not by fire, but by an art Divine, Pitch of thick substance boiled in that low Hell, And all the banks did as with plaster line. I saw it, but distinguished nothing well Except the bubbles by the boiling raised, 20 Now swelling up and ceasing now to swell. While down upon it fixedly I gazed, 'Beware, beware!' my Leader to me said, And drew me thence close to him. I, amazed, Turned sharply round, like him who has delayed, Fain to behold the thing he ought to flee, Then, losing nerve, grows suddenly afraid, Nor lingers longer what there is to see; For a black devil I beheld advance Over the cliff behind us rapidly. 30 Ah me, how fierce was he of countenance! What bitterness he in his gesture put, As with spread wings he o'er the ground did dance! Upon his shoulders, prominent and acute, Was perched a sinner[578] fast by either hip; And him he held by tendon of the foot. He from our bridge: 'Ho, Malebranche![579] Grip An Elder brought from Santa Zita's town:[580] Stuff him below; myself once more I slip Back to the place where lack of such is none. 40 There, save Bonturo, barrates[581] every man, And No grows Yes that money may be won.' He shot him down, and o'er the cliff began To run; nor unchained mastiff o'er the ground, Chasing a robber, swifter ever ran. The other sank, then rose with back bent round; But from beneath the bridge the devils cried: 'Not here the Sacred Countenance[582] is found, One swims not here as on the Serchio's[583] tide; So if thou wouldst not with our grapplers deal 50 Do not on surface of the pitch abide.' Then he a hundred hooks[584] was made to feel. 'Best dance down there,' they said the while to him, 'Where, if thou canst, thou on the sly mayst steal.' So scullions by the cooks are set to trim The caldrons and with forks the pieces steep Down in the water, that they may not swim. And the good Master said to me: 'Now creep Behind a rocky splinter for a screen; So from their knowledge thou thyself shalt keep. 60