第八圈续，第五沟：贪官污吏。一群黑魔鬼。
　　　
　　 我们从这桥到另外一桥，其余的谈话也不记在我的喜剧里面了；我们向前走，登上第五座桥。我们停留在那里，观看马勒勃尔介的又一沟，和在那里徒劳哭泣的一群人；我觉得这条沟是那么黑暗。
　　　
　　 好像在威尼斯修船厂所见到的一样，在冬天，那里沸腾着沥青，为修理破船之用，那些船已经不能航行了；于是，有的建造一条新船，有的修理已经经过许多次风浪的旧船；有的在船头上找漏洞，有的在船艄上寻裂缝；有的做着桨，有的打着索；有的补帆，有的修造桅竿。这条沟里也是沸腾着浓浓的沥青，而且流淌到两岸，可是这里不用火力，却是神的艺术。我看不见沟里有什么人，只看一个又一个的气泡，澎胀大了以后，忽然又瘪下去。
　　　
　　 当我定神向下看的时候，导游对我说道：“小心！小心！”他把我从站着的地方拉过去。于是我急忙把头悼转往左去看，好像一个人忽然有所恐惧，不停地看见危险的事物，就急忙退却躲避一样；在我的后边，果然跑来一个黑色魔鬼。他的形状是那么可怕呀！他的举动那么粗暴，两翼张开多么广大，两脚是那么轻快呀！他高尖的两肩上，扛着一个罪人的双腿。罪人的臀部垂在他背上，他的手紧紧握住罪人的脚。他从桥上向下面叫喊：“喂！马拉勃朗卡！这里有一个圣齐塔的长老；把他沉到底部，我还要回到那城里去寻找其他人呢。那里每个人都是贪污枉法的，除去邦杜罗；那里可以用金钱把一个‘非’换成一个‘是’呢。”说罢，他把那个罪人扔下沟去，几圈旋转便隐没在岩石的后面而不见了，就是烈犬追贼也没有这样的快。
　　　
　　 那个罪人沉到沟底以后，又漂浮起来，把头露在沥青外面；但是那些藏在桥洞下面的魔鬼一起喊道：“这里没有上帝给你赐福；这里不能像在塞尔丘河一样自由地游泳；所以，除非你愿意尝尝我们的铁耙子，那末你就不要把头面露出。”说罢，他们就用铁耙子打了他几百下，说：“你还是在下面跳舞吧；你要是想偷偷摸摸，也只好遮掩人的耳目。”于是他们用铁耙子把他压到沥青下面，和厨师用筷子把猪肉按到锅底没有什么不同。
　　　
　　 和善的老师对我说：“你暂时躲在岩石那边，以免让别人看见；别人无论如何欺辱我，你都不要害怕；因为我了解这些事情，以前我遇见过了。”于是他一人单独过了桥，到了第六条堤岸，在这里真需要有坚硬的犄角呢。好比一群疯狂的狗，冲向祈求施舍的穷人一样。桥洞下的那些魔鬼，手里举着铁耙子，一拥而上，向他示威；但是他并不慌乱，喊道：“你们不得无理！在你们的叉子触着我以前，请先派一个人来和我谈话，以后任凭你们怎样处理我。”他们一齐叫道：“马拉科达去！”于是其中一个走上前来，其余的都站立不动。走近的那个魔鬼说：“你有什么话要说？”我的老师道：“马拉科达，你以为我经历种种阻碍，居然平安到了这里。并不是神的意志和我的幸运么？让我过去吧，我是奉了天的命令，引导另一个人走这条路的。”于是那傲慢的魔鬼把他的铁耙子放在脚旁，转过身子对别的魔鬼说：“不要打他吧！”
　　　
　　 于是我的导游对我说：“躲在桥上岩石后面的可以出来了，现在到我这里来吧，不要害怕！”我听罢，立即跑上前去；但是那些魔鬼也跟我一齐冲进，因此我恐怕他们不会遵守方才的诺言，象我以前看见过的那些步兵，他们遵照卡波罗纳协定撒走，看见他们四周众多的敌人而害怕了。我急忙把身子贴近我的导游，我的眼睛专注地看着他们一付不怀好意的面孔。他们暂时把耙子放下；他们相互谈话，其中一个说：“我打他的臀部好么？”别的魔鬼一齐答道：“我们看着你打吧！”当时和我的导游说话的那个魔鬼立即回过头去，他喊道：“肃静！请肃静！斯卡密琉！”于是他对我们说：“你们不能从这里一直走下去，因为第六座桥已经断落沉到沟底去了。如果你们还要向前进行，那末就沿着这条堤岸走，稍远些，你们可以发现另外一座桥。昨天，比现在再晚五小时，正是此桥断落的一千二百六十六周年。现在我正要派遣我的人去巡逻，查看是否有犯人把头露出来呼吸空气；那末你们和他们一起走吧，他们不会有恶意的。”
　　　
　　 于是他转身命令他们道：“阿利奇诺和卡尔卡勃利纳跑步过来，还有你，卡尼亚佐；马尔马利洽做这十人的领导。利比科科，德拉埕尼亚佐，长齿的奇利阿托，格拉菲亚卡内，法尔法赖罗和呆子比堪忒都跟着去。巡逻沸腾着的沥青，并且把这两位带领到前面去，那里可以平安地通过兽窟。”
　　　
　　 我说：“嗄！我的老师，我所看见的是一群什么人？假使你认识道路，我们宁可不要护送人；因为我和他们合不来！要是你和以往一样能注意看，你可以看见他们在咬牙切齿，横眉竖眼很神气地向我们示威。”他回答道：“我请你不要害怕，他们在那里咬牙切齿不是对你们而是向着那些被煮的恶人示威呢。”
　　　
　　 我们转身走向左边，在堤岸上走着。但是在迈步之前，他们每个都向他们的领头伸伸舌头，也许这是一种信号；那领导拍拍他的屁股，代替了号角。

　　THUS we from bridge to bridge, with other talk,
　　The which my drama cares not to rehearse,
　　Pass'd on; and to the summit reaching, stood
　　To view another gap, within the round
　　Of Malebolge, other bootless pangs.
　　
　　Marvelous darkness shadow'd o'er the place.
　　
　　In the Venetians' arsenal as boils
　　Through wintry months tenacious pitch, to smear
　　Their unsound vessels; for th' inclement time
　　Sea-faring men restrains, and in that while
　　His bark one builds anew, another stops
　　The ribs of his, that hath made many a voyage;
　　One hammers at the prow, one at the poop;
　　This shapeth oars, that other cables twirls,
　　The mizen one repairs and main-sail rent
　　So not by force of fire but art divine
　　Boil'd here a glutinous thick mass, that round
　　Lim'd all the shore beneath. ?I that beheld,
　　But therein nought distinguish'd, save the surge,
　　Rais'd by the boiling, in one mighty swell
　　Heave, and by turns subsiding and fall. ?While there
　　I fix'd my ken below, "Mark! mark!" my guide
　　Exclaiming, drew me towards him from the place,
　　Wherein I stood. ?I turn'd myself as one,
　　Impatient to behold that which beheld
　　He needs must shun, whom sudden fear unmans,
　　That he his flight delays not for the view.
　　Behind me I discern'd a devil black,
　　That running, up advanc'd along the rock.
　　Ah! what fierce cruelty his look bespake!
　　In act how bitter did he seem, with wings
　　Buoyant outstretch'd and feet of nimblest tread!
　　His shoulder proudly eminent and sharp
　　Was with a sinner charg'd; by either haunch
　　He held him, the foot's sinew griping fast.
　　
　　"Ye of our bridge!" he cried, "keen-talon'd fiends!
　　Lo! one of Santa Zita's elders! Him
　　Whelm ye beneath, while I return for more.
　　That land hath store of such. ?All men are there,
　　Except Bonturo, barterers: of 'no'
　　For lucre there an 'aye' is quickly made."
　　
　　Him dashing down, o'er the rough rock he turn'd,
　　Nor ever after thief a mastiff loos'd
　　Sped with like eager haste. ?That other sank
　　And forthwith writing to the surface rose.
　　But those dark demons, shrouded by the bridge,
　　Cried "Here the hallow'd visage saves not: here
　　Is other swimming than in Serchio's wave.
　　Wherefore if thou desire we rend thee not,
　　Take heed thou mount not o'er the pitch." ?This said,
　　They grappled him with more than hundred hooks,
　　And shouted: "Cover'd thou must sport thee here;
　　So, if thou canst, in secret mayst thou filch."
　　
　　
　　E'en thus the cook bestirs him, with his grooms,
　　To thrust the flesh into the caldron down
　　With flesh-hooks, that it float not on the top.
　　
　　Me then my guide bespake: "Lest they descry,
　　That thou art here, behind a craggy rock
　　Bend low and screen thee; and whate'er of force
　　Be offer'd me, or insult, fear thou not:
　　For I am well advis'd, who have been erst
　　In the like fray." ?Beyond the bridge's head
　　Therewith he pass'd, and reaching the sixth pier,
　　Behov'd him then a forehead terror-proof.
　　
　　With storm and fury, as when dogs rush forth
　　Upon the poor man's back, who suddenly
　　From whence he standeth makes his suit; so rush'd
　　Those from beneath the arch, and against him
　　Their weapons all they pointed. ?He aloud:
　　"Be none of you outrageous: ere your time
　　Dare seize me, come forth from amongst you one,
　　
　　
　　"Who having heard my words, decide he then
　　If he shall tear these limbs." ?They shouted loud,
　　"Go, Malacoda!" ?Whereat one advanc'd,
　　The others standing firm, and as he came,
　　"What may this turn avail him?" he exclaim'd.
　　
　　"Believ'st thou, Malacoda! I had come
　　Thus far from all your skirmishing secure,"
　　My teacher answered, "without will divine
　　And destiny propitious? ?Pass we then
　　For so Heaven's pleasure is, that I should lead
　　Another through this savage wilderness."
　　
　　Forthwith so fell his pride, that he let drop
　　The instrument of torture at his feet,
　　And to the rest exclaim'd: "We have no power
　　To strike him." ?Then to me my guide: "O thou!
　　Who on the bridge among the crags dost sit
　　Low crouching, safely now to me return."
　　
　　I rose, and towards him moved with speed: the fiends
　　Meantime all forward drew: me terror seiz'd
　　Lest they should break the compact they had made.
　　Thus issuing from Caprona, once I saw
　　Th' infantry dreading, lest his covenant
　　The foe should break; so close he hemm'd them round.
　　
　　I to my leader's side adher'd, mine eyes
　　With fixt and motionless observance bent
　　On their unkindly visage. ?They their hooks
　　Protruding, one the other thus bespake:
　　"Wilt thou I touch him on the hip?" ?To whom
　　Was answer'd: "Even so; nor miss thy aim."
　　
　　But he, who was in conf'rence with my guide,
　　Turn'd rapid round, and thus the demon spake:
　　"Stay, stay thee, Scarmiglione!" ?Then to us
　　He added: "Further footing to your step
　　This rock affords not, shiver'd to the base
　　Of the sixth arch. ?But would you still proceed,
　　Up by this cavern go: not distant far,
　　Another rock will yield you passage safe.
　　Yesterday, later by five hours than now,
　　Twelve hundred threescore years and six had fill'd
　　The circuit of their course, since here the way
　　Was broken. ?Thitherward I straight dispatch
　　Certain of these my scouts, who shall espy
　　If any on the surface bask. ?With them
　　Go ye: for ye shall find them nothing fell.
　　Come Alichino forth," with that he cried,
　　"And Calcabrina, and Cagnazzo thou!
　　The troop of ten let Barbariccia lead.
　　With Libicocco Draghinazzo haste,
　　Fang'd Ciriatto, Grafflacane fierce,
　　And Farfarello, and mad Rubicant.
　　Search ye around the bubbling tar. ?For these,
　　In safety lead them, where the other crag
　　Uninterrupted traverses the dens."
　　
　　I then: "O master! what a sight is there!
　　Ah! without escort, journey we alone,
　　Which, if thou know the way, I covet not.
　　Unless thy prudence fail thee, dost not mark
　　How they do gnarl upon us, and their scowl
　　Threatens us present tortures?" ?He replied:
　　"I charge thee fear not: let them, as they will,
　　Gnarl on: 't is but in token of their spite
　　Against the souls, who mourn in torment steep'd."
　　
　　To leftward o'er the pier they turn'd; but each
　　Had first between his teeth prest close the tongue,
　　Toward their leader for a signal looking,
　　Which he with sound obscene triumphant gave.