# Inferno Canto 23

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-20 — 1 clipping.*

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> Christianity Index  Divine Comedy Index  Previous: Inferno Canto 22  Next: Inferno Canto 24  
> 
> Canto XXIII
> 
> Argument
> 
>      The enraged Demons pursue Dante, but he is preserved from them by Virgil.
> On reaching the sixth gulf, he beholds the punishment of the hypocrites; which
> is, to pace continually round the gulf under the pressure of caps and hoods,
> that are gilt on the outside, but leaden within. He is addressed by two of
> these, Catalano and Loderingo, Knights of St. Mary, otherwise called Joyous
> Friars of Bologna. Caiaphas is seen fixed to a cross on the ground, and lies
> so stretched along the way, that all tread on him in passing.
> 
> In silence and in solitude we went,
> One first, the other following his steps,
> As minor friars journeying on their road.
> The present fray had turn'd my thoughts to muse
> Upon old Aesop's fable,[1] where he told
> What fate unto the mouse and frog befell;
> For language hath not sounds more like in sense,
> Than are these chances, if the origin
> And end of each be heedfully compared.
> And as one thought bursts from another forth,
> So afterward from that another sprang,
> Which added doubly to my former fear.
> For thus I reason'd: "These through us have been
> So foil'd, with loss and mockery so complete,
> As needs must sting them sore. If anger then
> Be to their evil will conjoin'd, more fell
> They shall pursue us, than the savage hound
> Snatches the leveret panting 'twixt his jaws."
> 
> [1: "Aesop's fable." The fable of the frog, who offered to carry the
> mouse across a ditch, with the intention of drowning him, when both were
> carried off by a kite. It is not among those Greek fables which go under the
> name of Aesop.]
> 
> Already I perceived my hair stand all
> On end with terror, and look'd eager back.
> 
> "Teacher," I thus began, "if speedily
> Thyself and me thou hide not, much I dread
> Those evil talons. Even now behind
> They urge us: quick imagination works
> So forcibly, that I already feel them."
> 
> He answer'd: "Were I form'd of leaded glass,
> I should not sooner draw unto myself
> Thy outward image, than I now imprint
> That from within. This moment came thy thoughts
> Presented before mine, with similar act
> And countenance similar, so that from both
> I one design have framed. If the right coast
> Incline so much, that we may thence descend
> Into the other chasm, we shall escape
> Secure from this imagined pursuit."
> 
> He had not spoke his purpose to the end,
> When I from far beheld them with spread wings
> Approach to take us. Suddenly my guide
> Caught me, even as a mother that from sleep
> Is by the noise aroused, and near her sees
> The climbing fires, who snatches up her babe
> And flies ne'er pausing, careful more of him
> Than of herself, that but a single vest
> Clings round her limbs. Down from the jutting beach
> Supine he cast him to that pendent rock,
> Which closes on one part the other chasm.
> 
> Never ran water with such hurrying pace
> Adown the tube to turn a land - mill's wheel,
> When nearest it approaches to the spokes,
> As then along that edge my master ran,
> Carrying me in his bosom, as a child,
> Not a companion. Scarcely had his feet
> Reach'd to the lowest of the bed beneath,
> When over us the steep they reach'd: but fear
> In him was none; for that high Providence,
> Which placed them ministers of the fifth foss,
> Power of departing thence took from them all.
> 
> There in the depth we saw a painted tribe,
> Who paced with tardy steps around, and wept,
> Faint in appearance and o'ercome with toil.
> 
> Caps had they on, with hoods, that fell low down
> Before their eyes, in fashion like to those
> Worn by the monks in Cologne.[2] Their outside
> Was overlaid with gold, dazzling to view,
> But leaden all within, and of such weight,
> That Frederick's[3] compared to these were straw.
> Oh, everlasting wearisome attire!
> 
> [2: They wore unusually large cowls.]
> 
> [3: The Emperor Frederick II is said to have punished those who were
> guilty of high treason by wrapping them up in lead and casting them into a
> furnace.]
> 
> We yet once more with them together turn'd
> To leftward, on their dismal moan intent.
> But by the weight opprest, so slowly came
> The fainting people, that our company
> Was changed, at every movement of the step.
> 
> Whence I my guide address'd: "See that thou find
> Some spirit, whose name may by his deeds be known;
> And to that end look round thee as thou go'st."
> 
> Then one, who understood the Tuscan voice,
> Cried after us aloud: "Hold in your feet,
> Ye who so swiftly speed through the dusk air.
> Perchance from me thou shalt obtain thy wish."
> 
> Whereat my leader, turning, me bespake:
> "Pause, and then onward at their pace proceed."
> 
> I staid, and saw two spirits in whose look
> Impatient eagerness of mind was mark'd
> To overtake me; but the load they bare
> And narrow path retarded their approach.
> 
> Soon as arrived, they with an eye askance
> Perused me, but spake not: then turning, each
> To other thus conferring said: "This one
> Seems, by the action of his throat, alive;
> And, be they dead, what privilege allows
> They walk unmantled by the cumbrous stole?"
> 
> Then thus to me: "Tuscan, who visitest
> The college of the mourning hypocrites,
> Disdain not to instruct us who thou art."
> 
> "By Arno's pleasant stream," I thus replied,
> "In the great city I was bred and grew,
> And wear the body I have ever worn.
> 
> But who are ye, from whom such mighty grief,
> As now I witness, courseth down your cheeks?
> What torment breaks forth in this bitter woe?"
> 
> "Our bonnets gleaming bright with orange hue,"
> One of them answer'd, "are so leaden gross,
> That with their weight they make the balances
> To crack beneath them. Joyous friars[4] we were,
> Bologna's natives; Catalano I,
> He Loderingo named; and by thy land
> Together taken, as men used to take
> A single and indifferent arbiter,
> To reconcile their strifes. How there we sped,
> Gardingo's vicinage[5] can best declare."
> 
> [4: "Joyous friars." "Those who ruled the city of Florence on the
> part of the Ghibellines perceiving this discontent and murmuring, which they
> were fearful might produce a rebellion against themselves, in order to satisfy
> the people, made choice of two knights, Frati Gaudenti (joyous friars) of
> Bologna, on whom they conferred the chief power in Florence; one named M.
> Catalano de' Malavolti, the other M. Loderingo di Liandolo; one an adherent of
> the Guelf, the other of the Ghibelline party. It is to be remarked, that the
> Joyous Friars were called Knights of St. Mary, and became knights on taking
> that habit: their robes were white, the mantle sable, and the arms a white
> field and red cross with two stars: their office was to defend widows and
> orphans, they were to act as mediators; they had internal regulations, like
> other religious bodies. The above - mentioned M. Loderingo was the founder of
> that order. But it was not long before they too well deserved the appellation
> given them, and were found to be more bent on enjoying themselves than on any
> other object. These two friars were called in by the Florentines, and had a
> residence assigned them in the palace belonging to the people, over against
> the Abbey. Such was the dependence placed on the character of their order, it
> was expected they would be impartial, and would save the commonwealth any
> unnecessary expense; instead of which, though inclined to opposite parties,
> they secretly and hypocritically concurred in promoting their own advantage
> rather than the public good." - G. Villani, b. vii. c. xiii. This happened in
> 1266.]
> 
> [5: The name of that part of the city which was inhabited by the
> powerful Ghibelline family of the Uberti, and destroyed under the partial and
> iniquitous administration of Catalano and Loderingo.]
> 
> "O friars!" I began, "your miseries -"
> But there brake off, for one had caught mine eye,
> Fix'd to a cross with three stakes on the ground:
> He, when he saw me, writhed himself, throughout
> Distorted, ruffling with deep sighs his beard.
> And Catalano, who thereof was 'ware,
> Thus spake: "That pierced spirit,[6] whom intent
> Thou view'st, was he who gave the Pharisees
> Counsel, that it were fitting for one man
> 
> [6: "That pierced spirit." Caiaphas.]
> 
> To suffer for the people. He doth lie
> Transverse; nor any passes, but him first
> Behoves make feeling trial how each weighs.
> In straits like this along the foss are placed
> The father of his consort,[7] and the rest
> Partakers in that council, seed of ill
> And sorrow to the Jews." I noted then,
> How Virgil gazed with wonder upon him,
> Thus abjectly extended on the cross
> In banishment eternal. To the friar
> He next his words address'd: "We pray ye tell,
> If so be lawful, whether on our right
> Lies any opening in the rock, whereby
> We both may issue hence, without constraint
> On the dark angels, that compell'd they come
> To lead us from this depth." He thus replied:
> "Nearer than thou dost hope, there is a rock
> From the great circle moving, which o'ersteps
> Each vale of horror, save that here his cope
> Is shatter'd. By the ruin ye may mount:
> For on the side it slants, and most the height
> Rises below." With head bent down awhile
> My leader stood; then spake: "He warn'd us ill,
> Who yonder hangs the sinners on his hook."
> 
> [7: Annas, father - in - law to Caiaphas.]
> 
> To whom the friar: "At Bologna erst
> I many vices of the Devil heard;
> Among the rest was said, 'He is a liar,
> And the father of lies!'" When he had spoke,
> My leader with large strides proceeded on,
> Somewhat disturb'd with anger in his look.
> 
> I therefore left the spirits heavy laden,
> And, following, his beloved footsteps mark'd.
>
> — *Inferno Canto 23*