# Inferno Canto 30

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.*

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> Christianity Index  Divine Comedy Index  Previous: Inferno Canto 29  Next: Inferno Canto 31  
> 
> Canto XXX
> 
> Argument
> 
>      In the same gulf, other kinds of impostors, as those who have
> counterfeited the persons of others, or debased the current coin, or deceived
> by speech under false pretences, are described as suffering various diseases.
> Sinon of Troy and Adamo of Brescia mutually reproach each other with their
> several impostures.
> 
> What time resentment burn'd in Juno's breast
> From Semele against the Theban blood,
> As more than once in dire mischance was rued;
> Such fatal frenzy seized on Athamas,
> That he his spouse beholding with a babe
> Laden on either arm, "Spread out," he cried,
> "The meshes, that I take the lioness
> And the young lions at the pass:" then forth
> Stretch'd he his merciless talons, grasping one,
> One helpless innocent, Learchus named,
> Whom swinging down he dash'd upon a rock;
> And with her other burden, self - destroy'd,
> The hapless mother plunged. And when the pride
> Of all presuming Troy fell from its height,
> By fortune overwhelm'd, and the old king
> With his realm perish'd; then did Hecuba,
> A wretch forlorn and captive, when she saw
> Polyxena first slaughter'd, and her son,
> Her Polydorus, on the wild sea - beach
> Next met the mourner's view, then reft of sense
> Did she run barking even as a dog;
> Such mighty power had grief to wrench her soul.
> But ne'er the Furies, or of Thebes, or Troy,
> With such fell cruelty were seen, their goads
> Infixing in the limbs of man or beast,
> As now two pale and naked ghosts I saw,
> That gnarling wildly scamper'd, like the swine
> Excluded from his stye. One reach'd Capocchio,
> And in the neck - joint sticking deep his fangs,
> Dragg'd him, that, o'er the solid pavement rubb'd
> His belly stretch'd out prone. The other shape,
> He of Arezzo, there left trembling, spake:
> "That sprite of air is Schicchi;[1] in like mood
> Of random mischief vents he still his spite."
> 
> [1: Gianni Schicchi, of the family of Cavalcanti, possessed such a
> faculty of molding his features to the resemblance of others, that he was
> employed by Simon Donati to personate Buoso Donati, then recently deceased,
> and to make a will, leaving Simon his heir; for which service he was
> remunerated with a mare of extraordinary value, here called "the lady of the
> herd."]
> 
> To whom I answering: "Oh! as thou dost hope
> The other may not flesh its jaws on thee,
> Be patient to inform us, who it is,
> Ere it speed hence." - "That is the ancient soul
> Of wretched Myrrha," he replied, "who burn'd
> With most unholy flame for her own sire,
> And a false shape assuming, so perform'd
> The deed of sin; e'en as the other there,
> That onward passes, dared to counterfeit
> Donati's features, to feign'd testament
> The seal affixing, that himself might gain,
> For his own share, the lady of the herd."
> 
> When vanish'd the two furious shades, on whom
> Mine eye was held, I turn'd it back to view
> The other cursed spirits. One I saw
> In fashion like a lute, had but the groin
> Been sever'd where it meets the forked part.
> Swoln dropsy, disproportioning the limbs
> With ill - converted moisture, that the paunch
> Suits not the visage, open'd wide his lips,
> Gasping as in the hectic man for drought,
> One toward the chin, the other upward curl'd.
> 
> "O ye! who in this world of misery,
> Wherefore I know not, are exempt from pain,"
> Thus he began, "attentively regard
> Adamo's woe.[2] When living, full supply
> Ne'er lack'd me of what most I coveted;
> One drop of water now, alas! I crave.
> The rills, that glitter down the grassy slopes
> 
> [2: Adamo of Brescia, at the instigation of Guido, Alessandro, and
> their brother Aghiunlfo, lords of Romena, counterfeited the coin of Florence;
> for which crime he was burnt.]
> 
> Of Casentino,[3] making fresh and soft
> The banks whereby they glide to Arno's stream,
> Stand ever in my view; and not in vain;
> For more the pictured semblance dries me up,
> Much more than the disease, which makes the flesh
> Desert these shrivel'd cheeks. So from the place,
> Where I transgress'd, stern justice urging me,
> Takes means to quicken more my laboring sighs.
> There is Romena, where I falsified
> The metal with the Baptist's form imprest,
> For which on earth I left my body burnt.
> But if I here might see the sorrowing soul
> Of Guido, Alessandro, or their brother,
> For Branda's limpid spring[4] I would not change
> The welcome sight. One is e'en now within,
> If truly the mad spirits tell, that round
> Are wandering. But wherein besteads me that?
> My limbs are fetter'd. Were I but so light,
> That I each hundred years might move one inch,
> I had set forth already on this path,
> Seeking him out amidst the shapeless crew,
> Although eleven miles it wind, not less
> Than half of one across. They brought me down
> Among this tribe; induced by them, I stamp'd
> The florens with three carats of alloy.[5]
> 
> [3: Romena, a part of Casentino.]
> 
> [4: A fountain at Siena.]
> 
> [5: The floren was a coin that ought to have had twenty - four carats
> of pure gold. Villani relates that it was first used at Florence in 1252, an
> era of great prosperity for the republic; before which time their most
> valuable coinage was of silver.]
> 
> "Who are that abject pair," I next inquired,
> "That closely bounding thee upon thy right
> Lie smoking, like a hand in winter steep'd
> In the chill stream?" - "When to this gulf I dropp'd,"
> He answer'd, "here I found them; since that hour
> They have not turn'd, nor ever shall, I ween,
> Till time hath run his course. One is that dame,
> The false accuser[6] of the Hebrew youth;
> Sinon the other, that false Greek from Troy.
> Sharp fever drains the reeky moistness out,
> In such a cloud upsteam'd." When that he heard,
> 
> [6: Potiphar's wife.]
> 
> One, gall'd perchance to be so darkly named,
> With clench'd hand smote him on the braced paunch,
> That like a drum resounded: but forthwith
> Adamo smote him on the face, the blow
> Returning with his arm, that seem'd as hard.
> 
> "Though my o'er weighty limbs have ta'en from me
> The power to move," said he, "I have an arm
> At liberty for such employ." To whom
> Was answer'd: "When thou wentest to the fire,
> Thou hadst it not so ready at command;
> Then readier when it coin'd the impostor gold."
> 
> And thus the dropsied: "Ay, now speak'st thou true:
> But there thou gavest not such true testimony,
> When thou wast question'd of the truth, at Troy."
> 
> "If I spake false, thou falsely stamp'dst the coin,"
> Said Sinon; "I am here for but one fault,
> And thou for more than any imp beside."
> 
> "Remember," he replied, "O perjured one!
> The horse remember, that did teem with death;
> And all the world be witness to thy guilt."
> 
> "To thine," return'd the Greek, "witness the thirst
> Whence thy tongue cracks, witness the fluid mound
> Rear'd by thy belly up before thine eyes,
> A mass corrupt." To whow the coiner thus:
> "Thy mouth gapes wide as ever to let pass
> Its evil saying. Me if thirst assails,
> Yet I am stuft with moisture. Thou art parch'd:
> Pains rack thy head: no urging wouldst thou need
> To make thee lap Narcissus' mirror up."
> 
> I was all fix'd to listen, when my guide
> Admonish'd: "Now beware. A little more,
> And I do quarrel with thee." I perceived
> How angrily he spake, and toward him turn'd
> With shame so poignant, as remember'd yet
> Confounds me. As a man that dreams of harm
> Befallen him, dreaming wishes it a dream,
> And that which is, desires as if it were not;
> Such then was I, who, wanting power to speak,
> Wish'd to excuse myself, and all the while
> Excused me, though unweeting that I did.
> 
> "More grievous fault than thine has been, less shame,"
> My master cried, "might expiate. Therefore cast
> All sorrow from thy soul; and if again
> Chance bring thee, where like conference is held,
> Think I am ever at thy side. To hear
> Such wrangling is a joy for vulgar minds."
>
> — *Inferno Canto 30*