And I: "My Master, see to it, if thou canst, That thou mayst know who is the luckless wight, Thus come into his adversaries' hands." Near to the side of him my Leader drew, 45 Asked of him whence he was; and he replied: "I in the kingdom of Navarre was born; My mother placed me servant to a lord, For she had borne me to a ribald knave, Destroyer of himself and of his things. Then I domestic was of good King Thibault; I set me there to practise barratry, For which I pay the reckoning in this heat." And Ciriatto, from whose mouth projected, On either side, a tusk, as in a boar, Caused him to feel how one of them could rip. Among malicious cats the mouse had come; But Barbariccia clasped him in his arms, 50 55 And said: "Stand ye aside, while I enfork him." 60 And to my Master he turned round his head; "Ask him again," he said, "if more thou wish To know from him, before some one destroy him.” The Guide: "Now tell then of the other culprits; Knowest thou any one who is a Latian, 65 Lately from one who was a neighbor to it; And with his grapnel seized him by the arm, When they again somewhat were pacified, Of him, who still was looking at his wound, "Who was that one, from whom a luckless parting Thou sayest thou hast made, to come ashore?" Who had the enemies of his Lord in hand, And dealt so with them each exults thereat; Money he took, and let them smoothly off, As he says; and in other offices A barrator was he, not mean but sovereign. Foregathers with him one Don Michael Zanche Of Logodoro; and of Sardinia To gossip never do their tongues feel tired. 70 75 80 85 90 O me! see that one, how he grinds his teeth ; Still farther would I speak, but am afraid Who rolled his eyes about as if to strike, Said: "Stand aside there, thou malicious bird." "If you desire either to see or hear," The terror-stricken recommenced thereon, "Tuscans or Lombards, I will make them come. But let the Malebranche cease a little, So that these may not their revenges fear, And I, down sitting in this very place, For one that I am will make seven come, When I shall whistle, as our custom is To do whenever one of us comes out." Cagnazzo at these words his muzzle lifted, 95 100 105 Shaking his head, and said: "Just hear the trick Which he has thought of, down to throw himself!” Whence he, who snares in great abundance had, Responded: "I by far too cunning am, When I procure for mine a greater sadness." Alichin held not in, but running counter Unto the rest, said to him: "If thou dive, I will not follow thee upon the gallop, But I will beat my wings above the pitch; The height be left, and be the bank a shield, To see if thou alone dost countervail us.' Each to the other side his eyes averted; He first, who most reluctant was to do it. The Navarrese selected well his time; Planted his feet on land, and in a moment Leaped, and released himself from their design. Whereat each one was suddenly stung with shame, 115 120 125 But he most who was cause of the defeat; But little it availed, for wings could not Outstrip the fear; the other one went under, And, flying, upward he his breast directed. Not otherwise the duck upon a sudden Dives under, when the falcon is approaching, Flying behind him followed close, desirous And when the barrator had disappeared, He turned his talons upon his companion, 130 135 But sooth the other was a doughty sparhawk To clapperclaw him well; and both of them But ne'ertheless of rising there was naught, To such degree they had their wings belimed. Lamenting with the others, Barbariccia Made four of them fly to the other side With all their gaffs, and very speedily This side and that they to their posts descended; 140 145 They stretched their hooks towards the pitch-ensnared, And in this manner busied did we leave them. 150 |