Canto XXIII
The Eighth Circle: Fraud
Bolgia 6: Hypocrites
Scene I
Dante and Virgil made their way to leave the bolgia for the demons have
recovered their mates and were in pursuit. The paces of the demons were faster
and were catching up.
“Virgil, do call on the mechanical orb. It may help us here as it did at
the Gates of Dis.” Dante called Virgil. “Our legs are getting weaker and doubt
we could make it do much now.”
Virgil called on the orb to appear and then told it to frighten the
demons.
“And what do you need for? My last task for you was disdain by you for I
may have you killed----ironically, to be killed in Hell when you are already
dead.” The orb snorted the red light on the beep.
“It’s not my soul that needed saving but of Dante. He is not dead and
will be if you don’t assist.” Virgil told the orb. “You have to act.”
The orb hovered above the soul of Virgil and then hovered to the rear.
It approached the pursuing demons. As what it at the Gates of Dis, it emitted
the sonar blast that scared the demons. Dante and Virgil continued their run
and soon reached what appeared to be a huge building; multi-levels in height
and numerous windows on the sides, with the huge double doors in the front. On
the front of the building was a signboard with these words.
‘The difference between a saint and a hypocrite
is that one lies for his religion, the other by it.’ (Mina Antrim; https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/hypocrite-quotes)
“I think we are out of that bolgia. Here we may
rest before we proceed?” Dante took a breather then. He looked at Virgil.
“You were brave back there to confront the
demons.” Dante praised the other. “I was afraid then and even now if the demons
will not pursue us to even here.”
“You are right for we are out of that bolgia.”
Virgil motioned to the rear of them, and then he ducked. It was the orb that
had flown by its creator.
“You made me ---” Virgil looked to the orb that
hovered before him then.
“Feared? Surely, you asked for my aid and I
arrived, with the demons more feared now of me, they had remained hidden in
their lair.” The orb cut into its creator’s words.
“I thought I lost you again.” Virgil looked at
the orb. “How is your power storage?”
“I am fine. I recalibrated the power to absorb
from the heat which is aplenty here. I am fully charged and raring to go.”
“And you will not. I need you hidden and please
do as per my instruction.” Virgil commanded the orb with courteous words. The
orb adhered to the request and Virgil was once more sighing with relief.
“Are you well, Virgil? You are my companion but
more you are my protector here. If what I have portrayed here may not reflect
my anxiety inside of me.” Dante smiled at the other.
“Let us rest now.” Virgil returned the smile.
It was then the orb reappeared.
“Creator, I think you are like a lioness to her
cubs. Do you know of the tale you told me when I ---- was of the early making?”
The orb looked to its creator. “You told me that a mother will do what she can
for her children. A fire had broken out in the house and the mother than in her
nightgown had cared not for her safety rushed to save the children. They
escaped the fire and all they had on was their skin.”
“She had on a chemise, orb. Not a nightgown.”
Virgil corrected the orb.
“Chemise? I thought it was the nightgown. Have
you mistaken that tale for the one you lewd over named Fanny? Anyway, I do
apologize if my version was bawdy.” The orb replied and it made Dante laughed.
“Fanny---- I think I read that once. Was it
Fanny Hill published in the twentieth century?” (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195144.Fanny_Hill_or_Memoirs_of_a_Woman_of_Pleasure)
“Fancy me, the poet and man of the collar. You
read that book?”
“It was a prelude to understanding the sinners
that came to me. It was educational and shall remain as so.” Dante replied.
“All in the day’s work for me.”
.It was then the turn of Dante chose to speak
on another tale.
“I have a tale to narrate. The act of the sinner
who tricked the demons could be narrated as the Mouse and Frog by Aesop. It
read like this.”
“A young Mouse in search of adventure was running
along the bank of a pond where lived a Frog. When the Frog saw the Mouse, he
swam to the bank and croaked: "Won't you pay me a visit? I can promise you
a good time if you do."
The Mouse did not need much coaxing, for he was
very anxious to see the world and everything in it. But though he could swim a
little, he did not dare risk going into the pond without some help. The Frog
had a plan. He tied the Mouse's leg to his own with a tough reed. Then into the
pond, he jumped, dragging his foolish companion with him. The Mouse soon had
enough of it and wanted to return to shore, but the treacherous Frog had other
plans. He pulled the Mouse down under the water and drowned him. But before he
could untie the reed that bound him to the dead Mouse, a Hawk came sailing over
the pond. Seeing the body of the Mouse floating on the water, the Hawk swooped
down, seized the Mouse, and carried it off, with the Frog dangling from its
leg. Thus, at one swoop he had caught both meat and fish for his dinner.” (http://read.gov/aesop/021.html)
“As I recalled the tale, I do of Ciampolo. He may
have done it many times the act of deceiving the demons, that one day he may
not succeed at it. Those who seek to harm others often come to harm themselves
through their deceit.”
“I doubt it so, Poet. Your tale may speak of doom
for the grafter but the more accurate tale is of the Fox and the Crow.” Virgil
replied to Dante’s tale.
“Do tell, creator.” The orb asked of Virgil.
“One bright morning as the Fox was following his sharp
nose through the wood in search of a bite to eat, he saw a Crow on the limb of
a tree overhead. This was by no means the first Crow the Fox had ever seen.
What caught his attention this time and made him stop for a second look, was
that the lucky Crow held a bit of cheese in her beak.
"No
need to search any farther," thought sly Master Fox. "Here is a
dainty bite for my breakfast."
Up he
trotted to the foot of the tree in which the Crow was sitting, and looking up
admiringly, he cried, "Good morning, beautiful creature!"
The Crow,
her head cocked on one side, watched the Fox suspiciously. But she kept her
beak tightly closed on the cheese and did not return his greeting.
"What
a charming creature she is!" said the Fox. "How her feathers shine!
What a beautiful form and what splendid wings! Such a wonderful Bird should
have a very lovely voice since everything else about her is so perfect. Could
she sing just one song, I know I should hail her Queen of Birds."
Listening
to these flattering words, the Crow forgot all her suspicion, and also her
breakfast. She wanted very much to be called Queen of Birds. So she opened her
beak wide to utter her loudest caw and down fell the cheese straight into Fox's
open mouth.
"Thank
you," said Master Fox sweetly, as he walked off. "Though it is
cracked, you have a voice sure enough. But where are your wits?" (http://read.gov/aesop/027.html).
“Why do I
say so for Ciampolo as he lived at the expense of those who will listen to him,”
Virgil concluded his tale.
Dante was
to reply when he saw the double doors at the building open.
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