Canto XI opens with Dante and Virgil standing on the cusp of the seventh circle. The stench is so horrendous that Virgil proposes they rest for awhile so their senses can get accustomed to the smell. In order to not waste the time Virgil explains the rest of the circles and who they hold. He starts by clarifying that fraud is seen as one of the ultimate sins because it breaks the trust of man and God. People who perform fraudulent acts are doomed for a lower Hell then those with violent tendencies. The eighth and ninth circles are reserved for those who are frauds.
"Of every malice that earns hate in Heaven,
injustice is the end; and each such end
by force or fraud brings harm to other men.
However, fraud is man's peculiar vice;
God finds it more displeasing -- and therefore,
the fraudulent are lower, suffering more" (XI, 22-27).
Virgil then describes the seventh circle of Hell. It is reserved for those who are violent. It is subdivided into three categories, violence against God, oneself, and ones neighbor. Dante understand Virgil's clarification of these different groups but asks why the people that were in the first through sixth circles are not doomed for the same fate. Virgil goes in depth about incontinence, malice, and mad brutality. These three ideas help Dante to further his understanding of Hell. Dante then asks about how "...usury offends / divine goodness..."(XI,95-96). The poet goes into detail about how the use of usury goes against what is natural, especially the ability to love.
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Virgil then pushes them on towards the seventh circle. As they enter the seventh circle, that is guarded by the Minotaur, they are met with anger. The beast refuses to let them pass but through his crazed fit Virgil sneaks Dante past the being. As the duo descends into the valley Virgil comments that the rocks they travel on had not yet fallen when he first journeyed into this section of Hell. They reach a "...stream of blood, where those / who injure others violently, boil" (XII, 47-48). Centaurs guard the stream and shoot arrows at anyone in the streams who rises too far above the borderline. The Centaurs are startled that a living soul has managed to descend into Hell and almost shoot Dante down. Virgil quickly steps in and uses his divine reasoning to explain the situation. In order to quicken their pace, Virgil asks for a Centaur's help. Dante is placed upon one the beast and the trio travels on. During their journey the Centaur, Nessus, names some of the notable souls who reside in this circle. Some examples being Alexander, Dionysius, and Atilla the Hun. Nessus takes the men across the bank and then returns to his leader.
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Dante and Virgil continue on their course and walk into a forest filled with blackened, gnarled trees. Dante can hear the cries of the souls who inhabit this second ring in the seventh circle but can not see them. Virgil advises that Dante break off a branch in order to calm the voices. In reality the tree, an advisor to Frederick when he resided on the earth, yells out in pain after Dante breaks a branch from him, startling Dante. Blood trickles down the bark and in order to make amends with the tree Virgil recommends that Dante hear the adviser's story in order to clear the man's name. Dante learns that this man was loyal to his master until his death, but was shamed after his good name was tarnished by a harlot. The narrator learns that those who commit suicide end up in the second ring and start out growing as little saplings. Harpies, half-bird half-woman creatures, come and pick at the saplings as they grow thus making them black and gnarled. Every change in the trees figure pains the soul as if it were their own body. The men are interrupted by a loud roar as two men run in being chased by dogs. One tries to hide in a bushes but is torn to pieces. Dante and Virgil walk over to the bush and learn of Florentine's fate. Overtaken with emotion Dante gathers up the bushes boughs and hands them back to the owner.
The duo continues into the Third Ring of the seventh circle. This section is reserved for those who were violent against God. It is further divided into three zones that can help categorize the extent of their blasphemy. All of the zones have fire rain. This rain heats the sand thus ensuring torment all around. Dante notices that the torture does not seem to effect a giant who lies down. The giant, Capaneus, states, "That which I was in life, I am in death" (XIV, 51). The duo proceeds on to another another red river and Virgil explains how these rivers were formed. At the island of Crete sits a damaged statue of an Old Man. Through the tears that are exuded from this statue the waters make up the Acheron, the Styx, the Phlegethon, and continue to follow down into the deepest circle to form the Cocytus. Virgil then gives details as to the layout of these different circles and then states that they must travel out of the forest. The two men travel out of the woods so far that Dante after looking back can not make out where the forest ends.
They enter the second zone, the Sodomites, of the seventh circle's third ring. In this zone the people are required to walk in the fire rain. As they travel into this zone Dante is recognized by Brunetto Latino. Latino asks Dante what brings him to these depths of hell and who is his guide. Dante responds:
"'There, in the sunlit life above,' I answered,
'before my years were full, I went astray
within a valley. Only yesterday
at dawn I turned my back upon it -- but
when I was newly lost, he here appeared,
to guide me home again along this path'" (XV, 49-54).
Latino predicts that Dante will be greatly rewarded on earth. The narrator states that he will let Fortune take its course and not rely on the word of man. Virgil is pleased with his answer and Latino continues to talk about men from Dante's life but he is rushed and forced to part. Thus Dante and Virgil continue with their journey. They come across three of Dante's comrades who are not identifiable by their physical features because of the torment they have received. Dante learns who they are after they introduce themselves. After learning of Dante's origins, the countryman ask about the state of their beloved city. Dante informs them that it has gone from courtesy and valor to excess and arrogance. The three men leave them after hearing the saddening news.
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Virgil pushes Dante along to continue. After traveling to a ravine Virgil asks Dante for the cord that was around his waist. The poet throws the belt into the ravine and out climbs a beast. The beast, Geryon, helps the men to descend into the third zone of the seventh circle's third ring. This area houses those guilty of violence towards nature and art. After entering this zone Virgil tells Dante that he can explore while the poet tries to negotiate with Geryon. Dante comes across souls seated in the fire rain with purses wrapped around their necks. Each purse bears the soul's family emblem and the narrator tries to speak with these people; however he does not get any verbal response in return. He moves back to his guide who has gained travel on the back of Geryon to the eight circle. After flying to this circle and being dropped off, Geryon vanishes.
The eighth circle is made up of ten pouches. The first houses pimps and seducers. Their punishment encompasses running from one side of the pouch to the other, while on either side demons wait to strike these souls with whips. Dante recognizes Venedico Caccianemico an Italian man who sold his sister. The men talk and Dante learns about this particular pouch. Dante and his guide continue towards the next pouch. Before reaching the pouch Dante also recognizes Jason who was doomed for abandoning Medea in the first pouch. The two final reach the second pouch which has a foul odor attached. The characters learn that this area immerses its souls with excrement. This section is reserved for Flatterers. Dante recognizes one of the souls there as Alessio Interminei of Lucca. The man tries to hide his identity but Dante is able to place him.
After some words are exchanged Virgil guides Dante on to the next pouch.
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