Dante, Inferno
Alichino and Calcabrina’s Quarrel
Calcabrina becomes furious after Alichino fails to catch the escaping Navarrese. He attacks his companion over the bank, and the two grapple before falling together into the boiling pitch. The pitch glues their wings, preventing them from lifting themselves free. Barbariccia sends four others with hooks to recover them, while Dante and Virgil leave the company occupied with the rescue.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryCalcabrina becomes furious after Alichino fails to catch the escaping Navarrese. He attacks his companion over the bank, and the two grapple before falling together into the boiling pitch.
Further detail
LiteraryThe pitch glues their wings, preventing them from lifting themselves free. Barbariccia sends four others with hooks to recover them, while Dante and Virgil leave the company occupied with the rescue.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the supplied Thompson & Thomas edition of H. F. Cary’s translation. It describes Dante’s literary vision, distinguishing its assignments and reported claims from historical biography, other classical traditions and independently established accounts of an afterlife.
Original passages
Source 1
Dante's Inferno
In Calcabrina fury stirr'd, who flew After him, with desire of strife inflamed ;Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 151
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0151
- Original scan leaf
- 158
- Recorded leaf number
- 158
- Current Reader position
- 151
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
Their pennons. Barbariccia, as the rest, That chance lamenting, four in flight dispatch'd From the other coast, with all their weapons aim'd. They to their postOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 152
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0152
- Original scan leaf
- 159
- Recorded leaf number
- 159
- Current Reader position
- 152
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
The Navarrese Captive’s Escape
A captive’s promise of more informants becomes a successful leap into the pitch.
Same subject and traditionAgnello’s Merged Form
A man and serpent lose their distinct outlines in the thieves’ ditch.
Same subject and traditionCrossing the Centre of the World
Virgil’s reversal while climbing Lucifer explains the change from descent to ascent.
Same subject and traditionMistaken for Boniface
An inverted speaker mistakes Dante’s arrival for that of a future condemned pope.