Dante, Inferno
Malacoda and the False Route
Malacoda comes forward when Virgil asks that one guardian hear his words. After the guide invokes divine permission, the demon drops his weapon and tells the others that they have no power to strike him. He then offers an escort and directs the poets toward an allegedly intact crossing. A friar in the following ditch reveals that the bridge there is broken, exposing the earlier advice as false rather than merely incomplete.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryMalacoda comes forward when Virgil asks that one guardian hear his words. After the guide invokes divine permission, the demon drops his weapon and tells the others that they have no power to strike him.
Further detail
LiteraryHe then offers an escort and directs the poets toward an allegedly intact crossing. A friar in the following ditch reveals that the bridge there is broken, exposing the earlier advice as false rather than merely incomplete.
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
Go, Malacoda ! " Whereat one advanced, The others standing firm, and as he came, "What may this turn avail him?" he exclaim'd. " Believest thou,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 143
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-P0143
- Original scan leaf
- 150
- Recorded leaf number
- 150
- Current Reader position
- 143
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
Another rock will yield you passage safe. Yesterday, later by five hours than now, Twelve hundred threescore years and six had fill'd The circuit of theirOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 146
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-P0146
- Original scan leaf
- 153
- Recorded leaf number
- 153
- Current Reader position
- 146
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Barbariccia Leads the Hooked Escort
The captain who restrains his own violent company long enough for questioning.
Shared illustrationThe Boiling Pitch of the Fifth Ditch
An opaque pool that conceals the inhabitants accused of corrupt public dealing.
Same subject and traditionLucifer and the Freezing Wings
The immense figure whose wings keep the central lake frozen.