Dante, Inferno
Gianni Schicchi in the Falsifiers’ Ditch
One of two rushing shades bites Capocchio at the neck and drags his body across the stone. The surviving observer identifies the attacker as Schicchi and describes his continuing violence within the ditch. The explanation associates him with counterfeiting Donati’s features and sealing a false testament to gain the prized animal of the herd. Both the accusation and the punishment are presented within Dante’s narrative, rather than as a complete historical biography.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryOne of two rushing shades bites Capocchio at the neck and drags his body across the stone. The surviving observer identifies the attacker as Schicchi and describes his continuing violence within the ditch.
Further detail
LiteraryThe explanation associates him with counterfeiting Donati’s features and sealing a false testament to gain the prized animal of the herd. Both the accusation and the punishment are presented within Dante’s narrative, rather than as a complete historical biography.
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
That sprite of air is Schicchi ; in like mood Of random mischief vents he still his spite." To whom I answering : " Oh !Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 203
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-P0203
- Original scan leaf
- 210
- Recorded leaf number
- 210
- Current Reader position
- 203
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
Donati's features, to feign'd testament The seal affixing, that himself might gain, For his own share, the lady of the herd." When vanish'd the two furiousOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 203
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-P0203
- Original scan leaf
- 210
- Recorded leaf number
- 210
- Current Reader position
- 203
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Literary & Visionary Figures ↗
Myrrha among the Impersonators
The mythical figure placed beside Schicchi through the theme of assumed appearance.
Same subject and traditionAlberigo and the Frozen Tears
The speaker who requests relief from the ice over his eyes but does not receive it.
Same subject and traditionAlessio of Lucca among the Flatterers
The recognised speaker who attributes his place in the second ditch to excessive flattery.
Same subject and traditionBertran de Born’s Speaking Head
The head-bearing speaker who explains his division through a division he claims to have caused.