Dante, Inferno
The Cord Cast into the Abyss
At Virgil’s direction Dante removes the cord around his waist, recalling that he had once thought to use it to bind the painted leopard. He hands the gathered cord to his guide. Virgil casts it into the abyss and watches for a response. A shape rises through the murky air, compared to a swimmer returning after freeing an anchor; the next canto identifies Geryon.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryAt Virgil’s direction Dante removes the cord around his waist, recalling that he had once thought to use it to bind the painted leopard. He hands the gathered cord to his guide.
Further detail
LiteraryVirgil casts it into the abyss and watches for a response. A shape rises through the murky air, compared to a swimmer returning after freeing an anchor; the next canto identifies Geryon.
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
I had a cord that braced my girdle round, Wherewith I erst had thought fast bound to take The painted leopard. This when I had allOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 118
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-P0118
- Original scan leaf
- 125
- Recorded leaf number
- 125
- Current Reader position
- 118
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
A shape come swimming up, that might have quell'd The stoutest heart with wonder ; in such guise As one returns, who hath been down toOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 118
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-P0118
- Original scan leaf
- 125
- Recorded leaf number
- 125
- Current Reader position
- 118
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Agnello’s Merged Form
A man and serpent lose their distinct outlines in the thieves’ ditch.
Same subject and traditionAlichino and Calcabrina’s Quarrel
The failed pursuit that sends two guardians into their own sticky pool.
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.