Chapter 18

           ThereisaplaceinHellcalledMalebolge,

           Whollyofstoneandofanironcolour,

           Asisthecirclethatarounditturns.

           Rightinthemiddleofthefieldmalign

           Thereyawnsawellexceedingwideanddeep,

           Ofwhichitsplacethestructurewillrecount.

           Round,then,isthatenclosurewhichremains

           Betweenthewellandfootofthehigh,hardbank,

           Andhasdistinctinvalleystenitsbottom.

           Aswherefortheprotectionofthewalls

           Manyandmanymoatssurroundthecastles,

           Thepartinwhichtheyareafigureforms,

           Justsuchanimagethosepresentedthere;

           Andasaboutsuchstrongholdsfromtheirgates

           Untotheouterbankarelittlebridges,

           Sofromtheprecipice’sbasedidcrags

           Project,whichintersecteddikesandmoats,

           Untothewellthattruncatesandcollectsthem.