[798] Amphion: Who with his music charmed rocks from the mountain and heaped them in order for walls to Thebes.
[799] The giant’s feet: Antæus. A bank slopes from where the giants stand inside the wall down to the pit which is filled with the frozen Cocytus. This is the Ninth and inmost Circle, and is divided into four concentric rings—Caïna, Antenora, Ptolomæa, and Judecca—where traitors of different kinds are punished.
[800] Thy steps: Dante alone is addressed, the speaker having seen him set heavily down upon the ice by Antæus.
[801] A frozen lake: Cocytus. See Inf. xiv. 119.
[802] Tabernicch: It is not certain what mountain is here meant; probably Yavornick near Adelsberg in Carniola. It is mentioned, not for its size, but the harshness of its name.
[803] Pietrapana: A mountain between Modena and Lucca, visible from Pisa: Petra Apuana.
[804] Time of year: At harvest-time, when in the warm summer nights the wearied gleaner dreams of her day’s work.
[805] To where we blush: The bodies of the shades are seen buried in the clear glassy ice, out of which their heads and necks stand free—as much as ‘shows shame,’ that is, blushes.
[806] With breast, etc.: As could be seen through the clear ice.
[807] Fettered fast: Binding up their eyes. In the punishment of traitors is symbolised the hardness and coldness of their hearts to all the claims of blood, country, or friendship.