Dante's Plaque: Abati's Houses

PIANGENDO MI SGRIDÒ: “PERCHÉ MI PESTE? SE TU NON VIENI A CRESCER LA VENDETTA DI MONTAPERTI, PERCHÉ MI MOLESTE? ...UN ALTRO GRIDÒ: “CHE HAI TU, BOCCA? NON TI BASTA SONAR CON LE MASCELLE, SE TU NON LATRI? QUAL DIAVOL TI TOCCA?”

DANTE, INF., XXXII, 79-81 & 106-108.

WEEPING HE GROWLED: "WHY DOST THOU TRAMPLE ME? ⁠UNLESS THOU COMEST TO INCREASE THE VENGEANCE ⁠⁠OF MONTAPERTI, WHY DOST THOU MOLEST ME?" WHEN CRIED ANOTHER, "WHAT DOTH AIL THEE, BOCCA? ⁠IS 'T NOT ENOUGH TO CLATTER WITH THY JAWS, ⁠BUT THOU MUST BARK? WHAT DEVIL TOUCHES THEE?"

We are in the ninth circle of hell where those who committed treason against their country have their bodies and heads above the ice. One of these heads, which Dante accidentally kicks while walking, belongs to Bocca degli Abati who, according to some sources, betrayed the Florentine army leading it to defeat in the Battle of Montaperti in 1260 (when the Ghibelline troops headed by Siena won the battle). Another sinner turns to Bocca, and asks him, “Is it not enough hearing your teeth chattering for the cold and you barking like a dog? What the hell is wrong with you?”