The Fifth Bolgia: Barrators and the Malebranche

Dante and Virgil arrive at the fifth Bolgia, where the barrators (corrupt politicians) are immersed in boiling pitch. A black devil, Malacoda, appears carrying a sinner from Lucca on his shoulders and hurls him into the pitch. The devils, the Malebranche, taunt the sinner. Virgil negotiates with Malacoda, who sends a squad of ten devils to escort them to the next arch, falsely claiming the sixth arch is broken. The devils, with names like Alichino, Calcabrina, Cagnazzo, and Barbariccia, lead them along the bank. This episode introduces the grotesque comedy of the devils and sets up the deception that will lead to the travelers' escape.