culprits are the famous soothsayers, diviners, magicians, and witches
of the world, who thus are punished for having presumed to predict the
future.

_Canto XXI._ From the top of the next bridge they gaze into a dark
pit, where public peculators are plunged into boiling pitch, as Dante
discovers by the odor, which keenly reminds him of the shipyards at
Venice. Virgil there directs Dante's attention toward a demon, who
hurls a sinner headlong into the boiling tar, and, without watching to
see what becomes of him, departs in quest of some other victim. The
poet also perceives that, whenever a sinner's head emerges from the
pitchy waves, demons thrust him down again by means of long forks. To
prevent his charge falling a prey to these active evil spirits, Virgil
directs Dante to hide behind a pillar of the bridge and from thence
watch all that is going on.

While Dante lurks there, a demon, descrying him, is about to attack
him, but Virgil so vehemently proclaims they are here by Heaven's will
that the evil spirit drops his fork and becomes powerless to harm
them. Perceiving the effect he has produced, Virgil then summons Dante
from his hiding-place, and sternly orders the demon to guide them
safely through the ranks of his grimacing fellows, all of whom make
obscene gestures as they pass.

_Canto XXII._ Dante, having taken part in battles, is familiar with
military manoeuvres, but he declares he never behold such ably
marshalled troops as the demon hosts through which they pass. From
time to time he sees a devil emerge from the ranks to plunge sinners
back into the lake of pitch, or to spear one with his fork and, after
letting him squirm aloft for a while, hurl him back into the asphalt