• The Third Bolgia is devoted to the Simoniacs, so called from Simon Magus, the Sorcerer mentioned in Acts 8:9, 18. See note 2050 . Brunetto Latini touches lightly upon them in the Tesoretto , XXI 259, on the account of their high ecclesiastical dignity. His pupil is less reverential in the particular. “Altri per simonia Si getta in mala via, E Dio e’ Santi offende E vende le prebende, E Sante Sagramente, E mette ’nfra la gente Assempri di mal fare. Ma questo lascio stare, Chè tocca a ta’ persone, Che non è mia ragione Di dirne lungamente.” Chaucer, “Persones Tale,” speaks thus of Simony:⁠— “Certes simonie is cleped of Simon Magus, that wold have bought for temporel catel the yefte that God had yeven by the holy gost to Seint Peter, and to the Apostles: and therfore understond ye, that both he that selleth and he that byeth thinges spirituel ben called Simoniackes, be it by catel, be it by procuring, or by fleshly praier of his frendes, fleshly frendes, or spirituel frendes, fleshly in two maners, as by kinrede or other frendes: sothly, if they pray for him that is not worthy and able, it is simonie, if he take the benefice: and if he be worthy and able, ther is non.” ↩