Even the rhythm of this simile conveys something of a great bird’s single, confident swoop to land precisely on a specific, awaiting glove.

‘But flying, as the falcon to the glove

Swoops home when signalled.’

For another sleek and powerful bird in flight, see Henry Williamson on the Arctic Owl coming in for the kill.  See also our illustrated quote-rich celebration of Dante’s Divine Comedy in Clive James’ superb translation. 

Source: Dante,The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Canto 3), trans. Clive James (New York: Liveright Publishing, 2013), p. 19

Photo credit: Capri23auto at pixabay.com