Episode 82. Disorienting The Reader On The Terrace Of Pride: PURGATORIO, Canto XI, Lines 25 - 45

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Dante the pilgrim has heard the prayer of the prideful penitents under their boulders and now he sees them more clearly, weighed down "as if during dreams." What?

It gets more confusing. Dante the poet interrupts the narrative to remind his readers of their duties (to his imagined penitents? what?). And then Virgil speaks without ever being given a dialogue clue, further disorienting COMEDY's readers.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we explore this strange passage from PURGATORIO.

Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[02:05] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XI, lines 25 - 45. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please scroll down this page.

[04:55] Three curiosities in the passage from the medieval Florentine, plus one thematic tie back to Canto X.

[10:41] For whom are the prideful penitents praying? And what exactly are they praying for them?

[16:18] The poet's lesson, inserted into the ongoing story, is disconcertingly awkward.

[21:36] Virgil offers nine lines of dialogue without a cue to us know it's Virgil who's speaking until almost the end--more disorientation.

[27:19] The passage ultimately connects to a medieval notion of art by its reference to the weight of dreams.

[29:35] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XI, lines 25 - 45.

And here’s my English translation of Purgatorio, Canto XI, Lines 25 – 45

Praying like this for a good journey both for them and for us,

Those shades walked along under their heavy burdens,

Similar to the sort that weigh us down in dreams.

With disparate weights on them, and variously anguished, they all

Trudged around the first of the terraces,

Cleansing off the dark mist of the world.

If up there good can always be said for the benefit of us,

What then can be said and done for their benefit

By those whose wills are well-rooted?

Indeed, we should help them wash off the marks

They carry with them, so that pure and light

They can finally exit to the starry wheels.

“Hey, so that justice and compassion may soon ungrieve you

And make you able to move your wings

And rise up as high as you desire,

“Show us by what hand we can find

The shortest route to the stairs. If there’s more than one intersection,

Help us know which way is not quite so steep.

“For this one, who comes here with me,

Is still clothed in Adam’s flesh.

He wants to go up, contrary to his will, so right now he’s making slow progress.”