A Polyvocal Passage With All Its Dissonances: PARADISO, Canto I, Lines 13 - 36

Our poet moves from his scholastic and even (medieval) scientific opening of PARADISO into his invocation . . . to Apollo?

This passage has often embarrassed Dante scholars who feel the need to excuse various pieces of it.

But we can let those pieces stand as part of the polyvocality of the text.

Let’s move back and forth from the Christian to the pagan as we walk through this second part of Dante's opening lines of PARADISO.

The segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:11] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto I, Lines 13 - 36. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me via a comment on this episode, please scroll down this page.

[03:09] This passage embarrasses too many Dante scholars.

[09:14] This passage is polyvocal, a two-part fugue or invention.

[17:59] These two voices lead to dissonances in the passage.

[23:36] Did Dante intend these dissonances?

[25:20] Three small dissonances: Dante crowns himself, fights in an arena, and find his worth in two places at once.

[28:32] Marsyas, a comedic tragedy.

[32:01] The flame of the tongue, Pentecost, or maybe Ulysses.

[34:48] A high-browed, perhaps red-flag reference to Cyrrha.

[35:55] An inaccurate but telling reference to Parnassus.

[39:07] Rereading the passage: PARADISO, Canto I, lines 13 - 36.

My English translation of PARADISO, Canto 1, lines 13 - 36:

O good Apollo, when it comes to the final labor,

Make me a vessel befitting your power,

As you demand for your beloved laurel.

Up until this point, one peak of Parnassus

Has been enough for me; but I now need

Both as I walk into the last arena.

Enter my chest and breathe into me

As when you pulled Marsyas

From the vagina of his body.

O divine power, if you press into me enough

Until I manifest the shadow of the beautiful realm

As it is stamped in my head,

You will see me come to the foot of your

Delightful tree and crown myself with its leaves,

So that [both] my material and you will prove me worthy.

So rarely, father, does a Caesar or a poet

Collect those leaves for a triumph

(Because of the fault and shame of human wills),

With the result that the Peneian branches should give birth

To happiness from within the delighted Delphic deity

(Whenever anyone thirsts for it).

A great flame follows a spark.

Perhaps after me others with better voices

Will pray so that Cyrrha will respond.