The First Soul in Paradise, Piccarda Donati: PARADISO, Canto III, Lines 34 - 57

At long last, the first soul--or "shade"--steps forward in Paradise. She's Piccarda Donati, a figure we've already encountered once (maybe even twice) in COMEDY.

Dante flatters her to speak and she begins, not with herself, but with some theology and thoughts on her placement in the heavens.

Along the way, her speech takes on some dark spots of ambiguity, about like the moon with its rare and dense material.

The segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:04] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto III, Lines 34 - 57. If you'd like to read along or drop a comment on this episode, please scroll down this page.

[03:12] Introducing Piccarda Donati, a nun forced to violate her vows.

[09:11] Finding Piccarda Donati elsewhere in COMEDY, particularly at PURGATORIO XXIII and XXIV, in the speech of her brother, Forese, among the gluttons.

[12:19] And finding Piccarda Donati in Francesca from INFERNO V.

[18:00] Finding darkness (or ambiguity) in Piccarda--moon spots, as it were.

[22:51] Playing games with vows, voids, and volition (or the will).

[26:37] Rereading PARADISO, Canto III, lines 34 - 87.

My English translation of PARADISO, Canto III, Lines 34 - 87:

And like a guy [who’s] mixed up by too much wanting,

I turned to the shade who seemed the keenest

To speak and began,

“Oh well-created spirit, who in the rays

Of eternal life feels the sweetness

That can’t be understood if it’s not tasted,

“It will be a grace to me if you’ll make me content

With your name and the situation of you all here.”

Then with enthusiasm and laughing eyes, she [said]:

“Our love doesn’t shut its doors

To a just wish, just like that one

Who wills that all his court be like himself.

“I was a virgin sister in the world.

And if your mind probes itself well enough,

My being more beautiful won’t hide me from you.

“Instead, you’ll recognize that I am Piccarda.

I am blessed in the slowest sphere,

Posted here among the other blessed [spirits].

“Our affections are set on fire solely

At the pleasure of the Holy Spirit;

They’re happy when they’re formed from his plan.

“So this situation, which seems pretty humble,

Is given to us because our vows were set aside

And even voided in some instances.”