Catching Feelings in the Sensual Sphere of the Moon: PARADISO, Canto III, Lines 1 - 33

Dante is about to meet the first souls in Paradise, emerging from the liquid light of the moon.

The poetry is lush and sensuous. The metaphors are complex and compounded. And Beatrice is a bit chilly, full of Latinisms and a condescending smile.

It's a marvelous banquet for the senses, here in this first sphere, where the souls seems to emerge as reflections in the diaphanous lunar realm.

Let’s get ready for our first redeemed souls in heaven--and discover that Paradise is not as bright or as clear as we might expect.

The segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:13] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto III, Lines 1 - 33. If you'd like to read along or drop a comment on this episode to continue the conversation, please scroll down this page.

[03:53] The lush, even sensual poetics of the moon.

[09:14] Deeper, even dark complexities within the lush poetry.

[11:53] Beatrice, not an allegory, but a real woman, and an honored spokesperson for truth.

[15:30] Dante as Narcissus . . . or not.

[20:20] Getting stuck on the marginalia, so much so that you can't make out the text.

[23:48] Truth as an approximation, not a delineation.

[25:56] Rereading the passage: PARADISO, Canto III, Lines 1 - 33.

My English translation of PARADISO, Canto III, Lines 1 - 33:

That sun which had first scalded my breast with love

Had now uncovered the beautiful truth’s sweet aspect

By [both] proof and counter-argument.

So to confess my correction and certainty,

I raised my head to speak,

No more than was required.

But a vision appeared that

Held me tightly to see it—

So much so that I didn’t remember my confession.

As through transparent and polished panes of glass,

Or through tranquil and pure waters,

Not so deep that the bottom is darkened,

[When] the contours of our faces are given back

So faintly that a pearl on a white forehead

Is not any dimmer to our eyes,

So I saw many faces who wanted to speak up

And I fell into the error contrary

To the one love sparked between a man and a fountain.

The minute I became aware of them,

Thinking they were mirrored reflections,

I swiveled my eyes around to see who they were—

And I saw nothing and so I turned ahead again,

[Looking] right into the eyes of my sweet guide,

Who, smiling, [showed] the fervor in her holy eyes.

She said to me: “Don’t be amazed because I smile

At your childish notions,

Since they don’t trust their footing on the truth.

“But as always, they turn you to the void.

These are true substances that you see.

They’re relegated here for failing their vows.

“Therefore, speak to them and hear and believe,

For the true light that fulfills them

Does not let their feet twist [in the wrong direction].”