PURGATORIO, Episode 225. The Parade Of Revelation: PURGATORIO, Canto XXIX, Lines 58 - 87

The parade goes on! Our pilgrim, Dante, turns back from Virgil's amazement and finds more of the parade coming toward him . . . at least, he does so after he's reprimanded by the lady who stands across Lethe.

In this passage, the poet's craft heightens to reveal gorgeous poetry that comes from the apocalyptic tradition but far exceeds its beauty with both the Easter eggs Dante puts in the text and the wild ways the poetry itself enhances the wonder of the parade at hand.

The segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:19] My English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXIX, lines 58 - 87. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please scroll down this page.

[04:09] The tradition of apocalyptic literature and Dante's use of it.

[08:44] Biblical references in this part of the apocalyptic parade.

[13:54] Contemporary cultural references in the parade.

[16:01] Surprises: Dante's changes to Biblical imagery, his Easter eggs to his own text, and his idiosyncratic word choices.

[20:07] Possible allegorical interpretations for the twenty-four lords (or elders) and the distance of ten paces between the lights.

[25:20] The poetry of the parade: colorful brushwork and gorgeous (if incomplete) reflections in Lethe.

[28:43] More on emergent revelation.

[31:47] Rereading PURGATORIO, Canto XXIX, lines 58 - 87.

My English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXIX, Lines 58 – 87:

At that, I turned my gaze back to the high things,

Moving toward us so slowly

That new brides would have overtaken them.

The lady chastised me: “Why is there ardor

In your feelings only about those living lights,

Such that you don’t see what comes behind them?”

At that, I saw people, as those who appear to follow

Their leaders. They were dressed in white—

Such whiteness as never was back here.

The water was ablaze on my left side

And it reflected my own left side,

If I looked into it, as a mirror would.

When I was positioned on my embankment

So that the river was the only distance between me and them,

I stopped walking so that I could see better.

And I saw the flames move forward,

Leaving the air behind them painted;

For they seemed like brushes pulled along,

So much so that the air overheard was stained

With seven stripes, all in the colors

Out of which the sun makes its arc and Delia, her belt.

These banners stretched behind them farther

Than I could see. As far as I could tell,

The outer ones were spaced by ten paces.

Under the beautiful sky that I describe,

Twenty-four lords came along, two by two,

Each crowned with lilies.

They all sang, “Benedicta are you

Among Adam’s daughters, and blessed

Be your beauties throughout eternity!”