PURGATORIO, Episode 236. The Poet Loses His Words: PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI, Lines 1 - 21

Wailing, Dante comes in for Beatrice's impatience. He hasn't responded yet to her charges, so she turns the spear point of her words on him.

He cracks . . . and in doing so, loses language, words, the very things that are the heart of his craft.

Canto XXXI opens with an intensely emotional scene, meant to bring the pilgrim right to the brink of his ability to handle things . . . about like what happened with Francesca in INFERNO, Canto V.

The segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:49] My English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXX, Lines 1 - 21. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please scroll down this page.

[03:36] Prefatory remarks on PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI.

[07:02] A node of Dantean irony in a very serious canto.

[10:14] Confession, the first step to forgiveness for Dante (but not for the church).

[15:49] The master poet and the failure of his language.

[24:29] Dante, the cracked crossbow.

[28:15] The return of Francesca.

[30:34] Rereading PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI, lines 1 - 21.

My English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI, Lines 1 – 21

“Oh you who are over there across the sacred river,”

She began again without any hesitation,

Turning the spear point of her words at me

(Although the mere edge had seemed sharp to me),

“Say, say if this is true. Your confession

Must be linked to this great accusation.”

My fortitude was so discombobulated

That my voice was moved and then gave out

Before it was even let loose from its organ.

She suffered this [delay] for a little bit, then she said, “What are you thinking?

Respond to me because the sad memories

In you are not yet erased by these waters.”

Confusion and fear comingled

And forced the sort of yes out of my mouth

That you needed eyes to hear it.

As a crossbow cracks when it lets go,

After the cord and the bow have been pulled too tight,

And thus the bolt hits the target with less force,

So I broke apart under this heavy weight,

Gasping out both tears and sighs

As my voice weakened in its passageway.