PURGATORIO, Episode 253. Take Notes, Dante: PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, Lines 46 - 60

Beatrice continues her discourse at the end of PURGATORIO by offering Dante classical examples of her own obscurity, Christian resonances for the very hope of writing, and a challenge for him to become her scribe, to take notes on her lectures.

This passage falls in the middle of her long monologue in the last canto of PURGATORIO and it forms the fulcrum that turns us from the apocalyptic vision to something much closer to Dante's own concerns: the craft of writing.

The segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:59] My English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, Lines 46 - 60. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, scroll down this paghe.

[03:24] The obscurity as the point.

[07:02] Themis and the Sphinx, early human riddles.

[10:02] Dante's well-intended mistake about the Naiads.

[13:41] Beatrice's theory of Dante's craft.

[15:59] The classical to the Christian: the dominant move in INFERNO and PURGATORIO.

[17:35] A twice-robbed tree--but how?

[19:50] The tree for God's sole use.

[21:58] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, lines 46 - 60.

My English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXXIII, Lines 46 – 60

“And perhaps my story, dark

As Themis and the Sphinx, persuades you less

Because, as with their genre, it blunts your intellect.

“But soon, the Naiads will make things happen.

They’ll solve this hard dilemma

Without losing any sheep or grain.

“Take notes and and draft out

These words that sound out from me

For those who live the life that’s a race to death.

“And when you write it, keep it in mind

Not to hide what you saw about the tree

That has now been robbed twice here.

“Whoever steals from it or tears it

Makes an offense toward God with blasphemy.

It’s only for God’s use; he created it holy.