PURGATORIO, Episode 55. Virgil, Sordello, And The Limits Of The Will: PURGATORIO, Canto VII, Lines 37 - 63

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Virgil has turned the journey into his own--but now confronts not only his limits but perhaps everyone's as Sordello warns him (and Dante the pilgrim) that night is falling on Mount Purgatory.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we explore this very strange passage from PURGATORIO in which we find out for the first time that the Elysian Fields lies in front of us but that we'd better get there while we still can.

Here are the segments of this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[02:09] My English translation of this passage: PURGATORIO, Canto VII, lines 37 - 63. If you'd like to read along, print it off, or continue the conversation, please scroll down this page.

[04:33] The passage seems to call back to Belacqua in PURGATORIO, Canto IV, and to show us that PURGATORIO is starting to wrap into itself.

[08:07] Sordello "uses" a passage from THE AENEID to explain their movement on Mount Purgatory.

[12:53] Sordello is only talking to Virgil, despite Dante standing right there.

[15:35] Virgil asks questions about ability and the will--and the allegory gets very intense.

[18:41] Sordello makes a gesture similar to the one Jesus makes in John 8 when the woman is caught in adultery.

[21:12] When there's no light, stay where you are--or else you might have to move down.

[23:16] Delight is the central motivation of PURGATORIO and even COMEDY as a whole. Too bad knowing that does Virgil no good.

[24:48] Delight directs the will.

[26:40] Love may move the fence but that movement is always costly.

And here’s my English translation of Purgatorio, Canto VII, Lines 37 – 63

“But if you know and are able to point the way to us,

Then we can more quickly get to the spot

Where Purgatory has its true beginning.”

He [Sordello] replied, “We’re not set into a fixed place here.

I’m allowed to go up and move around.

As far as it’s possible, I’ll be a guide for you.

“But see now how the day is fading.

It’s not possible for us to ascend by night.

We should, therefore, think about a decent place to settle in.

“There are some souls set apart over there to the right.

If you permit me, I’ll lead you to them.

You’ll even find some delight in getting to know who they are.”

“How can that be?” came [Virgil’s] response. “If someone wanted

To climb by night, would someone else stop him,

Or would he truly not be able to go on?”

Good Sordello drew a line on the ground with his finger

And said, “Check it out! You can’t even get across a line

Like this once the sun goes down—

“Not because something blocks you from doing so,

Just because of the dark of night in and of itself,

Which enchains the will in sheer inability.

“At nighttime, one can go back down

And wander around without any purpose on the slope

For as long as the horizon locks out the daylight.”

At that, with an astonished look, [Virgil] my lord said,

“Lead us then to the spot where you say

We can find some delight as we settle in for some rest.”