PURGATORIO, Episode 60. The First Angels Descend From Heaven: PURGATORIO, Canto VIII, Lines 19 - 45

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Still standing on the cusp of the valley of the negligent rulers, not yet among them, Dante witnesses two angels descend from heaven, the first we've seen come from the blessed realms. (The first angel of PURGATORIO is apparently a boatman between a spot in Italy and Mount Purgatory.)

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, for an exploration of this curious passage about angels--as guardians, yes; but also as performers in a bit of nightly street theater.

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

[01:21] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto VIII, lines 19 - 45. If you'd like to read along or continue the discussion with me, please scroll down this page.

[03:38] The first of seven direct addresses to the reader in PURGATORIO.

[07:26] A courteous (or noble) army: a key interpretive crux for Canto VIII.

[09:10] Two angels from above, reminiscent of the Cherubim put on guard at the Garden of Eden after the expulsion of Adam and Eve.

[13:28] Green angels and liturgical colors.

[16:47] The irony of sight in the face of angelic brightness.

[19:27] A reference to Mary that plays into the meaning of Canto VIII.

[21:16] Freezing in Purgatory.

[24:06] Deflating the drama in this passage.

[26:35] Rereading PURGATORIO, Canto VIII, lines 19 - 45.

And here’s my English translation of Purgatorio, Canto VIII, Lines 19 – 45

Right here, reader, whet your eyes to the truth

Because the scrim is so transparent

That it’s so easy to pass inside it.

I saw this courteous army

All gaze upward in silence.

They were expectant—but pale and humble, too.

And I saw, exiting from above and coming down to us,

Two angels with two flaming swords,

The blades broken short and missing their tips.

These angels were in robes that were

As green as newborn leaves, which fluttered out and back

As their green feathers beat over them.

One of them came down to a spot a little above us

And the other came down onto the opposite embankment,

So that the people were enclosed in the middle of them.

I could clearly make out their blond heads

But my eyes otherwise lost themselves in their faces,

As any faculty is confounded by too much.

“The two of them came from Mary’s bosom,”

Sordello said. “They keep watch over the valley

Because of the serpent that will soon enough make its way here.”

Just then, I, who didn’t know what path it might take,

Whipped around and drew even closer,

All frozen in fear, to those trusted shoulders.

Sordello went on: “Let’s go down now

Among the great shades and chat with them.

They’ll be really pleased to see you.”