Virgil loses the way. Dante finds it. Virgil tries to figure it out. Dante uses the language of revelation. All to make sure Virgil can be the guide again, even when he's clueless about Purgatory.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we watch the irony deepen in this passage from PURGATORIO, Canto III. Dante the poet is playing a wicked game with his characters. And we have to walk slowly to see it.

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

[02:16] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto III, lines 46 -66. If you'd like to read along, print it off, or drop a comment about this episode, just scroll down this page.

[04:17] The pilgrim Dante and his guide, Virgil, have apparently been walking all along beside incredibly rough terrain--which seems to bring out Virgil's sarcastic streak.

[06:55] The clear difference: Virgil looks down; Dante looks up.

[07:41] Dante sees human souls on the left. Many commentators believe Virgil and Dante are still following a hellish (leftward) direction.

[10:16] Dante uses the language of revelation (after Virgil's discussion of the limits of human reason).

[12:05] Virgil gets back on familiar ground as the guide because of Dante's revelation. Who's really the guide here?

And here’s my English translation of Purgatorio, Canto III, Lines 46 – 66

In the meantime, we’d come to the foot of the mountain

Where we found a cliff so steep

That the buffest legs wouldn’t have been able to get up it.

 

Consider that desolate [terrain] between Lèrici and Turbìa—

That pile of ruin is little more than a

Wide and easy staircase compared to this spot.

 

“Okay, who could know on which hand there’s the less steep climb?”

My master [Virgil] said as he halted his steps.

“Where’s the spot someone without wings can climb?”

 

Standing there with his gaze lowered,

He was wracking his brain about the road ahead.

I was looking up, all around the rocks,

 

When there appeared to me on the left a group of human souls

Who were indeed moving their feet toward us,

Although it didn’t seem they were actually doing that, given how slowly they came on.

 

“Master,” I said, “lift up your eyes!

Behold! Over there are some who might give us some guidance,

If you aren’t able to noodle out any on your own.”

 

So he looked over there and with a sigh of relief

Said, “Let’s go on toward them, for they’re coming along so slowly.

Firm up your hopes, my sweet son.”