PURGATORIO, Episode 39. Distractions And The Demands Of Writing PURGATORIO: PURGATORIO, Canto V, Lines 1 - 21

Dante the pilgrim has had his last words with Belacqua and begins his journey on up the mountain. Or at least, laterally along the mountain of Purgatory.

But those negligent souls with Belacqua are not done with the pilgrim. They point him out and seem suddenly to leap into action . . . or at least, into words.

Dante is . . . flattered? Proud? Distracted. Virgil is having none of it. He reprimands the pilgrim and may give us a clue into the changing poetics of PURGATORIO.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we walk through the opening lines of canto V of PURGATORIO.

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

[01:03] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto V, lines 1 - 21. If you'd like to read along, print it off for notes, or continue the conversation with me, just scroll down this page.

[03:01] PURGATORIO, Canto IV and the unity of the soul vs. PURGATORIO, Canto V and the apparent stability/ultimate fragility of the body.

[05:48] Canto V seems to open with more sardonic irony: a lot of activity from the negligent, lazy souls under the shadow of the rock with Belacqua.

[08:20] Virgil's reprimand is one of his most strident in COMEDY. It also recapitulates the argument about the unity of the soul.

[10:58] Dante the pilgrim may exhibit some hubris (or overreaching pride) in this passage. Or perhaps not. It's a tad unclear.

[13:53] Dante the pilgrim certainly sees Virgil's remarks as a reprimand. But can there be error in the redeemed part of the afterlife?

[17:15] Maybe Virgil is onto something about the writing of PURGATORIO. It cannot be "merely" about Dante the pilgrim's reactions.

[19:44] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto V, lines 1 - 21.

And here’s my English translation of Purgatorio, Canto V, Lines 1 – 21

I had now taken my leave from those shades

And was following in the footsteps of my guide

When right behind me, pointing his finger,

One of them cried out, “Check out how the light rays

Can’t be seen below that guy on his left side.

It’s as if he were alive, the way he moves about!”

I turned my eyes back to where that voice had originated

And saw those guys who were staring at me in wonder—

Well, at me and at the broken light.

My master said, “Why is your spirit all spun up in itself

So that you’ve slowed your pace?

Why do you make so much over the fact that they’re whispering about you?

“Come along after me and let those people talk.

Stay as steady as a tower that doesn’t crumble

Even when the wind blows hard.

“See here, when any guy lets one thought spring up

In himself right after another, he delays his goal

Because one thought can only weaken another.”

What else could I say, except, “I’m coming”?

So I said it, daubed with that color that

Might make a guy worthy of a pardon.