PURGATORIO, Episode 34. Astronomy = Geography = Morality: Purgatorio, Canto IV, Lines 76 - 96

Dante the pilgrim has had to rest on the first ledge of Mount Purgatory. Here, he and Virgil discuss astronomy--or why the sun is in the "wrong" place on this side of the globe. Virgil seems to end the discussion (in the last episode of this podcast) with a little sneer: "If you're smart enough to figure this out."

The pilgrim is. In fact, he does Virgil one better. Then he shifts the discussion to geography, which oddly becomes a question of morality.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, for this episode about a passage from PURGATORIO which is perhaps the crystallization of Dante's technique: misdirection as ultimately the way forward.

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

[01:27] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto IV, lines 76 - 96. If you'd like to read along, print it off, or drop a comment, please scroll down this page.

[03:14] Dante the pilgrim restates Virgil's argument about the sun's position.

[06:41] Is there irony here? Because Dante is better able to explain the sun's position with a more straightforward and concise explanation.

[08:16] Dante shifts the discussion from astronomy to geography--and ultimately, to moral allegory.

[11:21] Why does Virgil shift the discussion fully to moral allegory? Because of his wisdom? Or because of his limits?

[13:36] Virgil is forced to admit his ignorance and takes another drubbing in a string of them.

[16:23] Rereading the entire sequence on the first ledge of Mount Purgatory: PURGATORIO, Canto IV, lines 52 - 96.

And here’s my English translation of Purgatorio, Canto IV, Lines 76 – 96

“For sure, my master,” I said,  “at no point

“Have I seen it so clearly as I understand it right now,

Just at the very spot where my innate ability was most lacking.

“The middle circle of the turning heavens,

Which certain sciences call ‘the equator’

And which ever takes its stand between the sun and winter,

“According to the reasoning you said, is as far north

From here as the Hebrews saw it

From the more torrid regions.

“But if it pleases you, I’d like to know

How far up we have to go, for the mountain slopes

Up farther than my eyes can climb.”

And he [Virgil] to me, “This mountain is such

That the climb is much harder at the start.

The more you go up, the less bad it gets.

“Thus, when the climb seems altogether so gentle

That it’s as easy as floating in a boat

That lets the current take it downstream,

“Then this trail will have come to its end.

That’s where you should wait to rest yourself.

I’ve got no more to say, but I do know this much is true.”