Dante the pilgrim has already had one ecstatic vision as he stepped onto the third terrace of Purgatory proper. Now he has two more in quick succession.

 We're able then to identify the sin or human failing for this terrace: anger (or wrath). And we're able to glean some very human answers Dante proposes to this very human failing.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we work through the second and third ecstatic vision at the start of the terrace of wrath.

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

[01:45] My English translation of the medieval Florentine. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation, please scroll down this page.

[03:59] The sin or human failing for the third terrace identified by name: anger (or wrath).

[06:48] The second ecstatic vision: Pisistratus and his wife.

[14:49] The third ecstatic vision: the martyrdom of Stephen.

[17:57] The third vision ends with references to The Gospel Of Matthew, chapter 5, the source of the beatitudes in PURGATORIO.

[19:36] The antidote to anger: found in the countenance.

[22:40] Rereading this passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XV, lines 94 - 114.

And here’s my English translation of Purgatorio, Canto XV, Lines 94 – 114

Then there appeared another lady

With the distillate of sorrow running down her cheeks,

Tears born out of utter disdain for another.

 

She said, “If you are the tyrant of this city—

The name of which caused the gods to go to all-out war

And from which every science gets its sparkling light—

 

“Take vengeance on those ardent arms

That embraced our daughter, O Pisistratus.”

And her lord appeared to me. He was gentle and kind.

 

He replied to her with a placid countenance:

“What will we do to the ones who wish wrath on us

If we condemn the one who loves us?”

 

Then I saw a lot of people in the fires of anger.

They were killing a young man with stones, loudly

Yelling at each other, “Murder! Murder!”

 

And I saw him sink to the ground

Because death was already weighing on him.

But he morphed his eyes into the heavenly gates

 

And prayed to the Lord, in the middle of the conflict,

To pardon his persecutors.

He had a countenance that unlocked compassion [in me].