PURGATORIO, Episode 169. Caught Between Two Poets: PURGATORIO, Canto XXI, Lines 103 - 136

Statius has sung his (first!) hymn of praise to Virgil without knowing that the old poet is right in front of him. Dante the pilgrim is caught between them in this most human episode with his master, Virgil, demanding silence and his new friend, Statius, wanting to know why the pilgrim is smiling.

Which means Dante is also caught on his emotions which seem to be overriding his will . . . in a canto about the will's primacy.

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

[02:25] My English translation of the passage. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation, please scroll down this page.

[05:33] The curious inelegance of the poetry in this passage.

[08:31] The welling up of emotions into the eyes.

[11:50] Virgil's curious reticence.

[13:21] The will v. the emotions--ever the human dilemma.

[17:43] The dramatization of the anxiety of influence--and of the divided will.

[19:56] The revelation of Virgil on this road to Emmaus.

[22:46] Polytheism in this monotheistic poem?

[24:10] Statius' error and apology.

[29:12] The imperfections of the perfected.

[31:03] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XXI, lines 103 - 136.

And here’s my English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXI, Lines 103 – 136

With these words, Virgil turned toward me

With a silencing look that said, Be silent.

But whatever is willed can’t be accomplished by sheer strength!

Laughing and weeping closely follow

The passion from which each bubbles up.

In fact, they follow the will the least for those [who are the] most truthful.

I simply smiled, like a guy who’s hinting [at something].

So the shade went silent and stared

Into my eyes, where [human] expression is most stable.

And he said: “In order for your hard work to turn out for the good,

Why did your face just show [me]

The lamplight of laughter?”

Now I was pressed by one side and then another.

One side makes me quiet; the other goads me

To speak. So I sighed and my master

Understood me. He said, “Don’t be afraid to speak.

Indeed, speak up and tell him

What he genuinely asks.”

So I [said]: “Maybe you marvel,

That I was forced to laugh, ancient spirit;

But I want even more astonishment to grab you.

“This one guides my eyes to the heights.

He is surely Virgil, from whom you drew the strength

To sing of men and of gods.

“If you think I was made to laugh because of something else,

Let that thought pass away as untrue and believe the reason to be

Those words that you spoke about him.”

[Statius] was already bending down to embrace the feet

Of my professor, but [Virgil] said, “Brother,

Don’t. You’re a shade. And you’re looking at a shade.”

And standing up, [Statius said]: “Now you can comprehend

The sheer quantity of love that scalds me when it comes to you,

So much so that I forget our emptiness

And try to treat shades as solid things.”