PURGATORIO, Episode 186. Virgil's Silence And A First Glimpse Of Paradise: PURGATORIO, Canto XXIV, Lines 1 - 15

PURGATORIO, Canto XXIV, is set as a direct continuation from Canto XXIII. The poet Dante cues us to the continuation but there nevertheless are a couple of subtle disruptions.

For one thing, Virgil has been silence for most of Canto XXIII and will indeed remain silent throughout Canto XXIV, his longest silence yet in COMEDY. We won’t hear anything from him until well into Canto XXV.

And in this on-going conversation with Forese Donati, we get our first glimpse of Paradise, after curiously understanding that the human will is strong enough to slow down its progress even to its ultimate goal.

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

[01:49] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XXIV, lines 1 - 15. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please scroll down this page.

[03:12] Canto XXIV is a continuation of Canto XXIII--and Virgil remains silent.

[06:33] The "redead" is a reference to Jude 12 in the New Testament.

[10:49] Does Ulysses enter into this passage?

[11:50] The human will can even slow down its ultimate desire, the central motivation of the universe.

[14:15] Mentioning Piccarda Donati gives us a fuller glimpse of Paradise ahead . . . and a classical glimpse.

[16:48] Pain and solace are the core of the prophetic voice.

[21:39] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XXIV, lines 1 - 15.

And here’s my English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXIV, Lines 1 – 15

Neither walking stopped our talking, nor did talking

Make us move any more slowly, but we went quickly as we chatted,

Like a ship driven by a good wind.

What’s more, the shades, who seemed like the redead,

Pulled amazement in through their eye sockets over me,

When they understood that I was still alive.

And I, continuing my disquisition, said,

“Perhaps [Statius’s] soul goes up more slowly

Than he might wish, mostly because of another.

“But tell me, if you know, where is Piccarda?

Tell me if I can see anyone of note

Among these people, even as they keep staring at me.”

“Between her beauty and goodness,

I have no clue which was the greater, but my sister is already

Happily triumphant with her crown in high Olympus. . . .”