Purgatorio

Two souls discuss how Dante can be in Purgatory when he is alive. One of them asks him who he is, and Dante replies that he is from the river that flows down from Tuscany. He does not give his name because it “produces no great sound” (221). The souls recognize that the river Dante referenced is the Arno. One of them wonders why he will not say his name, as if he dreads it. The other launches into an invective against the people of the Arno valley. He laments at how they have become corrupted, as if transformed by Circe. He traces the river’s trajectory, describing the “mongrel dogs,” wolves, and tricky foxes that live among its shores (222). One of the souls tells the other that his nephew will hunt and kill the wolves on the banks. The other soul grows sad.

Dante is curious to know who these souls are and asks their names. One of the souls points out that Dante asks what he will not give, then admits that he is Guido del Duca. In life, he was so envious that he could not bear others to be happy. The other soul is Rinieri of the Calboli, a once prideful house whose descendants have degenerated. He laments the passing of men who did great deeds, finally asking Dante to leave because the conversation has distressed him.

Dante and Virgil continue their walk in silence. They hear a thunderbolt, and a voice rings out, “They’ll murder me whoever captures me!” After another crash of thunder, a second voice says, “I am Aglauros, who became a stone!” Virgil notes that mankind never learns to practice restraint, which is why God “strikes you down” (225).

Dante reflects on the movement of the sun. He and Virgil are walking west, directly into the light. Dante shields his eyes. Finding no relief from the brightness, he asks Virgil why he cannot protect his eyes. Virgil tells him not to be surprised that the light of Heaven dazzles him. It is an angel inviting them to the next level. They reach the angel, who tells them the climb will become less steep. As they go up, the angel sings, “Beati misericordes” (Blessed are the merciful) (227).

Dante asks Virgil about Guido del Duca’s discussion of his sin. Virgil explains that humans worry sharing means they will have smaller portions, but in Heaven, sharing with love (“caritas”) leads to everyone having a larger portion. Dante wonders how this is possible. Virgil chides him for “thinking still in terms of earthly things” (228). God rejoices in love, and the more people fix their minds on it, the more love gets generated to go around. Virgil adds that if his explanation is insufficient, when Dante sees Beatrice, she will ease his mind. Virgil wants Dante to hurry so that the five remaining Ps will heal as did the previous two.

Reaching the next level, Dante beholds several visions. First, he sees a woman in a temple scolding her young son for having gone missing. In the next vision, a weeping woman wants her husband, Pisitratus, to “take vengeance” on the man who rashly embraced their daughter, but he gently refuses to condemn someone who loves them. The final vision is of a young man who, during his own stoning and with his dying breath, asks God to forgive his murderers.

When Dante’s visions pass, Virgil asks him why he cannot stand up straight, but he already knows the answer. The visions were meant to teach Dante the virtue of gentleness. As they walk toward the sunset, a dark cloud of smoke engulfs and blinds them.