Stuck To The Ground (Sometimes): PURGATORIO, Canto XIX, Lines 70 - 90

Dante and Virgil now walk along the fifth terrace of Purgatory, looking at the souls who are face down, stuck to the ground, unable to move or turn over.

One of them answers Virgil about the way up . . . and the pilgrim Dante wants to stop for a conversation.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, for a look at this transitional passage in PURGATORIO as we step up to meet the first of three souls on the fifth terrace of Mount Purgatory.

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

[01:31] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XIX, lines 70 - 90. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please find the entry for this episode on my website, markscarbrough.com.

[03:30] Falconry as a "transmutative art"--and the possible transmutations from classical poetry.

[09:24] The problem of being stuck to the ground.

[12:18] Our disorientation among the speakers' words.

[14:37] Virgil's (new?) concepts of justice and hope.

[17:18] A new understanding of how Purgatory works.

[19:00] PURGATORIO XIX v. INFERNO XIX.

[22:27] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XIX, lines 70 - 90.