Purgatorio section 2: As the sun rises on Purgatory, Dante spies a ship sailing across the sea toward the island at a great rate. Virgil instructs Dante to kneel and fold his hands because it is an angel that guides the boat and propels it with its wings. The brightness of the angel's face blinds Dante. As the ship approaches, Dante hears the voices of hundreds of spirits aboard the boat singing a psalm. When the spirits land on the island they ask Dante and Virgil for directions to the path. Virgil explains that they too are new arrivals and the spirits realize that Dante is still alive because they can see him breathing. Meanwhile, a spirit, Casella, recognizes Dante. Dante tries to embrace Casella three times but because she is a spirit, she has no mass and Dante's arms close around air. Casella put some of Dante's poems to music so Dante asks her to sing a song for him. The other spirits gather around to listen to the sweet song but Cato ends the diversion by reminding everyone that their mission to climb the mountain is urgent. The spirits disperse and begin their journey.
Purgatorio section 3: When the travelers enter Ante-Purgatory Dante suffers a moment of fear when he notices that he is the only one who casts a shadow. Virgil explains that he casts a shadow because he is alive. Many great thinkers have tried to understand why spirits can be seen but do not have mass or cast shadows. Virgil explains that this phenomenon is one of God's mysteries and is beyond human comprehension. Virgil then explains the same phenomenon to a group of approaching spirits that are shocked to see Dante's shadow. One of the spirits in the group approaches Dante. This spirit belongs to Manfred, the illegitimate son of Fredrick II. Manfred begs Dante to tell his daughter that he repented before he died and that he regrets that his body did not get a proper burial. Manfred explains to Dante that even people who repent at the last minute are granted salvation but they must stay in Purgatory thirty times as long as the length of their rebellion against the Church. Manfred hopes that his daughter's prayers will take some time off of his stay in Purgatory.
Purgatorio section 4: Dante's conversation with Manfred has made Dante lose track of time. He uses this incident to contradict the notion of the plurality of souls doctrine. Virgil and Dante come to a cleft in the rocks where they begin their climb toward the summit. Dante finds the climb through the First Spur, where the Late-Repentant due to negligence dwell, extremely difficult and must stop at a ledge to rest. While they rest, Dante notices that although they face the sun, the sun appears on his left. Virgil explains that Purgatory stands on the opposite hemisphere from Jerusalem and since scientists believed that the world only had one hemisphere, this geography made perfect sense to Dante. As the two begin their ascent once again, Virgil comforts Dante by telling him that the climb will become increasingly easier as they approach the summit. As they climb, Dante encounters one of his friends, Belaqua, whose sarcastic taunting prompts Dante to tell his friend that he will no longer grieve for him. Virgil urges his pupil to hurry on.
Purgatorio section 5: Dante and Virgil move to the Second Spur where the Late-Repentant who died by violence spend their time in Purgatory. As they walk, a large group of spirits approach them singing a psalm. Once they realize that Dante is alive they beg him to send news to their loved ones on Earth. These spirits did not receive the sacrament because they died by violence so prayers from their friends and families will make their time in Purgatory shorter. Various spirits from this group including Jacopo del Cassero and Buonconte da Montefeltro tell their tales of death in battle. Buonconte reveals that an angel and a demon fought over his soul after he died but the angel finally took possession of him because of a little tear that appeared in his eye. Finally, the spirit belonging to La Pia, a lady from Siena, asks Dante to remember her when he returns to Earth.
Purgatorio section 6: Dante compares his situation in Purgatory to that of a gambler who has won: "When dicing's done and players separate, the loser's left alone, disconsolate-rehearsing what he'd thrown, he sadly learns; all of the crowd surrounds the one who won-one goes in front, and one tugs at his back, and at his side one asks to be remembered." Nearly every spirit that he meets urges Dante to ask for prayers on its behalf. Virgil once wrote that prayers from loved ones do not help souls in Purgatory. Dante questions him on this opinion and Virgil explains that the passage that he wrote referred to a pagan who would not be helped by prayers; Christians do, however, leave Purgatory earlier when God's heard prayers on their behalf. Virgil also admits, though, that Beatrice will give him the final answers to all of his questions so Dante is eager to continue their journey. Virgil and Dante encounter a spirit named Sordello from Mantua along their path. Virgil, who is also a Mantuan, embraces Sordello. Dante uses this opportunity to illustrate how people from the same city used to stay connected while people today act like strangers to each other. Dante delivers a scorching invective against the people of Italy then he turns his anger to the Florentines who, he believes, have become especially bad neighbors.
Purgatorio section 7: The scene returns to Virgil and Sordello, fellow Mantuans. Sordello asks Virgil to identify himself. Struck with awe that he has encountered the great poet, Sordello bows down and exclaims that Virgil has brought great honor to the city of Mantua. Sordello wonders where Virgil now lives. Virgil explains that he dwells with other virtuous pagans who practiced the cardinal virtues but did not practice the three holy virtues. Finally, Virgil once again asks Sordello for directions up the mountain. Sordello leads the travelers to a beautiful valley filled with sweet flowers. Sordello points out some of the notable figures that dwell in this valley: Henry of Navarre, Peter III of Aragon, and Charles I of Anjou. These shades give the valley its name, Valley of the Rulers. The spirits are consigned to this spot because they too neglected to repent. Dante uses this example to show that one's character is not necessarily noble even when one comes from a noble line of birth-an issue hotly debated during Dante's time.
Purgatorio section 8: Darkness falls on the Valley of the Rulers. The spirits begin to sing an evening devotion, "Te lucis ante." Two angels take posts in the Valley to stand guard for the night. Although Dante cannot see their faces because they are so bright, he sees that the angels hold flaming swords and that their wings are green. Dante and Virgil take spots among the spirits for the night. One spirit, Nino Visconti, recognizes Dante and begs him to ask his daughter to pray for him because his wife no longer cares about him. Dante notices that three twinkling stars overhead have replaced the constellation of four that he had seen at dawn. Sordello spots a serpent snaking through the grass but the sound of angels wings, like those of a falcon, scare the serpent away. Visconti's companion, Conrad Malaspina asks Dante for news from his native land, Val di Magra. Although Dante has never been to this place, he has heard of it because its rulers are well known. Conrad prophesies that Dante will visit Val di Magra before "the sun [has] rested seven times."
Purgatorio section 9: As Dante sleeps in the Valley of the Rulers, he dreams of an eagle plucking him from Mount Ida. He and the eagle soar toward the sun and as they catch fire, Dante awakens from his dream. Virgil comforts his startled friend by explaining that while he slept St. Lucia carried him up the steep mountain to the gates of Purgatory (until now they had been in Ante-Purgatory). An angel bearing a sword guards the gates of Purgatory. Once the angel hears that Dante travels by divine design, he bids the poet to him. Dante climbs three gleaming stairs: white marble, dark purple, blood-red porphyry. The angel marks seven P's with his sword on Dante's forehead. Each P represents a level of Purgatory and will be removed as Dante passes each level. The angel opens the gates of Purgatory with a silver and a gold key and warns the poets to never look back. As they enter, Dante hears beautiful voices singing " Te Deum laudamus."
Purgatorio section 10: Dante and Virgil make a difficult climb up a zigzag path to the First Terrace where the Prideful dwell. Beautiful carvings of scenes depicting acts of humility adorn the marble cliff adjacent to the First Terrace. The scenes include: the Annunciation, King David dancing before the Ark, and a woman begging Emperor Trajan to avenge her son's death. A sorrowful group of spirits approaches the poets. Hunched low to the ground by huge rocks slung about their shoulders, these spirits must contemplate their pride until they have served their appropriate penance. Dante berates these souls by saying, "O Christians, arrogant, exhausted, wretched, whose intellects are sick and cannot see, who place your confidence in backward steps, do you not know that we are worms and born to form the angelic butterfly that soars, without defenses, to confront His judgment?"
Purgatorio section 11: The Prideful spirits recite a long version of the Lord's Prayer. Moved by their sincere solemnity, Dante believes that the living ought to help these spirits with their prayers. Virgil asks for directions and one shade, Omberto Aldobrandeschi, responds. Omberto describes how his unwarranted pride of ancestry caused the downfall of his kinsman and his own death. Another spirit, belonging to the artist Oderisi of Gubbio, explains how the pride he took in his talents landed him on this Terrace in Purgatory. Oderisi claims that artists such as him should not strive for fame because their fame is so transient-as an example, he notes how Giotto surpassed Cimabue. Oderisi identifies one of his companions, the leader Salvani from Siena. Surprised to see that Salvani bypassed a lengthy stay in Ante-Purgatory, Dante asks how Salvani came to the Terrace so quickly. Oderisi explains that Salvani performed a momentous act of humility at the height of his power when he begged in the streets to get money for the ransom of a friend. Salvani's quick ascent into Purgatory shows that great acts of humility can mitigate late repentance.
Purgatorio section 12: Still on the First Terrace, Virgil urges Dante to hurry because he has been keeping pace with Oderisi who walks stooped low to the ground. Virgil also points out the scenes of pride carved into the ground so that the stooped spirits will contemplate the consequences of pride as they walk. The first scene depicts Satan's fall from Heaven. Twelve scenes alternating between Biblical and classical mythology follow: Briareus, the Giants, Nimrod, Niobe, Saul, Arachne, Rehoboam, Eriphyle, Sennacherib, Cyrus, Holofernes, and Troy. As Dante and Virgil begin their ascent from the First Terrace, an angel brushes Dante's forehead with its wing. Dante finds the climb out of the Terrace easy and Virgil tells him that because the angel erased one of the P's from Dante's brow, the climb has become easier. Dante compares the stairway that he and Virgil now mount with the stairway that leads to the church of San Miniato on the hilltop overlooking Florence.
Purgatorio section 13: Dante and Virgil emerge on the Second Terrace where the Envious serve their penance in Purgatory. Although the ledge seems deserted, Dante hears voices singing the praises of fraternal love-the opposite of envy. The first voice sings "Vinum non habent" (the words of Mary's appeal to Christ when the wine ran out at the wedding feast in Cana). The second voice: "I am Orestes" (the words Pylades said to pretend to be his friend so that he, rather than the real Orestes, would be killed). The third voice: "Love those by whom you have been hurt." Virgil directs Dante's attention to a group of spirits seated against the wall. Nearly indistinguishable from the rock, these spirits wear haircloth cloaks that are the same color as the rocks and lean against each other like beggars. Envious souls, these shades spend their time in Purgatory weeping because their eyes are sewn shut. Dante meets Sapia, a woman from Siena who took pleasure in the misfortunes of others. Sapia tells her story and asks Dante to pray for her when he returns to Earth.
Purgatorio section 14: Curious about his conversation with Sapia, two other spirits, Guido del Duca and Rinieri da Calboli, approach Dante and ask him who he is and where he is from. Dante responds that he is from a town on the banks of the river that begins in Mount Falterona. Guido realizes that Dante speaks of the river Arno and that Dante hasn't mentioned it by name because he is ashamed of his hometown. The shade responds by delivering a blistering speech against the people that live along the Arno. Guido compares the people from the upper regions of the Arno to the lower regions as follows: hogs, curs, dogs, and wolves. Guido prophesies that his grandson will someday slaughter the people that live in the region of wolves. Guido reveals that in life he was envious of anyone who appeared to be happy. Finally, Guido laments the moral downfall of his Rinieri's descendants and the moral degradation of the Romagna region. Moving away from these envious spirits, Dante hears voices singing examples of envy. Virgil instructs Dante that these words should remind men of the glories of Heaven but instead Satan tempts humans to think only of life on Earth.
Purgatorio section 15: A strong light forces Dante to cover his face. The light, however, persists and Virgil reminds Dante that his mortal senses are powerless against the approach of an angel. The angel arrives and directs the travelers to the next terrace where the Wrathful reside. As the poets leave the Envious, they hear the Fifth Beatitude, "Beati misericordes" (Blessed are the merciful). Dante asks Virgil to explain this remark made by Guido when they were on the last terrace: "Sharing cannot have a part." Virgil explains that the value of material possessions decrease with sharing while the value of spiritual possessions increases with sharing-God pours out more love to everyone as more souls love Him. A fuller explanation, Virgil concludes, will come from Beatrice. As they reach the next terrace, Dante experiences several ecstatic visions in which he sees examples of virtue opposite the sin of wrath. In the first vision, Dante sees a mother treating her son gently after she finds him amidst a crowded temple. In the second vision, Dante sees a mother beg her husband to punish a boy who has embraced their daughter. The father calms his wife by saying, "What shall we do to one who'd injured us if one who loves us earns our condemnation?" In his third vision, Dante sees a crowd stoning a man and shouting "Kill!" As the victim falls dead to the ground he prays to God to forgive his attackers. Dante regains consciousness after the visions and Virgil reminds him that these visions are meant to deter him from wrath. As the travelers eagerly continue their journey, a smoky cloud emerges before them.
Purgatorio section 16: The cloud of smoke burns Dante's eyes and irritates his skin. Although Dante cannot see anything in the murky smoke he can hear the Wrathful souls asking for forgiveness and praying to God for peace by chanting "Angnus Dei." Hearing Dante and Virgil in conversation, the spirit of Marco Lombardo approaches and consents to guide the poets along this terrace. Dante asks Marco about the cause of human corruption, "The world indeed has been stripped utterly of every virtue; as you said to me, it cloaks-and is cloaked by-perversity. Some place the cause in Heaven, some, below; but I beseech you to define the cause, that, seeing it, I may show it to others." Marco responds that while some corruption can be blamed on the stars, men must take responsibility for their actions. Men understand good and evil and have the free will to choose their path in life. Thus, men must be held accountable for both their good and bad deeds. Marco explains that men, born innocent and inexperienced, need guidance from their rulers through laws. Rome once had two rulers-one that governed spiritual life while the other governed political life. Marco blames the present state of moral decay in Italy on the fact that only one ruler governs both spheres of life. Marco names three men who embody examples of ancient virtue: Currado da Palazzo, Gherardo, and Guido da Castello.
Purgatorio section 17: The poets emerge from the smoky cloud near sunset. Again, Dante receives visions of wrath: Procne (who killed her son), the execution of Haman, and Lavinia (who discovered the body of her mother who had hanged herself). After the visions pass, an angel beckons Dante to mount the stairs to the Fourth Terrace where the Slothful reside. The angel brushes another P from Dante's forehead. As Dante climbs the stairs he hears the Seventh Beatitude, "Beati pacifici" (Blessed are the peacemakers). Night has fallen when the travelers reach the next level so the two rest. To pass the time, Virgil outlines the design of Purgatory. Virgil explains that all action, good and evil, stems from some form of love. There are two forms of love, instinctual love and chosen love (love that stems from one's mind). Natural (instinctual) love is perfect in the eyes of God but chosen love emerges from man's free will and is, therefore, prone to error. Love that aims to hurt others takes form in pride, envy, and wrath-the sins found on the first three terraces. Love directed toward a worthy end but with insufficient zeal, sloth, is punished on the Fourth Terrace. The three upper terraces punish sinners who loved earthly objects excessively. Virgil does not reveal the sins punished on the three upper terraces.
Purgatorio section 18: Virgil continues his discussion of love and free will: "The soul, which is created quick to love, responds to everything that pleases, just as soon as beauty wakens it to act.Then, just as flames ascend because the form of fire was fashioned to fly upward, toward the stuff of its own sphere, where it lasts longest, so does the soul, when seized, move into longing, a motion of the spirit, never resting till the beloved thing has made it joyous." However, while instinctual love is natural, like the flames of a fire, men exert free will. Free will can pervert natural love and men are judged by their acts of free will. Virgil states, "Now that all other longings may conform to this first will [instinctual love], there is in you, inborn, the power that counsels [free will], keeper of the threshold of your assent: this principle on which your merit may be judged, for it garners and winnows good and evil longings." As Virgil concludes his explanation, the poets hear a group of spirits approach. In great haste, the spirits recite examples of zeal (the opposite of their own sin, sloth) as they hurry by. Virgil asks the souls for directions to the next terrace as Dante falls asleep.
Purgatorio section 19: In a dream, Dante encounters a Siren that sings to him sweetly and tries to tempt him as she tempted Ulysses. Virgil rips the clothes off of the Siren to expose her ugliness and corruption. Startled, Dante awakens from his dream as an angel approaches to lead the poets to the next level. The angel pronounces the Third Beatitude, "Qui lugent" ([Blessed are] those who mourn). As they climb to the next plain, Virgil explains to Dante that the Siren caused the sins of those who reside above on the mountain. To guard against the Siren's seductions, men must "fasten [their] eyes upon the lure that's spun by the eternal King" (men must keep their eyes on Heaven). On the Fifth Terrace-reserved for the Avaricious and the Prodigal, Dante finds numerous spirits lying face down on the ground singing "Adhesit pavimento anima mea" (My soul has adhered to the ground). Dante questions a nearby spirit who explains that he was avaricious (he loved earthly possessions) until he became a pope. Since he did not turn his eyes toward Heaven until late in life, he must spend his time in Purgatory groveling for penance face down in the dirt. Dante bows out of respect for this former pope but the spirit admonishes him to stand because in the spirit world everyone is an equal servant of God.
Purgatorio section 20: Dante and Virgil stay close to the wall as they move along this terrace because so many souls crowd the ground. Dante calls avarice a "she-wolf" which has claimed the most souls of any sin. Dante hears a voice citing the poverty of Mary as an example of virtue opposite avarice. The voice continues by citing two more examples: Fabricius, a Roman counsel who rejected a bribe, and St. Nicholas, who saved his sisters from degradation by earning dowries for them. Dante finds the spirit whose voice he just heard and learns that it belongs to Hugh Capet, the founder of a grand French dynasty. In a long and specific list of the crimes committed by French royalty, Capet denounces the sins of his children and kinsmen and prophesies future treachery. Capet tells Dante that the penitents on this ledge recite examples of poverty and generosity during the day and decry examples of avarice during the night. Capet gives several examples of Avarice: Pygmalion, Midas, and Heliodorus. As the poets leave Capet, Dante feels a tremendous earthquake. The spirits cry "Gloria in excelsis Deo" then continue their recitals with more zeal than before.
Purgatorio section 21: Still on the Fifth Terrace, Dante dwells on the source of the earthquake that he just experienced. A spirit approaches the travelers from behind and demands to know whey Dante has come to Purgatory. Virgil explains that their journey was designed in Heaven and that although he is consigned to Limbo, Virgil must act as Dante's guide. In response to Dante's query about the earthquake, the spirit explains that Purgatory quakes every time a spirit completes its penance and rises to Heaven. Each time this happens, the remaining spirits praise the Lord. The spirit, calling himself Statius, claims that the last quake signaled his own deliverance from Purgatory. Without recognizing Virgil standing before him, Statius remarks that his inspiration in life was the great poet. Dante reveals the name of his guide and Statius bows down before Virgil in great reverence and awe.
Purgatorio section 22: After brushing another P from Dante's forehead, an angel directs the poets to the next level. As they move toward the Sixth Terrace where the Gluttonous dwell, Virgil and Statius discuss the Aeneid. Statius admits that he was so moved by this passage in Virgil's epic poem that he became prodigal: "Why cannot you, o holy hunger for gold, restrain the appetite of mortals?" Opposite sins, prodigality and avarice, are punished in the same circle of both Hell and Purgatory. Virgil asks Statius how he became a Christian. Again, Statius reveals that a passage in one of Virgil's poems that prophesized the coming of a new faith led Statius to his religion. However, Statius kept his conversion to Christianity a secret and had to repent for his sloth as well. Virgil names Roman and Greek poets who reside with him in Limbo: Plautus, Terrence, Antigont, and Ismene. As the travelers reach the Sixth Terrace, Dante encounters a strange tree that bears sweet fruit and tapers at the bottom rather than the top. Dante hears voices reciting examples of temperance: Mary, the women of ancient Rome (who only drank water), Daniel (who was granted the power to interpret dreams because he would not eat the king's meat), and John the Baptist who ate only honey and locusts when he lived in the wilderness.
Purgatorio section 23: Still on the Sixth Terrace, the three poets hear a spirit singing "Labia mea, Domine" ([Open] my lips, O Lord [and my mouth will proclaim your praise]). As the voice sings praises, Dante sees numerous pale spirits hurrying past him. The spirits appear hollow and emaciated from hunger. Dante meets an old friend, Forese Donati, a fellow Florentine poet, who explains that the tree and the water the feeds it purify the gluttonous sinners who must spend their time in Purgatory without food and water. Dante asks Forese to explain how he was able to pass Ante-Purgatory so quickly. Forese responds that the prayers of his virtuous widow helped him leave Ante-Purgatory early. His widow, Nella, stands in stark contrast to current Florentine women who are immodest and appear in public with their breasts exposed. Forese notices Dante's shadow and asks for an explanation. Dante reminds his friend that he has led a reckless life and that Virgil was sent to rescue him and will be Dante's guide until he meets Beatrice.
Purgatorio section 24: Forese points out other gluttonous penitents: a pope who loved eels cooked in wine, Ubaldino dalla Pila, Bonafazio, and Marhese, a man who was never satisfied despite his constant drinking. One of the Gluttons, the poet Bonagiunta, asks Dante if he wrote the poem, "Ladies who have intelligence of love" and Dante replies that he writes about love when he is moved by love. Bonagiunta believes that it is this inspiration that sets Dante apart from other poets. With the exception of Forese, the spirits that have gathered around the poets disperse. Dante tells Forese that he hopes to return to the terrace soon because his city has become so corrupt. Forese prophesizes that the man responsible for the downfall of Florence will be killed violently and descend to Hell shortly. As Forese bids farewell to his friend, the poets move to another fruit tree. A voice from within the branches of the tree tell the travelers to keep moving and remember these examples of gluttony: the centaurs who had to fight Theseus when they were drunk, and the soldiers who were rejected by Gideon for being drunk. The angel of temperance descends and erases another Pfrom Dante's forehead. Glowing like molten glass, the angel directs the poets to the next level as it recites the last part of the Fourth Beatitude: "Blessed are those whom grace illumines so, that, in their breasts, the love of taste does not awake too much desire-whose hungering is always in just measure."
Purgatorio section 25: Statius, Dante, and Virgil climb the stairs to the Seventh (and final) Terrace where the Lustful serve their penance. As they travel, Dante asks Virgil to explain how shades can suffer from hunger when their bodies are made of air and, therefore, have no need for food. Virgil cites the example of Meleager, who starved because of a prophecy of the Fates, to suggest that Dante consider supernatural phenomenon as the explanation. Virgil then turns to Statius for a more detailed response to Dante's question. Based on a medieval understanding of reproduction, Statius' answer begins with the act of procreation. Statius explains that refined blood passes from man to woman and creates a human being. The fetus (although he does not use this term) goes through three stages of development: vegetative, sensitive, and intellective. God creates the complete soul by endowing babies with the intellective faculty at birth. At death, the soul leaves the body but retains its intellect, memory, and will. When the soul reaches either Acheron (entrance to Hell) or Tiber (entrance to Purgatory) the soul assumes a body without mass that takes attributes of its former body. The shades, therefore, see, hear, speak, and weep. The poets reach the Seventh Terrace and find a river of fire. Voices from within the flames chant "Summae Deus clementiae" (O God of supreme clemency). After each hymn, spirits recite examples of chastity such as Mary's words during the Annunciation, and the banishment of Helice from the woods of Diana. The shades also list names of men and women who were chaste during their lifetimes.
Purgatorio section 26: Dante's shadow attracts the spirits' attention. As Dante begins to explain his situation, two groups of spirits moving in opposite directions pass each other. As they pass, the shades greet one another with quick kisses and one group shouts "Sodom and Gomorrah" while the other group cries that Pasiphae has turned into a cow to attract a bull. Once the groups pass, the first group resumes its hymn-chanting. Dante explains that he still lives as a mortal and asks the spirits to identify themselves. One spirit reveals that the souls in the group yelling "Sodom and Gomorrah" were guilty of the unnatural vices for which Caesar was called "queen" while the other souls in the other group were guilty of natural lust. The spirit identifies itself as Guido Guinizelli. Dante expresses his admiration for Guido who he considered a preeminent writer of love poetry. Guido, however points to another spirit, that of Arnaut Daniel, writhing in the flames as a better poet than himself. Dante greets Arnaut who responds in the Provencal language.
Purgatorio section 27: As the angel of chastity descends to greet the poet it sings "Beati mundo corde" (Blessed are the pure in heart). The angel urges the travelers to cross through the river of fire because there is no other way up the mountain to the Earthly Paradise. Terrified that he will be burned alive, Dante at first refuses to enter the flames. Virgil, however, encourages Dante by reminding him that Beatrice waits for him above. At the mention of Beatrice, Dante enters the river and writhes in pain from the incredible heat. Angelic voices urge the poets out of the flames. Darkness falls as the poets, safe from the fire, lie down on the steps to rest until daybreak. In his dream, Dante sees Leah who, picking flowers, tells Dante that she prefers to spend her time weaving her flowers into garlands while her sister, Rachel, prefers to look at her own beautiful eyes in a mirror. After Dante awakens, the three poets resume their climb. Although Dante will soon attain true happiness, Virgil explains that he has brought Dante as far as he can as his teacher. Virgil states that having passed through Hell and Purgatory, Dante can now be his own guide. Virgil's final words to his pupil: "I crown and miter you over yourself."
Purgatorio section 28: Dante and Statius enter the divine forest of the Earthly Paradise. Sweet odors, soft breezes, and chirping birds fill the air as Dante approaches a lovely stream followed by the spirits of the ancient poets. Dante spies a beautiful woman picking flowers and singing across the river. The lady nears the stream and Dante muses, "No sooner had she reached the point where that fair river's waves could barely bathe the grass, than she gave me this gift: lifting her eyes. I do not think a light so bright had shone beneath the lids of Venus when her son pierced her in extraordinary fashion." The lady, Matilda, tells Dante that she will answer any questions that puzzle him. Dante asks her to explain how breezes and flowing streams exist in this place. Matilda replies that the breezes in the Earthly Paradise are created by motions of Heaven which always flow in the same direction. A fountain created by the will of God feeds two streams: Lethe, and Eunoe. Matilda concludes by instructing Dante to remember that the poets of the Golden Age had an understanding of this region where man first lived in innocence.
Purgatorio section 29: Matilda resumes her singing as she moves along the banks of Lethe. Dante keeps pace with her until they come to a sharp bend in the river. Matilda stops and urges Dante, "My brother, look and listen." A great light sweeps across the forest as Dante hears music so lovely that it causes him to regret Eve having caused the casting out of humankind from Eden. Dante invokes the Muses to help him describe this experience because he struggles to put his sentiments into words. Dante sees seven lighted candlesticks in the distance. Followed by twenty-four elders crowned in white lilies, the candles move slowly forward. Four creatures each with six wings covered with eyes follow the elders. With a head of gold and a body of red and white, a gryphon pulls a chariot amidst the four beasts. Three ladies, red, green, and white, dance at one of the chariot's wheels while four ladies dressed in purple dance at the other wheel. Two old men, one a physician and the other carrying a sword, follow the chariot while four humble men follow them. Finally, one figure trails brings up the rear of the procession. The procession halts at the sound of thunder.
Purgatorio section 30: As the procession halts, the elders cry "Veni, sponsa, de Libano" (Come bride from Lebanon) and a group of angels drop flowers over the chariot as they sing "Benedictus qui venis" (Blessed are you who come). A lady crowed with an olive garland and wearing a white veil emerges from the mist. Dante recognizes Beatrice at once even though he cannot see her face. Dante turns to express his happiness to Virgil but finds that his teacher has left. Dante begins to weep but Beatrice tells him that he will soon weep for a different sorrow. Beatrice tells the angels about Dante's sinful ways. Dante recoils in shame. Beatrice explains that although Dante has great talent and loved her faithfully while she was alive, he has strayed from God's plan after her death. Although she tried to save him from Heaven, Beatrice realized that she had to bring him on this journey so that he could see the torment and torture of lost souls for himself so she went to Limbo to beseech Virgil to be Dante's guide.
Purgatorio section 31: Beatrice asks Dante if her accusations are true, "tell, tell if this is true; for your confession must be entwined with such self-accusation." Fraught with shame, Dante responds affirmatively. Beatrice urges Dante to reveal the pitfalls that made him stray from his virtuous path. Dante tries to explain that after Beatrice's death, he took pleasure in earthly vanities. After this confession, Beatrice tells Dante that his memory of her should keep him from ever straying again. Still hanging his head in deep shame, Dante stands across the river from Beatrice as she asks him to lift his eyes to gaze up her immortal beauty-something that will cause him more suffering. Dante realizes that, even through her veil, Beatrice is "seemed to surpass her former self in beauty as, here on Earth, she had surpassed all others." Overcome with remorse, Dante faints. As he revives, Dante finds Matilda standing over him. Matilda leads Dante across Lethe where he can wash away his sins. On the opposite shore of the river, the four women in purple greet Dante and usher him to Beatrice. The three other dancing ladies urge Beatrice to raise her veil and look upon the poet who has traveled so far. Beatrice raises her veil and Dante cannot find words to describe his experience thereafter.
Purgatorio section 32: Transfixed by Beatrice's gaze, Dante emerges from his trance only by the dancing ladies. Dante compares his vision to that of a person who has looked directly at the sun. As the procession begins to move again, Dante and Statius take positions with Matilda at the wheel of the chariot. The marchers circle a tree and, after Beatrice steps to the ground, they connect the chariot to the tree. Bursts of beautiful blossoms spring from the tree. As the marchers begin to sing a hymn, Dante falls asleep under the tree. When he awakens, Dante finds himself alone with Beatrice and her maids. Guarding the chariot, Beatrice tells Dante to watch what is about to happen with care and to write about it when he returns to Earth. An eagle emerges from the sky and attacks the tree, dropping feathers on the chariot. Beatrice scares off a fox that tries to enter the chariot then a dragon emerges from the ground and breaks the chariot. Feathers cover the remains of the chariot that sprouts seven horned heads. A whore takes a seat upon the chariot then a giant joins her. The giant kisses the harlot passionately but then beats her when he sees her attention turn to Dante. Angrily, the giant pulls the chariot away and into the woods.
Purgatorio section 33: Beatrice's maids weep over the destruction of the chariot but Beatrice tells Dante, Matilda, and Statius to follow her. Dante tells Beatrice that he won't ask her any questions because she already knows what is proper for him to understand. Beatrice admonishes Dante to dismiss his shame and fear. Beatrice prophesies that God will instruct an avenger who will slay the whore and the giant. Beatrice assures Dante that her words will soon become clear. Dante vows to tell his story with clarity. Beatrice asks Matilda to lead Dante to the river Eunoe. As Dante and Statius prepare to enter Heaven, Dante states, "From that most holy wave I now returned to Beatrice; remade, as new trees are renewed when they bring forth new boughs, I was pure and prepared to climb into the stars."
