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.Join me, Mark Scarbrough, for the very human ending to his surprising and comedic canto in PURGATORIO.If you'd like to help out with the many fees associated with this…
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