Dante has finally come among the envious on the bare, bleak, blue-gray second terrace of Mount Purgatory. We've seen their condition: eyes stitched shut. Now for Dante's reaction. And Virgil's reaction to Dante's reaction. And Dante's ham-handed attempt to flatter someone to speak up.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we approach on of the most significant and curious figures in all of COMEDY. Dante the pilgrim will call for her in this passage . . . and she'll make her appearance in the next passage/episode.

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

[01:57] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XIII, Lines 73 - 93. If you'd like to read along, print it off, or drop a comment to continue the conversation, please go to my website: markscarbrough.com.

[04:05] Does Dante think he makes a social gaffe?

[07:40] Is Virgil irritated at Dante's reaction?

[09:48] Is this an allegorical passage or a naturalistic one? Are we being played?

[14:45] Is Dante's flattery misplaced?

[19:19] Is Dante's flattery predictive of the poem ahead?

[22:41] How much irony textures this passage?

[25:28] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XIII, lines 73 - 93.