We've come to the first penitent who speaks after the gate of Purgatory: Omberto Aldobrandesco. He's from a storied, titled family, a nobleman brought low. Or is he?

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we hear Omberto's side of the story, try to discern his character through his words, and ponder why Dante makes the first penitent of Purgatory proper so very boring.

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

[01:27] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XI, lines 46 - 72. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please go to my website: markscarbrough.com.

[03:55] More decentering in the passage: Is Dante trying to decenter (or humble) the reader?

[09:35] Is Omberto Aldobrandesco humbled?

[14:12] Or is he still prideful?

[15:54] Or is he both?

[17:49] Who was Omberto Aldobrandesco?

[22:55] Omberto articulates the basic understanding of purgation in PURGATORIO.

[25:53] But why does Dante make the first penitent beyond Purgatory's gate so, well, boring?

[29:16] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XI, lines 46 - 72.