Virgil loses the way. Dante finds it. Virgil tries to figure it out. Dante uses the language of revelation. All to make sure Virgil can be the guide again, even when he's clueless about Purgatory.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we watch the irony deepen in this passage from PURGATORIO, Canto III. Dante the poet is playing a wicked game with his characters. And we have to walk slowly to see it.

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

[02:16] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto III, lines 46 -66. If you'd like to read along, print it off, or drop a comment about this episode, please go to my website, markscarbrough.com.

[04:17] The pilgrim Dante and his guide, Virgil, have apparently been walking all along beside incredibly rough terrain--which seems to bring out Virgil's sarcastic streak.

[06:55] The clear difference: Virgil looks down; Dante looks up.

[07:41] Dante sees human souls on the left. Many commentators believe Virgil and Dante are still following a hellish (leftward) direction.

[10:16] Dante uses the language of revelation (after Virgil's discussion of the limits of human reason).

[12:05] Virgil gets back on familiar ground as the guide because of Dante's revelation. Who's really the guide here?