Purgatorio20

Purgatory, Canto 20

The Sayers Text of Purgatory Canto 20 (Open PDF)

A Prose translation of Canto 20 (by David Bruce)

Summary

AS they pass along the Fifth Cornice, the Poets hear the spirit of Hugh Capet proclaiming the Whip of Covetousness. Hugh utters a great lamentation over the crimes of the Capetian House and recites to Dante the examples of the Bridle. Proceeding on their way, the travellers are startled by feeling the whole Mountain shake from top to bottom, while all the prostrate penitents join in a great shout of Gloria in excelsis Deo. Dante is consumed with curiosity.

The Prepatory Lecture

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Questions for Reflection

How do lines 10-15 echo Inferno 1? Why do you think Dante chooses to revisit the opening canto here?
How does Dante view French royalty?
What makes the mountain shake (124-129)?

The Canticle in this Canto

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Images

Hugh Capet: After the lust of spiritual power, the lust of temporal power: Pope and Emperor are alike victims of the “ancient wolf”. Worldly ambition is accompanied by a more literal covetousness for wealth and possessions, with the inevitable manifestations of cruelty, callousness, and meanness, as exemplified in the history of the House of Capet.

Purgatorio, Canto 20