Purgatory, Canto 22

The Sayers Text of Purgatory Canto 22 (Open PDF)

A Prose translation of Canto 22 (by David Bruce)

Summary

THE three Poets ascend by the Pass of Pardon, where the Angel of Liberality pronounces the Benediction of the Fifth Cornice and erases the P of Covetousness from Dante s forehead. Statius explains that he has been doing penance, not for Avarice, but for Prodigality, and that opposing sins are purged together on the same Cornice. He tells how a study of Virgil’s writings led him to become a Christian, though secretly, for fear of persecution, and how his cowardice has had to be expiated by a long detention on the Cornice of Sloth. After Virgil has given him news of various Greeks and Romans now dwelling in Limbo, they reach the top of the stair and turn right-handed along the Sixth Cornice. Presently they come to a tall Fruit-tree, watered by a sparkling Cascade. A voice from the braches forbids the eating of the Fruit, and rehearses the examples of Temperance which constitute the Whip of Gluttony.

The Prepatory Lecture

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Questions for Reflection

• As Statius narrates the transformative power of reading Virgil’s poetry, how does Dante draw a difference between the act of reading and the act of understanding (22.37-42)? How should we think of our reading of Dante in light of this?
• What role does Virgil play in Statius’ conversion to Christianity (22.64-87)? How much is Statius an avatar for Dante here? How can the pagan Virgil lead someone to the Christian faith?
• How did the testimony of the martyrs contribute to Statius’ Christian faith (22.79-87)?
• How does Statius represent the sin of sloth?

Purgatory, Canto 22 © Jan Hearn

The Images

The Penance of the Gluttonous: Starvation: The sin of Gluttony (Gula) is — specifically — an undue attention to the pleasures of the palate, whether by sheer excess in eating and drinking, or by the opposite fault of fastidiousness. More generally, it includes all over-indulgence in bodily comforts — the concentration, whether jovial or fretful, on a “high standard of living”. It is accordingly purged by starvation within sight of plenty. Since Gluttony tends to be, on the whole, a warm-hearted and companionable sin, often resulting from, and in, a mistaken notion of good fellowship, it is placed higher than the egotistical and cold-hearted sins. (Compare the corresponding classification in Hell.)

Mark Vernon's Lecture