Divine Comedy - The Purgatory

by Dante Aligheri

33 Installments—Entirely free

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Tags: Classics, Italian, Philosophy, Poetry

ISBN:0679433139

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Description

As Dante’s Purgatory, the second part of his grand Divine Comedy, opens, Dante and his guide Virgil have at last made their way out of the terrifying Inferno. Once out of the horrible circles of hell, the two travelers find themselves in Purgatory, which Dante envisions as an enormous mountain that the men must climb. Each level of Mount Purgatorio reveals sinners who must correct different failures before they may rise to the next level of the mountain and get closer to heaven. Whether they are sins of pride, envy, gluttony, or lust, each behavior is met with a corresponding and humiliating punishment. Will Dante and Virgil ever reach the top of the seemingly endless mountain? Countless readers have delighted in following their spectacular journey through a world very much beyond our own.

Opening Lines (Experimental)

Is purg'd, and for ascent to Heaven prepares.
Had heard, they of forgiveness lost all hope.
That had mine eyes and bosom fill'd with grief.
The Pisces' light, that in his escort came.
Indeed, and widow'd, since of these depriv'd!
That ne'er from son to father more was ow'd.
Deck'd it, that I beheld ...