INFERNO, Episode 93. Civic Unity, Truth-Telling, And (Not) Making A Difference In Hell: Inferno, Canto XVI, Lines 79 - 90

We've come to the last passage on our three Guelph heroes, circling each other on the burning sands of the seventh circle of hell, the violent--and specifically, those violent against God. That is, the homosexuals.

This short passage ends on a strange note. Dante the pilgrim/prophet is able to unify the three Guelph heroes. But he's not able to change them. And maybe that's the best that prophetic speech can do in hell.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we slow-walk through COMEDY in this episode with these segments:

[01:04] My English translation of Inferno, Canto XVI, lines 79 - 90. If you'd like to follow along, you can find this passage on my website, markscarbrough.com, under the header "Walking With Dante."

[02:03] Our three Guelph heroes speak in unison. Surely this is thematic in the passage.

[06:20] But even unified, these guys haven't changed. They're still in hell. They're still damned. In other words, the truth-filled words of a prophet don't make any difference in inferno.

[10:27] What's Virgil's role in all of this?

Here’s my English translation of Inferno, Canto XVI, Lines 79 – 90:

“If it costs you so little at other times,”

to give satisfactory answers,” they all said in one voice,

“Happy are you who can give such a speedy reply.

“Therefore, if you get out of these mucky places

And go back to see once again the beautiful stars,

When you’ll be glad to be able to say ‘I was there,’

“Please make sure that people hear our story.”

Then they broke up the circle and flew off,

Their fleet legs seeming like wings.

An amen couldn’t have been said

As fast as they disappeared.

That’s when my master thought it was time to leave.