Virtual Purgatory Project, HP252, spring semester, 2000

Gustave Dore
Purgatorio ii, 25-33
...a light appeared, moving above the sea
faster than any flight. A moment then
I turned my eyes to question my sweet guide,
and when I looked back to that unknown body
I found its mass and brightness magnified.
And then from each side of it came into view
an unknown something-white; and from beneath it,
bit by bit,  another whiteness grew.
We watched till the white objects at each side
took shape as wings, and Virgil spoke no word.
But when he saw what wings they were, he cried:
"Down on your knees!  It is God's angel comes!
Down!  Fold your hands!  From now on you shall see
many such ministers in the high kingdoms.
See how he scorns man's tools: he needs no oars
nor any other sail than his own wings
to carry him between such distant shores.

Terrace of the Proud  - Beati pauperes spiritu (canto xii, 110) - stay as long as it takes to obtain the link to the second terrace. Terrace of the Envious -  Beati misericordes (canto xv, 38)- stay as long as needed to reach the link to the third terrace. Terrace of the Wrathful - Beati pacifici (canto xvii, 68-69) - stay as long as it takes to obtain access to the fourth terrace. Terrace of the Slothful - Beati qui lugent (canto xix, 50) - stay until you are alert to find the link for the fifth terrace. Terrace of the Avaricious (canto xxii, 6)- Beati qui esurient iustitiam - stay until you are greedy to ascend to the sixth terrace. Terrace of the Gluttonous - Beati qui sitiiunt (canto xxiv, 151-154) - stay until you hunger for the seventh terrace. Terrace of the Lustful (canto xxvii, 8) - Beati mundo corde - stay in the purifying fire and come to know the way up into the earthly paradise. Garden of Eden Lethe and Eunoe