Dante, Purgatory and Paradise
Belacqua
The canto argument identifies Belacqua among the spirits waiting behind a rock. Dante recognises him from life, and the conversation explains the delay that still precedes his ascent. His earthly postponement of repentance is answered by a corresponding period of waiting. The quiet scene occurs beside an ascent that has already demanded strenuous effort from the living traveller.
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In the sources
Principal account
LiteraryThe canto argument identifies Belacqua among the spirits waiting behind a rock. Dante recognises him from life, and the conversation explains the delay that still precedes his ascent.
Further detail
LiteraryHis earthly postponement of repentance is answered by a corresponding period of waiting. The quiet scene occurs beside an ascent that has already demanded strenuous effort from the living traveller.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows Cary’s translation of Dante’s poem. The evidence uses the edition’s explanatory canto argument to identify the scene; its judgement belongs to the poem’s scheme of repentance. Its people and places are presented within the literary vision, with the historical or theological subject distinguished from the role Dante assigns it.
Original passages
Source 1
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante
one named BelacquaOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante, Purgatory and Paradise; active reader leaf 26
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0119-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0119-E001-P0026
- Original scan leaf
- 27
- Recorded leaf number
- 27
- Current Reader position
- 23
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante
delayed his repentance to the lastOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante, Purgatory and Paradise; active reader leaf 26
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0119-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0119-E001-P0026
- Original scan leaf
- 27
- Recorded leaf number
- 27
- Current Reader position
- 23
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Literary & Visionary Figures ↗
Beatrice, Dante’s Heavenly Guide
The woman whose recognition leads through confession towards the celestial journey.
Same subject and traditionBernard, Dante’s Final Guide
The elder who directs Dante’s last attention towards Mary and the ultimate vision.
Same subject and traditionCasella
The beloved singer whom Dante tries, unsuccessfully, to embrace after death.
Same subject and traditionCato at the Shore of Purgatory
The revered guardian who permits a living traveller to approach the mountain.