Dante, Inferno
Branca Doria’s Apparently Living Body
Alberigo names Branca Doria as an inhabitant of the frozen region. Dante objects that the man has not died and still performs ordinary actions such as eating, drinking and sleeping. The speaker answers that a demon occupies the body and connects the premature descent with treachery involving Michel Zanche and a relative. These charges belong to the dramatic exchange inside the poem.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryAlberigo names Branca Doria as an inhabitant of the frozen region. Dante objects that the man has not died and still performs ordinary actions such as eating, drinking and sleeping.
Further detail
LiteraryThe speaker answers that a demon occupies the body and connects the premature descent with treachery involving Michel Zanche and a relative. These charges belong to the dramatic exchange inside the poem.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the supplied Thompson & Thomas edition of H. F. Cary’s translation. It describes Dante’s literary vision, distinguishing its assignments and reported claims from historical biography, other classical traditions and independently established accounts of an afterlife.
Original passages
Source 1
Dante's Inferno
Branca Doria came." "Now," answer'd I, " methinks thou mockcst me; For Branca Doria never yet hath died, But doth all natural functions of a man,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 231
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0231
- Original scan leaf
- 238
- Recorded leaf number
- 238
- Current Reader position
- 231
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
a demon in his stead In his own body, and of one his kin, Who with him treachery wrought. But now put forth Thy hand, andOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 231
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0231
- Original scan leaf
- 238
- Recorded leaf number
- 238
- Current Reader position
- 231
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Literary & Visionary Figures ↗
Alberigo and the Frozen Tears
The speaker who requests relief from the ice over his eyes but does not receive it.
Same subject and traditionAlessio of Lucca among the Flatterers
The recognised speaker who attributes his place in the second ditch to excessive flattery.
Same subject and traditionBertran de Born’s Speaking Head
The head-bearing speaker who explains his division through a division he claims to have caused.
Same subject and traditionBocca’s Refusal to Give His Name
The frozen speaker identified by another voice after resisting Dante’s demands.