Dante, Purgatorio
Cleansing with the Morning Dew
Cato asks that Dante's face be washed before he comes before the heavenly minister. Virgil leads him to grass where the dew still resists the drying sun. The guide places both hands on the wet grass, and Dante offers his tear-stained cheeks. The face recovers the appearance concealed by the dark regions they have crossed.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryCato asks that Dante's face be washed before he comes before the heavenly minister. Virgil leads him to grass where the dew still resists the drying sun.
Further detail
LiteraryThe guide places both hands on the wet grass, and Dante offers his tear-stained cheeks. The face recovers the appearance concealed by the dark regions they have crossed.
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
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante
Both hands extended on the watery grass My master placed, in graceful act and kind. Whence I of his intent before apprised,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Purgatory and Paradise, Cary translation; active reader leaf 11
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0119-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0119-E001-P0011
- Original scan leaf
- 12
- Recorded leaf number
- 12
- Current Reader position
- 8
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante
There to my visage he anew restored That hue which tWe dun shades of hell conceal'd. Then on the solitary shore arrived, That never sailing onOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Purgatory and Paradise, Cary translation; active reader leaf 14
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0119-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0119-E001-P0014
- Original scan leaf
- 15
- Recorded leaf number
- 15
- Current Reader position
- 11
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Cato at the Shore of Purgatory
The revered guardian who permits a living traveller to approach the mountain.
Shared source pageThe Humble Reed at the Shore
A flexible shoreline plant becomes Dante's girdle before the mountain journey.
Same subject and traditionThe Dream of the Golden Eagle
An alarming dream of upward capture accompanies a movement the sleeping traveller does not witness.