Dante, Purgatorio
The Four Stars above Purgatory
After leaving the depths, Dante looks toward the other pole and sees four stars said to have been visible previously only to the first parents. Their light illuminates Cato's face. At evening he notices three bright lights near the pole. Virgil explains that the four seen in the morning have moved below and these have risen in their place.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryAfter leaving the depths, Dante looks toward the other pole and sees four stars said to have been visible previously only to the first parents. Their light illuminates Cato's face.
Further detail
LiteraryAt evening he notices three bright lights near the pole. Virgil explains that the four seen in the morning have moved below and these have risen in their place.
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
Four stars ne'er seen before save by the ken Of our first parents. Heaven of their rays Seem'd joyous. O thou northern site I bereft Indeed,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Purgatory and Paradise, Cary translation; active reader leaf 9
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-P0009
- Original scan leaf
- 10
- Recorded leaf number
- 10
- Current Reader position
- 6
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante
The four resplendent stars, thou saw'st this morn.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Purgatory and Paradise, Cary translation; active reader leaf 54
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-P0054
- Original scan leaf
- 55
- Recorded leaf number
- 55
- Current Reader position
- 51
- 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 pageNino, the Judge of Gallura
A familiar judge asks Dante to bring a request for prayer to his daughter.
Same subject and traditionDante's Living Shadow
The traveller's interruption of sunlight distinguishes him from the surrounding shades.