Dante, Purgatorio
Harry of England in the Valley
The canto's argument identifies Henry III of England among the famous spirits in the flowered recess. Sordello's survey then names Harry of England, seated apart from the others. The guide describes his life as simple and plain and speaks more favourably of the issue of his branches than of several other rulers' descendants.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryThe canto's argument identifies Henry III of England among the famous spirits in the flowered recess. Sordello's survey then names Harry of England, seated apart from the others.
Further detail
LiteraryThe guide describes his life as simple and plain and speaks more favourably of the issue of his branches than of several other rulers' descendants.
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
Henry III. of England, ;ind William, Marquis of Montferrat. AFTER their courteous greetings joyfully Seven times exchanged, Sordello backward drew Exclaiming, "Who are ye?"—"Before this mountOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Purgatory and Paradise, Cary translation; active reader leaf 43
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-P0043
- Original scan leaf
- 44
- Recorded leaf number
- 44
- Current Reader position
- 40
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante
Harry of England sitting there alone : He through his branches better issue spreads. " That one, who, on the ground, beneath the rest, Sits lowest,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Purgatory and Paradise, Cary translation; active reader leaf 49
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-P0049
- Original scan leaf
- 50
- Recorded leaf number
- 50
- Current Reader position
- 46
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
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Literary & Visionary Figures ↗
William of Montferrat's Upward Gaze
A marquis sits lowest in the valley while looking upward.
Shared illustrationOttocar beside Rodolph
A consoling ruler is contrasted with his heir in the valley's political portrait.
Shared illustrationRodolph in the Valley of Princes
An emperor sits above the other spirits while the guide recalls an unfulfilled duty.
Shared source pageSordello
The Mantuan poet whose welcome to Virgil exposes the divisions of earthly Italy.