Dante, Inferno
The Heavenly Messenger at Dis
A figure passes across the Stygian water with dry feet while the spirits scatter before him. Dante understands that he has been sent from Heaven, and Virgil signals respectful stillness. Touching the gate with a wand opens it immediately. The messenger rebukes the rebellious guardians and leaves without addressing the travellers personally.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryA figure passes across the Stygian water with dry feet while the spirits scatter before him. Dante understands that he has been sent from Heaven, and Virgil signals respectful stillness.
Further detail
LiteraryTouching the gate with a wand opens it immediately. The messenger rebukes the rebellious guardians and leaves without addressing the travellers personally.
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
sent from Heaven ; and to my guide Turn'd me, who signal made, that I should stand Quiet, ana bend to him. Ah me! how fullOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 73
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-P0073
- Original scan leaf
- 80
- Recorded leaf number
- 80
- Current Reader position
- 73
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
with his wand touch'd it, whereat Open without impediment it flew. "Outcasts of heaven ! Oh, abject race, and scorn'dl" Began he, on the horrid grunselOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 73
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-P0073
- Original scan leaf
- 80
- Recorded leaf number
- 80
- Current Reader position
- 73
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
