Dante, Inferno
Catalano and Loderingo
The speakers identify themselves as Catalano and Loderingo, natives of Bologna and former Joyous Friars. They describe their heavy garments before recounting their shared public role. They say that Florence took the pair where it ordinarily chose a single impartial arbiter, and refer Dante to the neighbourhood of Gardingo as witness to the result. This pointed account belongs to the poem’s political accusation, not a complete institutional history.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryThe speakers identify themselves as Catalano and Loderingo, natives of Bologna and former Joyous Friars. They describe their heavy garments before recounting their shared public role.
Further detail
LiteraryThey say that Florence took the pair where it ordinarily chose a single impartial arbiter, and refer Dante to the neighbourhood of Gardingo as witness to the result. This pointed account belongs to the poem’s political accusation, not a complete institutional history.
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
Catalano I, He Loderingo named ; and by thy land Together taken, as men used to take A single and indifferent arbiter, To reconcile their strifes.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 160
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-P0160
- Original scan leaf
- 167
- Recorded leaf number
- 167
- Current Reader position
- 160
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
To reconcile their strifes. How there we sped, Gardingo's vicinage can best declare." "Oh, friars!" I began, "your miseries " But there brake off, for oneOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 160
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-P0160
- Original scan leaf
- 167
- Recorded leaf number
- 167
- Current Reader position
- 160
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Literary & Visionary Figures ↗
Golden Outside, Lead Within
The hypocrites’ bright garments conceal a burden that slows every step.
Shared illustrationThe Friar Reveals the Broken Bridge
Local testimony corrects the route offered by Malacoda.
Same subject and traditionAlberigo 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.