Dante, Inferno
Myrrha among the Impersonators
The observer in the tenth ditch identifies the second rushing shade as Myrrha. He recounts her desire for her father through the poem’s condemnatory language and explains that she assumed a false shape. The account immediately compares that assumed appearance with Schicchi’s impersonation of Donati. The pairing is Dante’s literary organisation of stories from different settings, not evidence that the ancient mythical episode occurred.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryThe observer in the tenth ditch identifies the second rushing shade as Myrrha. He recounts her desire for her father through the poem’s condemnatory language and explains that she assumed a false shape.
Further detail
LiteraryThe account immediately compares that assumed appearance with Schicchi’s impersonation of Donati. The pairing is Dante’s literary organisation of stories from different settings, not evidence that the ancient mythical episode occurred.
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
wretched Myrrha," he replied, " who burn'd With most unholy flame for her own sire, And a false shape assuming, so perform'd The deed of sinOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 203
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-P0203
- Original scan leaf
- 210
- Recorded leaf number
- 210
- Current Reader position
- 203
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
a false shape assuming, so perform'd The deed of sin ; e'en as the other there, That onward passes, dared to counterfeit Donati's features, to feign'dOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 203
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-P0203
- Original scan leaf
- 210
- Recorded leaf number
- 210
- Current Reader position
- 203
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Literary & Visionary Figures ↗
Gianni Schicchi in the Falsifiers’ Ditch
The impersonator named as he seizes and drags Capocchio.
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.
Same subject and traditionBertran de Born’s Speaking Head
The head-bearing speaker who explains his division through a division he claims to have caused.