Dante, Purgatorio
The Limit on Ascent after Sunset
Sordello tells Virgil that further ascent at night exceeds their power. Asked whether an external guardian prevents it, he draws a line and explains that darkness and the resulting lack of power perplex the will. Movement around the side or back downward remains possible. He leads the travellers toward a pleasant valley where they can wait for daylight to return.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiterarySordello tells Virgil that further ascent at night exceeds their power. Asked whether an external guardian prevents it, he draws a line and explains that darkness and the resulting lack of power perplex the will.
Further detail
LiteraryMovement around the side or back downward remains possible. He leads the travellers toward a pleasant valley where they can wait for daylight to return.
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
save the shades of night. These, with the want of power, perplex the will. With them thou haply mightst return beneath, 29Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Purgatory and Paradise, Cary translation; active reader leaf 46
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-P0046
- Original scan leaf
- 47
- Recorded leaf number
- 47
- Current Reader position
- 43
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Purgatory and Paradise: The Vision of Dante
await renewal of the day." Betwixt the steep and plain, a crooked pnth Led us traverse into the ridge's side. Where more than half the slopingOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Purgatory and Paradise, Cary translation; active reader leaf 47
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-P0047
- Original scan leaf
- 48
- Recorded leaf number
- 48
- Current Reader position
- 44
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Rodolph in the Valley of Princes
An emperor sits above the other spirits while the guide recalls an unfulfilled duty.
Shared illustrationHarry of England in the Valley
The English king appears alone within the company of waiting rulers.
Shared illustrationOttocar beside Rodolph
A consoling ruler is contrasted with his heir in the valley's political portrait.
Shared illustrationWilliam of Montferrat's Upward Gaze
A marquis sits lowest in the valley while looking upward.