Dante, Purgatorio
William of Montferrat's Upward Gaze
The canto's argument includes William, Marquis of Montferrat, among the rulers in the recess. At the end of his survey Sordello directs attention to the spirit seated on the ground below the others. The guide identifies William and associates his deed at Alexandria and his war with grief in Montferrat and Canavese. His gaze is directed upward despite his low seat.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryThe canto's argument includes William, Marquis of Montferrat, among the rulers in the recess. At the end of his survey Sordello directs attention to the spirit seated on the ground below the others.
Further detail
LiteraryThe guide identifies William and associates his deed at Alexandria and his war with grief in Montferrat and Canavese. His gaze is directed upward despite his low seat.
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
William, Marquis of Montferrat. AFTER their courteous greetings joyfully Seven times exchanged, Sordello backward drew Exclaiming, "Who are ye?"—"Before this mount . By spirits worthy ofOpen 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
yet his gaze directs aloft. Is William, that brave Marquis, for whose cause, The deed of Alexandria and his war Makes Montferrat and Canavese weep."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
Continue exploring
Literary & Visionary Figures ↗
Harry 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 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.