DANTE, The Divine Comedy:
INFERNO

 

 


Mandelbaum translation.; Wicksteed (1894) commentary, modified.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


THE ORGANISATION of  PARADISE (D. Sayers)
 

 

 


Heavens

Souls Encountered

Subjects, Events

Angelic Orders

Virtues

Cantos

 

 

Ascent from earth. The natural order of the universe.

 

 

 

FIRST

HEAVEN

(Moon)

The inconstant in vows:

Piccarda, the Empress  Constance.

Physical phenomena

the work of celestial Intelligences; the freedom of the will.

Angels (guardians of

persons and bearers

of tidings of God's

bounty).

Fortitude

(in which these souls were

deficient).

ii-v

SECOND

HEAVEN

(Mercury)

The ambitious of the active life:

the Emperor Justinian, Romèo.

The history of the Roman Empire; the mystery of the Redemption.

Archangels (protectors of nations and bearers of tidings of great import).

Justice

(in which these souls were deficient).

v-vii

THIRD

HEAVEN

(Venus)

The lovers: Charles Martel,

Cunizza, Foulquet of Marseilles,

Rahab.

The constitution of society; usurpation of rights.

Principalities

(regulators of

human government).

Temperance

(in which these souls were deficient).

viii-ix

 

 

Ascent beyond the shadow of earth.

 

 

ix

FOURTH

HEAVEN

(Sun)

Theologians, Teachers, Historians,
etc.: Aquinas, Albertus, Gratian, Peter Lombard, Solomon, Dionysius, Orosius, Boethius, Isidore, Bede, Richard, Sigier,
Bonaventure, Agostino, Illuminato, Hugh, Petrus Comestor, Peter of Spain, Nathan, Chrysostom, Anselm, Donatus, Rabanus, Joachim.

The life of St Francis; the life of St Dominic; the wisdom of Solomon; the. glory of the resurrected body.

Powers

(image of
Divine Power and majesty, combaters

of the powers of

darkness and of

disease).

Prudence

x-xiv

FIFTH

HEAVEN

(Mars)

The Warriors: Cacciaguida, Joshua, Judas Maccabaeus, Charlemagne, Roland, William of Orange, Renouard, Godfrey of Bouillon, Guiscard.

Early Florence;

Dante's exile; his mission and work.

Virtues (image of Divine Strength and Fortitude, workers of signs, inspirers of endurance).

Fortitude

xiv-xviii

SIXTH

HEAVEN

(Jupiter)

The Just: David, Trajan,

Hezekiah, Constantine, William II of Sicily, Rhipeus.

Divine and human justice; grace and salvation.

Dominations (image of Divine Dominion).

Justice

xix-xx

SEVENTH

HEAVEN

(Saturn)

The Contemplatives:

Peter Damian, Benedict,

Macarius, Romualdus.

Predestination; the ascetic life; God's coming vengeance on corrupt monasticism.

Thrones

 (image of Divine Steadfastness, executors of God's judgements).

Temperance

xxi-xxii

 

 

Ascent of the Celestial Ladder.

 

 

xxii

EIGHTH

HEAVEN

(Fixed stars)

Triumph of Christ; The Virgin

Mary; St Peter; St James; St John; Adam.

Dante's examination in the three theological virtues; St. Peter's rebuke to the Church; Dante's temporary blindness.

Cherubim

 (image of Divine Wisdom).

Faith, Hope, and

Charity.

xxiii-xxvii

NINTH

HEAVEN

(Primum

Mobile)

 

Dante's vision of the angelic hierarchies;

the Creation.

Seraphim (image of Divine Love).

 

xxvii-xxix

TENTH

HEAVEN

(Empyrean)

St Bernard; the Blessed in the

Celestial Rose.

Beatrice returns to her throne in the Empyrean;

 Prayer of St Bernard.

 

 

xxx-xxxiii

 

 

Dante beholds God.

 

 

xxxüi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


xcxxcxxc  F ” “ This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 2004....x....   “”.