The Encounter with Guido Guinizelli and Arnaldo Daniello

Dante meets the poet Guido Guinizelli, his 'father' in poetry, and the Provencal poet Arnaldo Daniello on the terrace of lust.

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Guido Guinizelli's Appearance

The Father of the Sweet New Style The Recognition Dante sees a soul in the fire who speaks to him. He recognizes Guido Guinizelli, the poet who influenced Dante's own style. The Homage Dante expresses his deep admiration, saying that Guinizelli's sweet rhymes will make their ink dear forever. He calls him 'father' of himself and his betters.

Guinizelli's Humility

The Modest Master The Better Craftsman Guinizelli points to another soul, Arnaldo Daniello, calling him a better smith of the mother tongue. He praises Arnaldo's verses of love and prose of romance. The Criticism of Guittone He criticizes those who think the Lemosin (Provencal) poet surpasses him, but says truth has conquered with most persons.

Arnaldo Daniello's Speech

The Provencal Poet The Language Arnaldo speaks in Provencal, asking Dante to remember him and pray for him. He says he weeps and sings, contrite for past folly and joyful for the hope ahead. The Request He asks Dante to 'temper his pain' with prayers. Then he hides himself in the purifying fire.

Dante's Poetic Lineage

The Tradition The Influence Dante acknowledges his debt to Guinizelli and the Provencal poets. He sees himself as part of a continuum of love poetry. The Purification Both poets are purging the sin of lust, showing that even great artists are subject to human frailty. Their art, however, remains a source of inspiration.

The Two Groups of Lustful

The Two Processions The Sodomites and the Hermaphrodites The souls on the seventh terrace are divided into two groups: those who committed sodomy and those who were hermaphrodite (heterosexual excess). They kiss briefly as they pass each other. The Shouts Each group shouts examples of their sin: the sodomites cry 'Sodom and Gomorrah,' the others cry 'Pasiphae enters the cow.' This is part of their purgation.

On the seventh terrace of Purgatory, among the lustful

During the conversation on the seventh terrace

After Guinizelli, on the seventh terrace

Throughout the encounter, on the seventh terrace

On the seventh terrace, context of the fire