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The Punishment of the Envious in Purgatory

The Divine Comedy

The purgation of envy on the second terrace, where souls have their eyes sewn shut and wear coarse sackcloth.

increasingupBearing stren­gth in each eventdowndecreasing
The Blind SoulsThe Blind Souls
The Iron Wire The Sewn Eyes The envious sit against the cliff, leaning on each other, with their eyelids sewn shut with iron wire. They wear coarse sackcloth. The Symbolism Their blindness represents their earthly envy, which made them unable to see others' good fortune without pain. They now depend on each other for support.
The Voices of ExamplesThe Voices of Examples
The Scourges and Curb The Examples of Generosity Voices fly by, citing examples of charity: the Virgin Mary at Cana ('Vinum non habent'), Orestes ('I am Orestes'), and the command to love enemies. The Examples of Envy Punished Later, voices cite examples of envy punished: Cain, Aglaurus. These serve as a curb to the sin.
Sapia of SienaSapia of Siena
The Foolish Woman The Confession Sapia, a Sienese woman, admits that she rejoiced in the misfortune of others. She prayed for her city's defeat and was happy when they lost. The Repentance She repented at the end of her life, and the prayers of Pier Pettignano helped her. She asks Dante to restore her fame among her kin.
Guido del Duca's LamentGuido del Duca's Lament
The Bitter Speech The Corruption of Romagna Guido del Duca, a nobleman from Romagna, laments the decline of virtue in the region. He names many families that have degenerated. The Prophecy He prophesies that a grandson (Fulcieri da Calboli) will hunt down the corrupt like wolves, shedding blood. This is a warning of future violence.
The Angel of MercyThe Angel of Mercy
The Transition The Angel An angel appears, inviting them to the next terrace. He brushes Dante's forehead with his wings, removing one of the P's. The Beatitude The angel sings 'Beati misericordes' (Blessed are the merciful). The souls on this terrace learn to rejoice in others' good.
On the second terrace of Purgatory
On the second terrace, during the walk
On the second terrace, during the encounter
On the second terrace, after Sapia
At the end of the second terrace