Beatrice begins to take apart the two questions (or doubts) that she has intuited the pilgrim Dante is holding in silence.

She first takes on the one with more "poison" in this passage, in which she reveals that the souls in the moon aren't really in the moon but appear here as an accommodation to the pilgrim's limited understanding, based on sensory data.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we begin our journey through the Beatrice's second major discourse in PARADISO.

Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:

[01:33] My English translation of PARADISO, Canto IV, Lines 28 - 48. If you'd like to read along or continue the discussion, please find the entry for this episode on my website, markscarbrough.com.

[03:51] Dante's frustration of even anger may be connected to the accommodating nature of revelation.

[07:09] Beatrice reveals the status of souls in the highest heaven . . . and in the moon at the same time.

[20:18] Possible irony: Beatrice argues from her observation while telling the pilgrim Dante that he shouldn't trust his powers of observation.

[23:04] Does the poet intend any irony in this passage?

[26:36] Rereading the passage: PARADISO, Canto IV, lines 28 - 48.