Purgatorio

The cloud’s darkness is thicker than in Hell. Like a blind man following his guide, Dante stays close to Virgil. Dante hears voices singing, “Agnus Dei” (Lamb of God) (231). Virgil explains that the voices belong to souls trying to free themselves from anger.

Recognizing that Dante is still alive, a voice asks him who he is. Dante admits that he is alive and explains that God has graced him to see “His court” (232). He asks the voice who he was in life. The voice replies that he was Mark Lombard, who loved the virtues that the world no longer values. He instructs Dante to climb straight ahead and asks Dante to pray for him. Dante agrees that virtue is failing in the world. He asks Lombard to explain why and wonders if the cause is in the stars or below.

Lombard says that the world is blind. The cause cannot be in the stars completely since this would negate free will. The stars “initiate your vital moves” (233), but humans have the ability to differentiate between good and evil. The stars cannot rule the human mind, and free will can conquer all.