This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI ATMOSPHERIC TIIENOMENA As the two poets are walking along the fifth terrace of Purgatory, they are overtaken by Statius, who at Dante's request explains the cause of a tremendous earthquake which had occurred a short time before; in this explanation the atmospheric conditions of Purgatory ...
Read More
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI ATMOSPHERIC TIIENOMENA As the two poets are walking along the fifth terrace of Purgatory, they are overtaken by Statius, who at Dante's request explains the cause of a tremendous earthquake which had occurred a short time before; in this explanation the atmospheric conditions of Purgatory are described. We know already, from Dante's Cosmos, that the earth is surrounded by the atmosphere, then by a sphere of fire, after which come the nine concentric circles of the heavens. This earthly atmosphere ends with the Gate of Purgatory; hence all above that place rises up into ether1 and is free from atmospheric changes, so that the slopes of the holy mountain never know the phenomena of rain and hail and snow, of rain 1 Atr viva (Purg., xxviii. 107). M bow, lightning, wind, and thunder.1 All these phenomena are confined to the earth, or AntePurgatory, or are alluded to in metaphors. It is true that wc hear of a soft and steady breeze that sweeps over the tree-tops in the Earthly Paradise,2 but this is caused by the rotary motion of the heavens about the earth.* In the Inferno the air is heavy and thick and dark; the poet employs many terms to describe its foulness and horror; it is called malignOy perso, grasso, grosso, fosco, amaro e sozzo e morto. The angelic messenger who comes to the gates of the City of Dis, which have been defiantly shut in the face of the wanderers, is filled with suffering in the foul * 'Libera c qui Ha ogni altcrazione Perche non pioggia, non grando, non neve, Non rugiada, non brina piii su cade, Che la Hcalclta dc' Ire gradi breve.' (Piifg., xxi. 43-48. - Cf. also Purg., xxviii. 97-102.) There ii a remarkable similarity here to (he description of Olympus in the Otlyssry (p. 93 of llulcher and Lang's...
Read Less
Add this copy of The Treatment of Nature in Dante's 'Divina Commedia, ' to cart. $21.48, new condition, Sold by Paperbackshop rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bensenville, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2013 by Hardpress Publishing.