Hugh Capet In Purgatory . . . Or Maybe Not: PURGATORIO, Canto XX, Lines 40 - 60

Walking With Dante

The pilgrim has been attracted by one soul, calling out his examples of Mary, Fabricius, and Nicholas to counter his own sins of avarice.

Dante steps closer and inquires who this soul is. He finds himself in front of Hugh Capet, the legendary (and historical) founder of the Capetian dynasty of French kings. Or at least a version of said Hugh Capet, since Dante the poet flubs the historicity of his penitent.

Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we explore this fascinating look at the second major figure on the fifth terrace of Mount Purgatory.

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

[01:50] My English translation of the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XX, Lines 40 - 60. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please find the comment section for this episode on my website, markscarbrough.com.

[04:38] Hugh Capet in history.

[10:46] Hugh Capet out of history and into COMEDY.

[14:19] The highlights in the passage, plus a note about Hugh's prophetic voice.

[25:04] The passage without its historical apparatus.

[28:49] Dante's anti-French propaganda and his misunderstanding of power as a human motivation.

[32:16] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XX, lines 40 - 60.