The Divine Comedy · Chapter
Canto XV explained
Dante and Virgil continue along the embankment of the river, protected from the fiery rain by the mist.
What happens
Dante and Virgil continue along the embankment of the river, protected from the fiery rain by the mist. They encounter a group of souls, among whom Dante recognizes Ser Brunetto Latini, his former teacher. Brunetto, condemned for violence against nature, walks alongside Dante and prophesies his future glory and the enmity he will face from the Florentines. He also points out other notable figures in the same circle, including Priscian and Francis of Accorso, before departing to rejoin his band.
Themes in this chapter
Divine Justice
The punishment of the violent against nature, forced to walk eternally under fiery rain, reflects the divine order's retribution for their sins.
Knowledge, Reason, and Faith
Dante's reverence for Brunetto as his teacher underscores the value of learning and the eternal impact of wisdom, even in the afterlife.
Political Corruption and Civic Strife
Brunetto's prophecy about Florence's ingratitude and the conflict between factions highlights the political turmoil of Dante's time.
Characters to notice
- Dante Alighieri
The protagonist who encounters his former teacher Brunetto Latini in the circle of the violent against nature.
- Virgil
Dante's guide, who listens attentively to Brunetto's prophecy and encourages Dante to heed it.
- Brunetto Latini
Dante's former teacher, condemned for violence against nature, who prophesies Dante's future and commends his work 'Tesoro' to Dante.
- Priscian
A grammarian mentioned by Brunetto as one of the souls in the same circle.
- Francis of Accorso
A jurist noted by Brunetto as another soul in the circle of the violent against nature.
Key passages
“Even as the Flemings, 'twixt Cadsand and Bruges, Fearing the flood that tow'rd them hurls itself, Their bulwarks build to put the sea to flight;”
Just as the Flemings build dikes between Cadsand and Bruges to protect against the sea's flooding.
Dante uses a simile comparing the embankment's construction to Flemish flood defenses.
“And he: 'May 't not displease thee, O my son, If a brief space with thee Brunetto Latini Backward return and let the trail go on.'”
Brunetto asks Dante if he may walk backward alongside him for a short while, leaving his group to continue.
Brunetto respectfully addresses Dante as 'my son' and requests a moment to converse.
“If thou thy star do follow, Thou canst not fail thee of a glorious port, If well I judged in the life beautiful.”
If you follow your destiny, you will achieve a glorious goal, as I correctly judged during my life.
Brunetto prophesies Dante's future success if he remains true to his path.
“But that ungrateful and malignant people, Which of old time from Fesole descended, And smacks still of the mountain and the granite, Will make itself, for thy good deeds, thy foe;”
But the ungrateful and wicked Florentines, descended from Fiesole and still bearing its harsh nature, will become your enemy because of your good deeds.
Brunetto warns Dante of the hostility he will face from his fellow Florentines.
“Commended unto thee be my Tesoro, In which I still live, and no more I ask.”
I entrust my work 'Tesoro' to you, in which I continue to live, and I ask nothing more.
Brunetto commends his literary legacy to Dante before departing.
