Love, kindled by virtue

"Amore, acceso de virtù, sempre altro accese, pur che la fiamma sua paresse fòre"

"Love, kindled by virtue, always kindles other love, as long as its flame appears externally."

-Virgil to Dante in Purgatorio Canto 22:10-12

St. Catherine Struck down by Love
Basilica di Provenzano, Siena

 External appearances of love (aka generosity of spirit) made several appearances today. The first was in our class dealing with Cantos 24-28. We had  been asked to separate out two quotes, a visual image and a question on each of these cantos. As we worked in groups on our assigned canto, it was clear that the details we picked out helped us focus on broader questions. A good poet does this with his readers-words and images stand out for a reason and point to the universal themes he wishes us to explore. To experience this, read through a Canto tonight and just highlight one tercet (three lines of the poem) that stand out for you for whatever reason. Think about why you chose these three lines-and then grab a copy of the Commedia  with notes ( I really like Mark Musa's comments but we are using Durling and Martinez  in the seminar). See what comes up. It is the mark of a powerful poet that the most minute details express a larger picture.

This seems to apply to other experiences as well. This afternoon Rick and I took a walk to the Basilica di Provenzano. We had had a great meal at Il Cavaliere Errante on my first night in Siena just in front of this church, and I took Rick on Sunday (his first full day in Siena). As fortune would have it, the church in front was open and we peeked in. It was stunning as churches seem to be everywhere you look. More importantly, however (and more to the point of the quote above), Sorella Gina (Perugina) was there. She was diminutive and welcoming, like a fairy godmother, and sensed our awkwardness immediately. "Entra, benvenuti" she exclaimed-pausing in her knitting (something with bright pink yarn) to usher us to the front of the magnificent church. She encouraged us to take pictures. With my broken Italian I was able to say that we appreciated her welcome and the beauty of the church. "Well" she said practically " since I have given you permission and the Virgin welcomes everyone, you may as well take pictures of everything here" . And Rick did.

Cow eating trees-a universal theme and External Flame

 Generosity has been an oft kindled theme during my time here in Siena. Not only the generosity of our NEH directors whisking us from one dream-destination to another, but in the daily interactions with people around us. Sorella  Gina was one such example. Another occurred as we were on our way from lunch (yummy porchetta panini - NOTE to sis: please learn how to make porchetta!) to the Pinoteca  (city art gallery) when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Goats! Unmistakably goat like movement! We hoofed our way down to where the goats were (a little field not far outside the city) and  there I was able to talk to the man obviously in charge (he was occupied in trying to keep the goats from eating the peach trees nearby). We had a terribly stunted, strained conversation whose stutters and stops deterred neither of us. From him I learned that he makes cheese using the dried rennet from his own kids, and he learned from me that you can use nettles as rennet. It was glorious and foolish and a tiny flicker of a flame to kindle others.