Commentary Inf XIX 49-51

Dante now assumes the role of confessing friar. The last verse of the tercet has caused controversy. Most of the early commentators think the verb cessare is used intransitively; most later ones disagree, believing it is used transitively (as it is at [Inf XVII 33]). But almost all agree on the basic meaning: the assassin calls back the friar in order to delay his death a while. Pagliaro (Pagl.1967.1, pp. 263-69) opts for a strikingly different solution, one that has had some success among recent commentators. Since cessare, used transitively, ordinarily in Dante means 'to avoid,' it does so here as well. The assassin calls the priest back in order to confess, not his own crimes, but those of his master in crime, thereby gaining his freedom. The solution is attractive because it avoids the somewhat unusual use of 'cessare' to mean 'put off, delay' instead of 'avoid, escape from.' However, the context, in which nothing the sinner can say will sway either Dante or God, works against it. Further, had Dante wanted to make the analogy work, he would have had Nicholas 'betray' someone else, one who had led him into his crimes. Instead, he admits his own addiction to simony, and then points to others who will practice it after him. If these nine verses (79-87) are, as many believe, a later addition (see C.Inf.XIX.79-87), it is conceivable that Dante's first version of Nicholas's speech might have concluded with just such a betrayal. In that case, many who remain unconvinced might embrace Pagliaro's thesis. In our translation we have tried to hedge, using 'stay' in such a way as to allow it to be interpreted either as 'put off (for a while)' or 'put a stop to.'

For a new hypothesis, one put forward in the attempt to break through to a new solution, see Serianni (Seri.1993.1), arguing for the view that the assassin calls back the friar in order to save, not his earthly life, but his soul. Since this is what those damned in hell may be understood not to have done at their last moment, it seems less than a convincing explanation.