Commentary Purg VIII 58-60

Dante finally is able to answer Sordello's question ([Purg VI 70]) with regard to his own condition.  These are the first words he has spoken since [Purg VI 51], a fact that underlines the way in which Sordello and Virgil have taken over the stage in these scenes.  Now Dante is once again the 'star' of the drama.  See C.Purg.VII.1-3.