Commentary Purg XII 61-63 |
The final example serves as a sort of summary for the entire acrostic. For the medieval tradition that Troy was indeed prideful see Scott (Scot.2001.1), pp. 182-83. Dante's phrasing probably reflects Aeneid. III.2-3, 'superbum / Ilium,' with the phrase to be read in a moralizing ('proud Troy') rather than an architectural ('lofty-towered Troy') manner. See C.Inf.I.75, discussing an earlier incidence of the same phenomenon.