Commentary Purg XXIV 94-99

The military simile fits the tone of the death scene of Corso that has just been narrated by his brother.  Here, by way of returning to the rigors of his penance, Forese is allowed to assume the role of the cavalryman who goes out to make the first contact of battle.  Virgil and Statius, described by a word perhaps never seen before in Italian, 'marshals,' are left behind, but are calmly directing the battle, as it were.  As for Dante, that retired cavalryman (see C.Inf.XXI.95), it is not clear what role he plays, but he is a subordinate to these two marshals, those great poets who led other humans into knowledge and virtue through their works.