Commentary Purg XXVI 55-66

Dante at last responds to the request of the penitents, if only to some degree, since he does not fully identify himself, in keeping with his avoidance of doing so on other terraces.  He tells them what they suspected (he is here in the flesh, not in the aerial body), and that Beatrice (not named, and decidedly not the sort of woman penitents here 'do time' for) draws him heavenward.  Thus he admits to his miraculous presence among them, but gives no information that might genuinely satisfy their curiosity.  In return for relatively little he asks to know the identity of those with whom he speaks and the condition of the group that has moved away from them.

      His evasive behavior here allows him to avoid naming himself uselessly to those who do not know him (see his similar avoidance with Sapia [[Purg XIII 133-138]], Guido del Duca [[Purg XIV 20-21]], and Marco the Lombard [[Purg XVI 37-42]]).  Those who recognize Dante in purgatory are as follows: Casella ([Purg II 76-78]), Belacqua (recognized by Dante at [Purg IV 109-123]; it would seem that he knows Dante but does not, in his laconic, sardonic way, reveal that he does); Nino Visconti ([Purg VIII 46-57]); Oderisi ([Purg XI 76]); Forese ([Purg XXIII 40-42]); and Bonagiunta ([Purg XXIV 35-36]).