Commentary Purg XXVII 33

In a wonderfully wrought sequence, Virgil has given, rapid-fire, a series of convincing proposals and arguments, along with a concluding volley of encouragement ([Purg XXVII 20-32]).  The poet's description of the protagonist, in a single line, Dante's version of 'the soul indeed is willing but the flesh is weak' (Matthew 26:41), shows that he is now as reluctant as he has ever been: 'against my will, I stood stock still.'

      Whatever else it accomplishes, the little scene again shows how amusing Dante can be.  Glauco Cambon (Camb.1981.1) tried to remind us of that.