Commentary Purg XXX 34-36

Beatrice died in June of 1290; it is now either the end of March or early April of 1300 (see C.Inf.I.1) and thus about two months fewer than ten years since she died.  If the action of the poem indeed did begin, in Dante's mind, on Friday 25 March 1300 (see C.Purg.II.94-105), this day is Wednesday 30 March 1300 or 3/30/1300, literally a perfect day, a ten composed of three threes (Beatrice's number in V.N.XXIX.3 is nine, or three squared).  For a recent study of the numerological aspects of Beatrice see Vecce (Vecc.1994.1).

      Virgil had been overcome by stupore (amazement) a short while ago (see C.Purg.XXIX.55-57); now it is Dante's turn.  Not even the man who wrote of Beatrice can encompass the fact of her miraculous nature now that he finally experiences it directly and completely.  It will take him another cantica adequately to understand what she means.