Commentary Purg XXXI 62-63

See Proverbs 1:17, 'Frustra autem iacitur rete ante oculos pennatorum' (In vain is the net cast forth before the eyes of full-fledged birds).  (The citation was first observed by Pietro Alighieri [DDP Pietro1.Purg.XXXI.61-63]).  Dante, as grown up 'bird,' should have been able to avoid capture by his huntress(es).  Poletto (DDP Poletto.Purg.XXXI.61-63) noted another citation of this text in one of Dante's letters (Epist.VI.21), also cited by Mazzoni (Mazz.1965.1), p. 72.