Commentary Par X 82-99

Thomas's first word, 'Quando,' is matched only by one other speaker's first word, similarly occupying the last place in its line, that uttered by Ulysses ([Inf XXVI 90]).  Where Ulysses has epic pretensions in his self-narrative (see C.Inf.XXVI.90-93), Thomas, another kind of 'hero,' one who indeed vigorously pursued virtue and knowledge (and not merely in what we might regard as an advertisement for himself) is a foil to prideful Ulysses.  The Greek adventurer's pride is matched by Thomas's humility (his name occurs only after he finishes the eighteen-line introductory portion of his speech and then only after he has named his teacher.  Can anyone imagine Ulysses referring to someone who had been his teacher?).  Beatrice does begin one of her speeches with 'Quando' at the end of a line ([Purg XXXI 67]), but this is hardly her first speech in the poem nor even the beginning of a new speech; indeed, it is part of her long accusation of Dante for his backsliding after her death.  Thomas's first self-description ([Par X 94-96]) intrinsically suggests that he is dramatically different from Ulysses, who in his pursuit of knowledge had companions whom he treated as the mere instruments of his own adventure and whom he destroyed along with himself; Thomas, on the other hand, '... was a lamb among the holy flock / led by Dominic along the road / where sheep are fattened if they do not stray.'  That last word (vaneggia) surely has a kinship with Ulysses, whose wandering brings him under the spell of the Siren (at least according to Dante: see [Purg XIX 19-24]).  What Ulysses did, Thomas chose not to do.