Commentary Par XXI 127-135

Peter concludes his words to Dante with a denunciation of corrupt clergy, culminating in one of the more memorable anticlerical images in the poem, the pastor on horseback as beast with attendants, his poor horse sagging under the weight of his flesh and gorgeous robes.

Dante may have known Peter's own imprecations against the corruptions of the clergy in his Liber Gomorrhianus (as was often suggested in the last century, first by Torraca [DDP Torraca.Par.XXI.121-123]).  As a number of commentators suggest, Peter was a man after Dante's heart, not only for his surprising openness to 'imperial' politics, but especially for his scurrilous tongue for the malfeasance of the clergy, for which he apologizes but apparently delights in allowing free rein.  That Dante was recognized as anticlerical by the clergy is not a matter to doubt.  There is the obvious case of the Monarchia (which spent some three centuries and one-third [from the first index of prohibited books until 1881] as unfit for Catholic eyes).  However, and as Comollo (Como.1990.1), pp. 49-50, points out, there were any number of rough spots, for a cleric respectful of his pope, in the poem as well (particularly [Inf XI 6-9]; [Inf XIX 106-117]; [Purg XIX 106-116]; and [Par IX 136-142]).