Commentary Par XXVII 85-87

This tercet repeats two distinctive elements we found at the arrival in the Starry Sphere: The poet again (see [Par XXII 151]) refers to the little globe below as the 'small patch of earth' that it seems (aiuola) and the protagonist again ([Par XXII 129]) sees it beneath his feet (sotto li piedi) -- see C.Par.XXII.129, concerning the possibility that we are supposed to conclude that those feet make the protagonist present in his body.  When we read the phrase now, however, it is difficult to come to any other conclusion, since Peter has already (see [Par XXVII 64]) referred to Dante's 'mortal burden' -- with him now, his flesh.