Commentary Par XXX 25-27

Like a mortal with weak eyes, unable even more than most to look directly at the Sun, the poet finds his inner sight blinded by the memory of this last and transformed beauty evident in Beatrice.  Scartazzini (DDP Scartazzini.Par.XXX.25-27) was apparently the first commentator (but not the last, though none of the others cites him) to call attention to three passages in the minor works that offer similar images, Vita nuova (V.N.XLI.6), and Convivio (Conv.III.0.59-60; Conv.III.viii.14 [this last the commentary on those verses]).  It is amusing to discover that in the first case, it is Beatrice's soul, ascended to Heaven, that is too bright for Dante to behold, while in the two passages in Convivio the blinding is accomplished by the glow of Lady Philosophy.  The first is entirely germane to the present context, which has Beatrice about to ascend to exactly where Dante first saw her seated in Heaven in the libello.  Dante would have preferred, however, that we forget the second, in praise of the lady who replaced Beatrice in his affections.