The reference is, I think, to the power of the image in pure light to enter
and inform the mind:


... and that certain images be formed in the mind
                             to remain there
                                         _formato loco_


 'Funge' (verb 3sg. 'acts') would be a reference to the efficacy or
_virtu_of the image that is carried to the eye and into the mind by a pure
light  ... "the form beached under Helios".

See Pound's essay on Cavalcanti and 'Donna mi prega'.

Tim Romano


----- Original Message -----
From: "Sarah Graham" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 10:14 AM
Subject: Italian phrase in c. 74


> Dear list members,
> I wonder if anyone out there could shed a little light on this:
> in c. 74, fourth page from the end of the canto in my edition, EP uses the
> Italian phrase, 'funge la purezza', which Terrell translates as 'the
tensile
> light pours down' (on p. 385 of the Companion to the Cantos). In my
> (postgraduate) work on the Pisan Cantos, I have quoted this phrase and -
> perhaps unwisely - discussed its possible implications based on the
Terrell
> translation. However, I have been told by an examiner of my work that
> Terrell's version of the phrase is wrong. So my questions for the list
are:
> is this a mis-translation on Terrell's part and, if so, what is the
correct
> version of the phrase?Fortunately, this has only caused a minor blip in my
> work, but it's something I need to resolve and would appreciate any help
the
> list can offer.
> Many thanks,
> Sarah Graham
>
>