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 > >