Chapter IV: Part III

MOSLEM FEATURES IN THE CHRISTIAN LEGENDS PRECURSORY OF THE
DIVINE COMEDY

I. INTRODUCTION:

1. Slight influence of these legends upon the genesis of
Dante’s poem 177
2. Are these legends the spontaneous outcome of popular
imagination, or did they originate in other literatures? 178
3. General evidence of their Moslem origin 178
4. Remarks upon the method followed in this part of the
enquiry 179

II. LEGENDS OF VISIONS OF HELL:

1. Legend of the Three Monks of the East 180
2. Moslem features in the general setting and in the tortures
of hell 180
3. Moslem origin of the myth of the souls incarnate in birds 181
4. Vision of St. Paul 182
5. Scenes of Islamic origin; tortures similar to those
described in Mahomet’s nocturnal journey; the _sirat_,
or bridge of the Koran; the wheel of fire 183
6. The final vision, the respite of the sinners and similar
Moslem tales 184

III. LEGENDS OF VISIONS OF HELL—_continued_:

1. Legend of Tundal 186
2. Features of Moslem origin; hell represented as a monster;
the Aaraf, or Moslem limbo; the punishment in the grave 186
3. The devil with the hundred hands 187
4. Heaven shown to the sinner, _ut magis doleant_ 188
5. The sinner tormented by the cow he had stolen 190
6. Legend of Purgatory of St. Patrick 190
7. Moslem features which this legend shares in common with
the former legends 191

IV. LEGENDS OF VISIONS OF HELL (Conclusion):

1. Vision of Alberic. Episodes already shown to be of Moslem
origin 191
2. The Solar Liod. The topography of hell and other Moslem
features 192
3. Vision of Turcill. The Moslem torture of the thief, forced
to swallow his illicit gains 193
4. Vision of the Abbot Joachim. The passage of the _sirat_ 193
5. Vision of the Bard of Regio Emilia 193
6. Islamic origin of the Bard’s scheme of hell 194

V. LEGENDS ON THE WEIGHING OF SOULS:

1. Subject common to the legends of this cycle 195
2. The Egypto-Persian myth in Islam, and its influence on the
Christian legends 195
3. The representation of St. Michael holding the scales is
further evidence of such influence 196
4. Digression to other instances of Moslem influence upon
Christian illustrations of the Day of Judgment. The
intercession of the Saints. The nakedness of the sinners 197

VI. LEGENDS OF PARADISE:

1. Anthropomorphism of the legends of this cycle, and their
general resemblance to other Islamic legends 199
2. Episodes of Moslem origin, such as the vision of Adam in
the legend of Turcill 200
3. Moslem tales precursory of the Christian legends depicting
life in paradise as a courtly gathering or religious
festival 200

VII. LEGENDS OF SEA VOYAGES:

1. Common characteristics of these legends. Classification
into three groups 204
2. Early Moslem counterparts of these legends 205
3. Hypothesis of the influence of the Moslem cycle upon the
Christian cycle 205
4. Moslem episodes in the Legend of St. Brandan, such as the
table spread with food; the island-whale; the angel
birds; the enormous vines; the crystal column; the
torment of Judas; the sea-hermit; the isle of paradise 206
5. Conclusion, affirming the Oriental character of the Legend
of St. Brandan 214
6. Islamic features of other Christian tales of voyages 214

VIII. LEGENDS OF SLEEPERS:

1. Characteristics common to the legends of this cycle, and
brief summary of the main legends 216
2. Prior existence of two groups of similar legends in Islamic
literature 218
3. Examination of the three legends of the first group 218
4. The Islamic tales of the second group 220
5. Their resemblance to the mediæval Christian tales may be
attributed to Moslem influence upon Christian folklore 221

IX. LEGENDS OF THE RESPITE FROM TORTURE:

1. The main theme of these legends unauthorized by Catholic
doctrine 222
2. Examination of a typical legend of this cycle 223
3. Its main features, viz. the respite from torture and the
incarnation of the souls in birds of black plumage, are
of Moslem origin 223
4. Christian tales dealing with the mitigation of suffering
upon the payment of debt. Their Islamic prototypes 224
5. The mitigation of the pains of hell by means of prayer.
Moslem precedents for the Christian legends 225

X. LEGENDS ON THE DEBATE BETWEEN ANGELS AND DEVILS FOR POSSESSION
OF THE SOUL:

1. Main elements of the legends of this cycle 226
2. Some of these features unauthorized by Christian doctrine 227
3. Islamic legends describing (1) the appointment of an angel
and a devil to each man; (2) the fight for the soul; (3)
the books of record; (4) the personification of virtues
and vices; (5) the personification of the members of the
body; (6) the removal of the soul to hell or heaven 228
4. Summary of comparisons contained in Part III and conclusion
to be drawn therefrom; Islamic literature furnishes the
explanation of the growth of many of the pre-Dante
Christian legends on the after-life 232
5. Transition to Part IV 233