The souls eventually settle on the final M, “on the “M of the fifth word”: “Poscia ne l’emme del vocabol quinto / rimasero ordinate” (Then they took their order in the M of the fifth word [Par. 18.94-95]). Other souls then descend onto the apex of that M: “E vidi scendere altre luci dove / era il colmo de l’emme” (And I saw other lights descending on the apex of the M [Par. 18.97-98]). The shape of the gothic M then transforms itself, its stem elongating to form the head and neck of a heraldic eagle (Par. 18.107).
Here is a diagram from the Chiavacci Leonardi commentary that visualizes the transformation of gothic M into a heraldic eagle:
(The diagram is from Anna Maria Chiavacci Leonardi’s commentary to Paradiso 18, verses 97-99, p. 385.)
This whole passage is full of grammatical and linguistic terminology; it is an intense example of the hyper-literacy and self-conscious literacy of the Commedia.
Digital Dante offers original research and ideas on Dante: on his thought and work and on various aspects of his reception.