Dante is it

I'm ten cantos into Paradise, and once again Dante amazes me. This will be my fourth read through all three canticles, and the poetic power of the man never wanes. Like Milton (my other poetic/theological master), Dante manages to dramatize convincingly some of the theological controversies that just don't work out in proposition-lists. His treatment of prayer in Purgatorio is simply inspired. And his imperialism (in the Roman sense), though it's a blemish in his theology, still comes across as entirely sensible (even if wrongheaded).

One day, when I'm teaching college, if the school will give me some wiggle-room, I'm almost certain I'll teach a Dante and Milton class--yes, the syllabus is forming in my head even now.