DANT E A T RA VENNA

BY

‘ CATH E RI N E MEA 'R ‘Y

‘ mmzs m1 “ S E LE C T ION S

LON fiO N

A DA NT E A T RA V ENN .

21 S tub s;

H E C A T H E R I N E M A R Y P I LLI M OR ,

A U T H OR OF

’ S UD I S I N I A LI A N u T E R A T U R E T HE W A R RI R mama FRA A N G LI C T E T , O , E O , ‘ s w n x FR M T HE S R M N S F PA D RE S I N D A s c o s O E O O A G O T O ’

M N F L R E T C E T C . O TE E T O , ,

LON D ON

E LLI OT ' 6 2 PA T E R N OST E R STOC , , ROW,

1 8 8 9 .

H M . F . S .

W H O ACC OM PANI E D T H E W RI T E R

T H E E T M E S T O AV E A R I R NN ,

T H E C M PA N I ON OF M A N Y ST U D E S E SE A C H E S A N D T AV O I , R R R E LS,

T HE SE P AG E S

A RE A FFE CT AT E L D E D AT E D ION Y I C .

as amc di arti rsi i ri E qu i i i p p g . P ur x a xxm. 1 1 . g , 4

4 9 3 8 6

FA P R E C E .

H E following brief study of the closing years of the life of D ante is offered as a humble contribution to the ma ss of literature and research which centres in th a t grea t n ame . Yet in his quiet exile at Ravenn a D ante is perh aps not so well known to the student of his life and works as when a citizen of Florence in n m the e arly a d ore stirring periods of his life .

B t ma a a a a C o m u ny p ss ge , both in the Divin

’ m a and m edi i n his inor works , tends to show how much his mind was influenced by the place of his l atest soj ourn upon e arth . Frequent visits to the Romagn a and Ravenn a

a a h ve en bled the writer , while following in his

m m a a m footsteps , to for so e ide of the ch r which

a a a and a m th t p rt of It ly, the ncient city itself, ust h ave held for the poet . viii P reface

‘ ’ a a a a m Upon the l st gre t I t li n work, L Ulti o

’ 1 u a a Rif gio di D nte Alighieri , which le ves no part of the topography or history connected with th at

a period unexpl ined or unexplored , the following

u ma st dy relies inly for its facts . A similar ao knowled ment a ua g is due to nother work , of eq l

m a u a i port nce , tho gh not so recent , D nte e il

’ suo Secolo . The study of these works has been supplemented by rese arch among such original sources of in formation as are to be found in the manuscripts

a a a a and a cont ined in the libr ries of R venn P ris , n a a d u m. the Bodlei n , the British M seu

a a a ma u The writer , w re th t ny points still nder

a m a dispute h ve co e within the sphere of her l bours ,

a a a is prep red to w it , with others , the resifting of all the documents rel ative to the life and family

’ a ma a of D nte in the Codice Diplo tico D ntesco ,

m a a a a and co piled by the It li n liter ry uthorities , which last year began to issue in p arts fromthe

a a It ali a n press . I n view of either the re dy ccept a nce of tradition or the negative spirit of modern

m l a a criticis , the obj ect of this work is to y found ation upon which the biography of D ante may securely rest .

’ ’ U m R D ane e . a R cc 1 8 1 . L lti o ifugio di t Alighi ri Corr do i i , 9 Preface i x

It i s time (suc h i s t he prelude of the compilers of the

‘ w a n t he s a eac e s and ork) th t u der e cort of pproved t h r ,

wn in e s e s st en an s follo i g th ir t p , the ud t of D te hould be set in a way fromwhi c h th ere i s no turning back nor

n —o n o ne an n a e a ma n on diverge ce the h d i to v gu ffir tio ,

n em c the other i to syst ati doubt . Su ch a safe path c an

n sec a ca s a emn ac s and o ly be ured by reful re t t e t of f t , this course of study may be reached fromthree starting points

n a n n nc s sc 1 . Re ewed tte tio to the refere e attered throughout the work s of t he poe t himself.

2 T h r - n es a n a n n ma . e e i v tig tio of the tr ditio al i for tion s the ms n n upplied by o t reliable of the a cie t biographers.

T h r - m n n 3. e e e x a ination of the origi al docume ts with whic h history has fromtime to time beenenric hed . A compari sonof these last with those c ited by the early biographers will show how muc h i s still extant of t he

na s c s n ma s c origi l our e of t h eir i for tion . When uch do u mens are ac n t he es mn s a s a t l ki g, t ti o ie of the v riou e rly

e s e and c c sm mne writ r will be quot d , riti i will deter i their respec tive me rit according as th ey c anbe proved to h ave ’ 1 writtenindepe ndently of each other .

Such l abours as these c an h ardly miss their ma and a a a ma rk , lthou gh , i n his gre tness , D nte y

‘ Codi ce D iplomati co D antesco : I Do cumenti d e ll a V ita e e a am a D an e e i n acs m e esc d ll F igli di t Alighi ri , riprodotti f i il , d ritti ’ c s a conM n men e c re d o. a e d a illu tr ti o u ti d Art , Figu Guido Bi gi ’ na Pass e n con a s c e a S c e a a nesca I a a . G . L . ri i gli u pi i d ll o i t D t t li x P refac e

a s a all be looked u pon citizen of the world , n ations will n a tura lly turn to the l a nd of his birth for the fin al verdict upon all matters connected with his life and works .

M A R H CA T H E R I N E Y P I LL I M ORE .

O DO L N N ,

Febr uar 1 8 8 . y , 9 N T CON T E S .

C H A PT E R IN T R OD U CT ION

R V E I . A NNA

T H E E G LE P LE T T H E T R T S II . A OF O N A, Y AN OF

T HE R M G T H E P P E S C T E M O A NA , AND O ON P OR A R Y W I T H DAN T E

T E A R A V E A . T E C E R R E T R C III DAN A H OF H O I IN NN ,

’ AND ‘ I L V O LG A R E E LO'U IO

I v L P U P LS A T R V E . IFE AND I A NNA

C L S G E R S T H E L E T E A T v . O IN Y A OF IF OF DAN R AV E NNA

V I T H E P E T — E M B SS T O V E C E — E AT . IN A A Y NI D H AND B U R IA L

V A T H E SC V E R I I . TH E T M B T E O OF DAN , ND DI O Y OF H I S R E M AIN S

I N TRO D U CTI O N .

I N TRO D UCTI O N .

’ A v v egna ch io mi sent a n n B e te trago o ai colpi d i ventura . n P a xv . n,

T ee me o nal l s es hough I. f l id ’ ’ s are ne s s Well qu d to fortu blow .

is prob a ble th at the close and persistent study of D a nte will be herea fter recognised as one of the prominent features of the nine

h as ana ma t eent century , whether it is viewed no ly when set side by side with the prevailing ch arac t eri i s a e as st c of the g , or whether it is recognised a n a tural re action fromthe purely materi al a ims of the l atest developments of science . Fromsuch a m as all i s these , with the respect due to the ma a a rvellous results which h ve been chieved , it a a m is yet conceiv ble th t the ind , restless with m a a a a a so e uns tisfied instinct , should c st b ckw rd gl ance over those forgotten p aths of le arnin g

a nd a which converge centre in their gre t exponent ,

a a nd him o ne D nte , were reduced by into the m si ple instruction ,

‘ ’ ’ rn Come l uoms et e a. 4 D ant e at R av enna

a a at I n re lity , these three words cont in once ’ the subj ect of D a nte s great work and the Obj ect ‘ as . for which it w wri tten The subj ect , the con ’ ‘ a a dition of the soul fter de th ; the obj ect , to rescue men from p assing their lives i n a st ate m and m wa a of isery , to direct the in the y of h ppi ’ ness . a m mas a m I t would l ost see if in this st te ent , m l a ma brief to si plicity , y the clue to the rvellous ’ a mm a influence which the Divin C o edi , ever since

was has uma it first penned , exercised upon the h n m and ma mind . A little ore reflection the rvel is a a a dispelled , or , r ther , resolved i nto the n tur l sequence of ca use and effect .

a a a D nte w s no egotist . Doubtless there flo ted m ever before his ind , throughout his solit ary a a an a w nderings , the hope th t ungr teful but still ever - loved country would at l a st recognise his ’1 m and at a m a erit , the font of his b ptis pl ce the coveted l aurels upon his head ; but this was not ma m a a the pri ry otive of his work , nor w s th t work confined to his own country or to his own time . N othing less th an the benefit of all who should ever live upon this e arth was the design of the all u writer ; therefore , i n co ntries , without respect a a and ma add to n tion lity , , we y now , in either m a u a e has a m he isphere , e ch s cceeding g cl i ed a

1 I nsul fonte ’ ’ l a D e mi o B ttesimo prend ero l cappe llo .

P an . I o . , xxv

6 D ant e at Rav enna

spot visited by D a nte during hi s nineteen ye ars of a at a a a w nderings , till l st he re ched the go l of his

e arthly pilgrimage in Ravenn a . N owhere could the l ast footprints of that most rema rkable ra ce of life h ave been more fit ly pl aced a a a ma m th n in R venn , where the old Ro n E pire and m a met the new kingdo of Christi nity , not in a m a a m opposition , but in h r ony . At R venn , ore , a a an a perh ps , th n y other spot in the v st world of m m ma am Ro e , the E pire re ins indelibly st ped with a the sign of Const ntine , in the u nique glory of a a mm m a a m b silic s , where the shi ering os ics , l ost a s a as a a ma as ch ngeless the st rs of he ven , re in silent witnesses to the fa ct th at there at least the Empire brought with no grudging h and riches and honour to the foot of th a t Cross in whose might a at had lone , one crisis of her existence , she con quered . To whomcould the t ask of a nexponent of the process which had blended into one the two forces m fit l a a of the world be ore y entrusted th n to D nte , and where could he find a gra nder setting for the completion of the scheme which had occupied his great soul th a n in Ravenna ? m a a Conte por ry history , corrobor ted by recent a a a a a rese rch , fixes the epoch of his rriv l in R venn within a few ye ars of t he de ath of Henry of m 1 1 u m . L xe burg, i n the onth of Au gust , 3 3 It will be remembered th a t the sudden death of the m m a a E peror , idw y in his c reer of the conquest of

a was a - C hihel It ly , likewise the de th blow of the I nt r o duc t i o n 7

an ace m a line hopes , then within of their cul in m a a a m a tion . So e ide of wh t th t blow ust h ve a m m been to D nte , the pri e over of the Ghibelline a h ad a p rty , who str ined every power of his intel m m ma lect to secure the triu ph of the E peror , y be gathered fromthe imp assioned eloquence of his previous appeal :

‘ T o all and s n a — nc s a S a s i gul r Pri e of It ly, en tor of ar s n and all the Holy City, to every Duke, M qui , Cou t , —I m a an an r a the people , the hu ble It li D te Alighie i, n n n n e now s s n re . Flore ti e u ju tly exiled , e d g eti g B hold i s ac m ent h e s ns c ns a n and the cepted ti e, wh ig of o ol tio ac are m mn pe e beco ing a ifest. ‘ 0 a be s and Rejoice, It ly , once fit to the corn pity a a ns now s m ms of the S r ce , but hortly to beco e the o t e e all na s r m i s nvi d of tion for thy Brideg oo , who the light and hi s c e and joy of ntury the glory of thy people, the — most gracious Henry Imperial C aesar and Augustus as s ma hi s s se h ten to ke thee pou . a s 0 a a as a a r Dry thy te r , be utiful It ly C t w y eve y vestige of grief because he i s at hand who will deliver

m on s mn s w s e thee fro the b d of thy tor e tor , who ill trik

s m e s and s n mw tho e urder r , , de troyi g the ith the edge of s s n a s a mn the word, will let out thi vi ey rd to other hu b nd e ’ en him i n s as n who will r der to the ju st fruit due e o , 1 et c .

I n a simil ar stra in another letter wa s addressed m m a a to the E peror hi self, written in the ctu l u neighbourhood of Florence , which the h ngering

n r s . a e . . . 1 . e e M . c Op r i o i ( Epi t v Fr ti lli) , vol iii , p 44 8 D ant e at Rav e nna

m a exile , sti ul ted by the hope th at the end of his m a was a had a a a . b nish ent ne r , lso ppro ched I n proportion to such high hopes must h ave been the depth of d isappointment in which D a nte ‘ was obliged to turn away fromthe fa ir sheep ’ 1 and a at a fold , renew his w ndering till l st he took a a a refuge in R venn , there to find his chief sol ce in prep aring a throne for the de a d Emperor in his ‘ ’ a a all a P r diso , before which e rthly splendou r 2 a in i ifi nc e would f de into s gn ca . M any and fru itless h ave been the disp utes and u as a a a d isc ssions to the ex ct ye r which , t king the

a m 1 1 as a a - de th of the E peror in 3 3 st rting point ,

a a a a a witnessed the rriv l of D nte in R venn . It is u ma a not s rprising , if we consider the ny w nder m a ings of his exiled footsteps , so e tr ced with a a m m a a toler ble cert inty, so e ore f intly indic ted a a a m a a by tr dition , th t l ost liter ture should centre round this question among the e ager biographers B a am a of the poet . ut th t he c e there t the u as u req est of Guido N ovello, his invited g est , all are a a a greed . Th t being the c se , he could a am not rrive there before Gu ido c e into power , the more so as the immedi ate predecessors of u a and am a G ido , Bern rdino L berto , were e rnest a a a s Guelphs , striving for the P p l opposed to the m a au a a I peri l c se Bern rdino, by whose side D nte had u at C am aldino at a m fo ght p , being th t ti e the

1 ’ I n D el e e o v o rme a e . b llo ovil , do i g llo

P a n . , xxv 5 .

- I I . xxx . 33 39 I nt roduc t io n 9

a F Podest of lorence , urging the Florentines to a a nd resist to the l st , dyin g in office while the Emperor was at Pis a wa iting his opportunity to m ma a enter Florence . Fro this it y s fely be assumed th at D a nte would not select the Court of

Bern ardino a s his refu ge i n exile . But Gu ido

was t a nd a Novello still i n his firs youth , lthou gh his n ame appe ars in the e a rly chronicles of Ravenn a a s the defender of merc a ntile rights of a a the city i n v rious disputes with Venice , Chioggi , and ma had m Co cchio , he hitherto kept hi self aloof from the gre at conflict of the a ge . H is was a nd a m disposition gentle pe ceful , his ind a wholly given to study . Wh t little record exists of his life coincides ex actly with the portra it left

a to us by Bocc ccio .

‘ I n s a s e a n a a tho e d y there reign d over R ve n , am s and an e n c ma na a n f ou ci t ity of the Ro g , noble k ight ca d a na who was nst in all lled Guido Pole t , i ructed t he ra a s was w n ea n all libe l rt , who o t gr tly to ho our

a ne men s c a s s ass all s in le r d , e pe i lly tho e who urp ed ot her sc nc ie e . ‘ I t h aving reached hi s ears that D ante (with whose am had n n ac a n e was i n s his f e he lo g bee qu i t d) , thi mmen tmst es a no win ma na he at c o t of u o d p ir, Ro g , on e prepared to receive and honour him; no r did he wait to

as e so e a a n n be k d to do , but with true lib r lity t ki g i to c ns a nhow a a s w s ask o ider tio h rdly high oul ill toop to ,

m hi m m hi m as n mse s a he i plored to co e to , ki g hi lf a s c a a at n an es t o as pe i l f vour, wh he k ew D te d ired be ked , e i m e hi wheth r it would pl ease h to b s guest . T he t wo I o D ant e at Rav enna

s a s and es s n n one will , th t of the ho t the gu t, thu te di g to 1 ss and a as at n a e i ue, D nte ple ed o ce with the unqu lifi d t he on an and ss a liberality of offer the one h d , pre ed h rd b hi wnn c ss s on e a n no s nd y s o e e itie the oth r, w iti g for eco n a n ms a nna i vit tio , betook hi elf to R ve , where Guido

c him n hi s a n s re eived with every ho our , revived f lle hope ,

a im a n ance all a he e and him g ve h in bu d th t n eded , kept himin a man a s n as with th t city for y ye r , eve to the l t of hi ’ 2 s life .

Fromth is p ass a ge we may sa fely conclude th at ’ D ante s a rrival in Ravenn a c a nnot h ave t aken place before the accession of Guido N ovello to and a am power , th t since his predecessor L berto 1 1 6 and was died in J une , 3 , Guido not elected am a a a till October of the s e ye r , D nte would h rdly a a a 1 1 begin his soj ourn in R venn before the ye r 3 7 , aninterval of four years h aving el apsed between the death of the Germa n Emperor and the event

a a a i n question . Th t the d te c nnot be pl aced l ater is proved by a curious piece of contemporary

. a an a m evidence Pietro di D nte , son of D te , eco ani ed a a a and p his f ther to R venn , there held the n two b e efices of 8 . M ari a di Zenzanigola and of

. m a a S Si one di M uro , the gift of C terin , wife of

Gu ido N ovello . There is a document exta nt which records the sentence of Pope John XXI I .

1 ‘ Che del fare e d el c hi ed er t ra voi d ue Fi a m e Che t ra a e iua pri o qu l , gli ltri p t rdo T he granting shal l forer unthe asking

P an . . , xvii 7 4 , 7 5 A nd th e compliment by whi ch D ant e has immortalize d the courte s y hi s s s i s d ue i ne a meas e hi s as of fir t ho t qu l ur to l t . 2 ‘ ’ B ccacc V a D ane . 0 . o io, it di t , p 3 I nt ro duct io n I I a g a inst Pietro di D a nte a nd others for not

a a a a a h ving p id the fees due to the P p l Leg te ,

a b enefic es Bertr ndo del Poggetto , in right of the m which they held . Evidently , fro this docu m a ent , Pietro di D nte , together with the other a had def ulters , enj oyed the u nshorn revenues of these two b enefic es some little time before was ma and the discovery de , the fees so long due were replaced by a fine imposed by the a ngry 1 Legate . We h ave another testimony which points to the fa ct of D ante h aving resided several ye ars at Ravenn a in the d ates of the poetica l correspond m and a ence between hi self Giov nni di Virgilio , ’

d A scoli a nd . a Cecco , others V rious episodes in this correspondence suggest the idea th at

a a was ma a R venn his per nent residence , th t ma u m a a he de exc rsions fro it , but lw ys returned to it . ’ a a a a a Torno R venn , e di li non p rto , is line

a a which ppe rs in one of the Eclogues , but th ese will be referred to at length l ater on .

f ar as at So , then , it is possible to j udge this a m ma a dist nce of ti e , we y conclude th t the exiled ‘ ” - first life , which found the well known refuge at a 1 1 1 had a a Veron in 3 , bout four ye rs yet to run when it gently glided into the port of the ’ a ultimo rifugio at R avenn .

’

1 doc . . m R a . . Ulti o ifugio , pp , p 4 5 , ix

0 . xvii . 7 I 2 D ant e at R av enna

I nquella parte Di mia eta dove c iascun dovrebbe ’ l a a l e e racc li r l r C l r e v le og e e sa t e.

‘ A s to that part n me me n ac e es Of life I fou d co , whe e h b hov ’ T o o e sa s and a n l w r il g ther in the li es. R CA Y,

1 n n V xxv 80 a s I . . 7 7 , ; l o Co vito xxviii .

C HAPTE R L

R V A ENNA .

’ Ra enna st a c me s a a e m ann v o t t olt i . I n xxv n 0 f , . 4 .

’ Ra enna s an s a man a s she s v t d s y y e r tood .

this single line D ante seems to recall all

a and the glory of the p st , to reinvest the

city with the Imperi a l robe . a a as For when he entered R venn , there , ever , stood the v a st walls on their solid Roma n fo und a

a a tion , which , when they ce sed to be the l st a m had m shelter of the f iling E pire , beco e the

a a chosen centre of the Gothic rule . M ny glorious edifice still remained in u ntouched Splendour to witness to a gigantic p ast welded a m m out of the ncient power of Ro e , supple ented even in the moment of decline by the rude strength of the Romanized B arb ari an . S uch were the rich sculptures of the Port a Aure a ; the glitterin g splendour of the B a silic a ’

U rsi ana a 8 . a , with its five isles Andre de Goti , s a id to be a climax of B a rb ari an effort ; the

m a a a a churches built by the E press G ll Pl cidi , I 6 D ant e at Rav enna

n a a a d . a a a S nt Croce S G iov nni Ev ngelist , her votive offerings to the s aint whose aid she had invoked in the midst of the r a ging stormon the

a a tre acherous H adri n S e . Still the river P ad enna a a flowed through the city , f c des of churches a dorned with rich porticos , like those of Venice , a and m rose on either side of its course , beside the stood like some gu ardi a n sentinel the round B ell

a a a a a a . Tower , th t ch r cteristic fe ture of R venn I n the adj oining cemeteries l ay the gre at s arco ph agi of the illustrious de a d Emperor or Arch a m a bishop in the l st sole n repose , dorned with those v aried emblems of e a rly C hristi a n art which ’ a m m symbolize the Christi n s hope . Fro their idst there rose the sombre maj esty of the cypress or a a a a a the brilli nt verdure of the c ci , to bre k the m m a and long lines of slu bering ort lity , , pointing a a ever tow rds he ven , suggest to the livin g citizens m the life of the world to co e . N either tide of river nor of popul ation now a ma a - and m ni tes the silent , gr ss grown streets , so e of the gre at relics of the p ast h ave either yielded to the slow dec ay of centuries or h ave been rud ely swept away by the desol ation of civil warfare . B ut yet those which remain suffice to give some idea of a p ast which could never be derived from a a the pen of the histori n lone . If the bed of a torrent was considered by the warriors of Alaric the Goth to be the only resting a a a at a a pl ce in It ly worthy of their le der , R venn Rav enna 1 7

a a m one hu ge rock , r ised by the fili l piety of A a nt a ma ma a l assu , re ins to rk the gr ve of the great

Theodoric . ’

. a has I f the Church of S Andre de Goti perished , yet still the tomb of G all a Pl acidi a i n its vicinity mm and preserves the e ory of the foundress , the d ark va ult of her resting - pl ace is illumin ated by a mos a ic in such rare preservation as to suggest the glory of the whole design . I f the sea has receded fromthe port where a a a m once the g lleys of the C es rs rode in triu ph , still there in the lone waste of the marsh S . A p p ollinare i n Cl a sse remains in solit ary splendour on the site of the Roma n temple . Columns of ma a a a shining rble , which once dorned the p g n a a shrine , h ve now r ised for thirteen centuries the va ult where glitters in undimmed S plendour the mos aic of the Cross of Christ .

a Ever throughout the vener ble city , either

a a a within or without the w lls , i n the ncient b ptis

llinar t er . A o e a y, in the twin S pp , c lled N uovo a a a a i n the fourth century , S nt M ri in Porto , or an a a a s m a am S Vit le , be utiful so e E stern dre ,

a a am church fter church repe ts the s e story , in am m a a am a the s e ysterious ch r cters , the s e sc rcely ch angin g hues . m a N ow by sy bol , now by direct portr iture , they tell of the Good Shepherd , with the sheep of H is

a - ma p sture , of the long row of white robed rtyrs a a who se led their f ith with their blood , or, pouring a a m his gifts before the lt r , of the E peror whose 2 I 8 D ant e at Rav enna effigy from the midst of all the a ccumul ated S ma a a a and m a plendour of rble , l b ster , os ic , looks out century a fter century with the s ame motion less gaze which probably inspired the lines

Cesare fui e sonGiu stiniano ’ r m am ch i o s n Che per voler del p i o or e to, ’ ’ ’ n a ass il l a D e tro lle leggi tr e troppo e v no.

- P an . 1 0 1 2 , vi .

a sa was C e r I , A nd amjustinian destined by the will a m w s n Of th t pri e love, ho e i fluence I feel , ’ ’ m a ss a incumb r ws Fro v in exce to cle r the e d la .

R Tr am. CA Y,

Thus Ravenn a stood at the close of the tra di tions of the Empire ; even the l ast vestige of I m peri a l power was being merged in the d awning sovereignty of the Popes when D ante the exile arrived before her gates . Ravenn a threw them open to her illustrious and act a guest , by this of hospit lity coupled her am a a n e with his, t king her pl ce by his side on the threshold of the future of Italy . C HAPTE R I I .

P T TH E T R TS THE OF OLE N A , Y A N OF R OM A G NA A ND THE P OP ES CON TEM P ORA R Y WI TH

2 2 D ant e at Rav enna

Its wings are displ ayed now on a silver and no w a on golden field , but in the shield of Guido

a and Novello the e gle is red the field gold . The

am was m a a f ily title derived fro the C stle of Polent , which stood some thirty miles inla nd south of

a a and a ma a m R venn , of which only s ll fr g ent

u a rema ins sta nding . I t would j st h ve been e n ’ in a closed the sweep of the e gle s pinion which ,

a a including Cesen , covered the port of C ervi .

a ma Following the her ldic i gery , in which the rulers of the Romagn a ar e presented to us in the ‘ ’ a mm a a D ivin Co edi , the dj oining city of Forli , h aving made a galla nt st a nd a g a inst the Pope and a la a his llies , y then under the t lons of the green l ion of the Or d el affi.

c h Fe i a l a n a a La terra e g lu g pruov , E di Franceschi sanguinoso mucchio ’ S otto l e branch e verdi si rit ruova .

- I n . . f , xxvii 33 4 4

T he green t alons grasp e so on T he land that stood rewhile the proof l g, ’ nc A nd piled in bloody heap the host of Fra e . R Tr a m CA Y, .

At Rimini the vindictive tyra nny of the M al a test a is ch aracterized by the ferocity of a mastiff.

’ ’ l n da V errucc hi o E l M astin vecchio e uovo , n Che fecer di Montagna il mal gover o ’ ’ lion fan s c . La dove sog , de denti uc hio

H id 6 . , 4 5 , 4 T he Tyrant s of t he Romagna 2 3

T he old Mastiff of V err ucchi o and the young That tore Montagna intheir wrat h still mak e ’ W e t are w n ana n h re hey o t uger of their fa gs. l bin’ .

and a a h They were Guelphs , for th t re son ad ’ m a a P arc i sat i a m urdered M ont gn de , Ri inese

a a a was a noble , for no other re son th n th t he ’

. a a a a Ghibelline B ut the lion s cub , M in rdo P g ni , who governs the two cities which ar e wa tered by

an r m i . a m a am and S t e o . and the L one the , , I ol a at a a a Forli , is Guelph one se son of the ye r , Ghibelline at another

Le c itta di Lamone e di Sante rno n c i1 e nc del n an Co du e L o el ido bi co , ’ m a a e a s l e n Che ut p rt d lla tate a v r o . l é 'd 8 z , 4 7 , 4 .

’ ’ Lamone s c ity and Sant erno s range n n sn a U der the lio of the owy l ir, I nconstant partisanth at ch angeth sides ’ ’ s mm s wn s s Or ever u er yield to i ter fro t.

‘ And thus they live for ever in the Divin a ’ mm a m a a a Co edi , these edi ev l tyr nts of the

ma a a a Ro gn , for even the bo st of their her ldry m h as been rescued by D ante fro the grave . Like the grimtowers which crowned a t intervals the emb attled wa lls of the It a li a n cit y of those m and a m ti es protected the cit del , they see to st a nd a round the n a scent tempor a l power of the

Pa p a cy . For the sovereignty of t he triple crown no 2 4 D ant e at Rav e nna longer remained in the lifeless grasp of the puppet which Ch a rlemagne had invested with a sembl ance of authority to represent the Western Empire and t ake the pl ace of the discredited government a of the Byz ntine Court . had m and Little by little the effigy co e to life , , ‘ as ma a a Ville in rhetoric lly observes , w nted to ’ reign .

u a a N or wo ld it be s tisfied with v gue, high a m m soundin g words or ph nto do inions . I n the ye a r 1 2 7 8 all former tre aties and con cessions which had fromtime to time been wrested fromthe Empire were secured by a n irrevocable a a deed . N ichol s I I I . , the Orsini Pope , pl ying u a a pon the religious fe rs of Rudolph of H psburg , wru ng fromhimthe fin al cession of the exa rchate a a a nd a of R venn the fortresses of the Pent polis , a s the price to be p aid for t he redemption of the m ’ E peror s unfulfilled vow . It was in va in th at C aes ar stru ggled to ret a in ‘ ’ 1 a m a a the g rden of the E pire , to which D nte

few ye ars l ater p athetica lly recalled hi m.

The Pope would not let slip the opportunity , and two Acts were signed by the Imperi al A m m all b assador . By the one the E pire renounced further cla imto the fe alty of the Romagn a ; by the other the confines of the States of the Church and all m m were defined , the cities co prised in the am and ma were n ed one by one , de over to the a P p al authority .

1 ’ ’ a in m r ia se Che l gi rd d ell I p e io s di rto .

P ur 1 0 . g , vi . 5 T he P op es c o nt emp o rary wit h D ant e 2 5

Thus it may be seen ho w the a wakened puppet of Ch arlemagne developed into a living a m a a a power , which bec e eventu lly gi nt figure in m a the sche e of Europe n politics , thundering for ’ a et no less th n five centuries decrees U rbi Orbi , at a till l st , within the recollection of the present a has a m a m as gener tion , it , id stor of dispute to

n a a d a m . its origin utility, dis ppe red fro the scene D a nte was ma n y centuries before his time when m am a nd all he conde ned this s e Orsini Pope , the ‘ ’ 1 miserable followers of Simon M a gus who u him all should s cceed , to lie to eternity in close proximity to th at e arth on which they h ad fixed the g aze which should h ave been turned towards a he ven . ‘ ’ — I f these are the words he puts into the m a m outh of N ichol a s I I I . thou c rest so uch to know who I a m know th a t I wa s vested i n

a ma a a a nd was the gre t ntle (of the P p cy) , truly a - a son of the she be r (one of the Orsini) , so greedy to a dva nce the be ar - cubs th at above (in l a a nd the wor d) I stowed we lth , here (in hell) m 2 yself in this pouch . Then follow prophecies of the yet more atro n a . a d cions guilt of his successors , Bonif ce V I I I m V . a Cle ent , to which D nte replies with the fa mous question which strikes a t the root of the temporal power :

’ D eh mi an eso e or di , qu to t ro voll

o s n e i n ma d a san e o N tro Sig or pri Pi tr ,

- 1 M i d 0 . xix . . , 7 7 3 2 6 D ant e at Rav e nna

Che gli ponesse l e chiavi inbalia ? Certo nonc hiese se noni V i emmi retro N e Pier né gli altri tolsero a M attia o d a an fu s Oro rgento, qu do ortito ’ ’ A c l ni i I lo o che perde a ma r a.

‘ a me now how mc as r Pr y tell , , u h tre ure did our Lo d e e h require fromSt . Pet r b fo re He put the k eys into i s c harge ? He certainly mad e no further demand upon “ ” n M n r the hi mtha Follow thou e . Nor did Peter o e s s t m a as o s w oth r Apo tle extor fro M tthi g ld or ilver, hen he was appointed by lot to the post which the guilty soul ’ 1 a had Judas I sc riot forfeited .

’ ’ ’ Fatto v avet e Dio d oro e d argento ’ E c he altro e da voi agl idolatre ’ ’ nonch e li uno n a n Se g , e voi or te ce to

a ma e s s a and s Ye h ve d for your elve god of gold ilver, and wh at other distinc tioni s there betweenyou and the a s c a a o ne n and a idol ter , ex ept th t they dore thi g, you hundred of them

a m a a a To N ichol s , whose si oni c l conduct g ve rise a u to this burst of righteous indign tion , s cceeded n . t he ma a d M artin I V , French n of Tours , who ’ ’ does pen ance in the Purgatorio for his glutton s 3 a a was de th , whose fierce h tred of the Ghibellines only foiled at Forli by the craft of Guido d a

1 ’ ’ V ern ns R ea n s o nthe I ne n . . . o di g f r o , xix , p 9 5 2 1 0 0 . p . 3 2 1 - 2 xxiv. 4 Ebbe la santa c hi esa i nl e sue bracc i a D e l T orso fu e purga p er digiuno ’ ’ L A ngui ll e ( li Bol sena e l a ve rnacc i a . T he P op es c o nt emp orary with D ant e 2 7

u a m Montefeltro , to ret rn second ti e with terrible vengea nce upon the luckless city . nt ificat es 1 The short p o of H onorius I V . ( 2 85 1 8 1 2 87 ) and N ichol a s I V . ( 2 8 which had m a pro ised better things , were succeeded by th t of

V . a Celestine , whose cow rdly desertion of his post has been ha nded down to posterity in the single line ’ Che fece per viltade il granri fiut o . n I . 60 . f , iii n i ’ t o as a a e h s s a . Who, b e fe r yieldi g , bjur d high e t te

m a m a as a ma We ust d it , however , th t , tter of

a . history , the nchorite virtues of Pope Celestine V comp are fa vourably with the opposite vices of his predecessors and successors in the Pap a l chair . B ut a a a the c use of the fierce indign tion of D nte , which prompted one of the finest p ass a ges in the ‘ ’ as a a a I nferno , he ssigns to Celestine V . pl ce ’ ’ 1 am far ong the wretches who ne er lived , is not to seek . The abdication of Celestine was brought about by the combined thre ats and art ific es of his ni a a a a C aet a . a h ughty riv l , C rdin l I n bj ect terror a a a a Celestine v c ted the P p l throne , thereby making the vac ancy so e agerly desired by the a m a a was bitious C rdin l , who forthwith elected to and has am a . it , , u nder the n e of Bonif ce V I I I , left no uncerta in record of himself upon the pa ge of history . H e cl a ims our attention first as one

’ of the central fi gures of the Divin a Commedi a

iii . 64 . 2 8 D ant e at Rave nna a centra l figure beca use of the circumst ances which brou ght hi mi nto such close connection with the a uthor as to influence his whole life and work . But for the emb assy fromFlorence to Boni a ma a a f ce V I I I . , we y re son bly suppose there a a and would h ve been no exile for D nte , then , ’

a a mm a . prob bly , no D ivin Co edi When selected as the chief of the legation to

m a Ro e , to deliber te with the Pope whether or not it would be a dvis able to invoke the a id of the French a rms to settle the qu arrels of the opposing a a was m ma f ctions , D nte in the pri e of his nhood , a t the zenith of his reputation . Bocc a ccio gives us some idea of the estimation i n which he was held in Florence

‘ himwas c e c a him In entr d the publi f ith , on were ’ as n s s ins was e f te ed the people hope ; hort, he h ld to be ’ the only counsellor in all things human and Divine ‘ ’ c cacc ta an . 0 (Bo io, Vi di D te, pp 3

’ ‘ a a a N or did he , Bocc ccio n ively dds , think it necess a ry to set a lower v alue on his own merits th a n th at univers ally a ccorded to himby his con m a as ma m memor te por ries , we y j udge fro his as ama a able a nswer (when elected chief b ss dor) , “ f ma ? ma I I go , who re ins If I re in , who

u When these proud words were ttered , how little did D ante think th at he would never again

- re enter Florence .

30 D ant e at Rav enna

’ v arious p ass a ges of the D ivina Commedi a ; but can we wonder th at at this period the pen of a as a D nte is dipped in fire he writes of Bonif ce , a b ut a the uthor not only of his own ruin , lso of th a t of his country ? d a a a Guido Montefeltro , betr yed by Bonif ce , is ‘ ’ made to describe hi mas I l Principe de nuovi ’

and . Fa risei xxvii . St Peter to ’ a a ma a a il n the tize , 'uegli ch usurp in terr luogo ’ m mi o xxvii . while conde ning point by point the errors of the P ap al Government ( 1 ) the fomenting of civil discord

’ N o nfun s ra i nt enzi on ch a s a man o t , de tr o, ’ D e n s s cc sso a se sse o tri u e r p rte de , ’ n ’ a e a a a c s a . P rt d ll ltr , del popol ri ti o

P a n X l l 6 X . , V 4 ,

No purpose was of ours Th at on the right h and of our successors a st an s set P rt of the Chri i people hould be , ’ A n a nt d p rt upo heir left . the misuse of the keys

le a che mi c ss Ne che chi vi, fur con e e, D i veni sser s nac i n ss , eg olo ve illo ’ a a a m s Che contr i b ttezz ti co batte se .

t a s Nor h t the key ,

r c sa me s s ns Which we e vou h fed , hould for en ig serve

n ann s a war U to the b er , th t do levy ’ Onthe baptized . T he P o p es c o ntempo rary wi t h D ant e

’ (3) and of Peter s pence

’ ’ N e ch i o fosse figura di sigillo

ri vil e ii n mn ac A p g ve duti e e d i, ’ ’ i o s t a ss s a Ond oven e rro o e di f villo .

s - ma Nor I , for igil rk Set uponsold and lying privileges c ma s me c and n ’ Whi h ke oft to fli ker tur red .

R Tr a ns. CA Y,

Yet S m a a in pite of this vehe ent tt ck , when this am ma a a s e Pope is de prisoner in An gni , D nte , in m a strong conde n tion of the deed , does not hesit ate to use the comp arison of Pil ate as he describes the insult to the office filled by the

a a vicegerent of our S viour upon e rth . ma a as B onifa ce V I I I . y be t ken the t ype of the m a a and all a a edi ev l Pope , , with his f ults , cert ain gra ndeur c annever be dissoci ated fromthe figure

man all s of the lonely old who , deserted by , at on ont ifical his throne fully vested in his p robes , with a m the triple crown on his he d , his tre bling h ands a a nd still gr sping the golden cross the keys , f wa m ma . s e ble tic of his o fice It no wonder if, for mm a a m the o ent , even the ud city of the e iss aries of Philip of Fr ance and the fierc eness of the Roma n b arons were overawed b y so ex act and living a nembodiment of all the current traditions of the P ap al power . But for this incident in the m and wa records of the ti e , the y i n which it is

a a m h ndled by D nte , we ight never h ave a rrived at the clue to the vexed question how D ante , 32 D ant e at Rav enna

a a a w him being loy l son of the Church , could llo self to h a nd down to posterity bra nded with infamy S ix of the Popes who succeeded e ach other in the 1 a . Y C h ir of St Peter during his lifetime . et one more ex a mple is furnished by the forty - days

o nt ificat e a V . a p of Adri n , who expi tes his sin of ’ a a a how v rice i n the Purg torio , where he describes a by proof he le rnt , Come ’ P esa il gran manto a chi d al fango l guarda ’ ’2 m r n l l m Che piuma se b a tutte a tre so e . With wh at a weight that robe of sovereignty o hi s s s s who m m Up n houlder re t , fro the ire Would guard it ; that each other fardel seems ’ But feath ers i nthe balance .

a a s a m But lthough , we g ther fro these lines , D a nte could forma true estimate of the weight a ma of the P ap l ntle of responsibility, he did not believe it to be an impossible feat to keep it un a sullied from worldly st ain . I nste d of being am a a cont in ted by the world , his lofty ide l of the

m a a a P apacy conte pl ted , on the contr ry, purifying influence , which would be exercised over Christen

1 - 1 2 80 . cc . 2 1 Ni olo III , 7 7 xix - M ar n I V . 1 2 8 1 1 2 8 . ti o , 5 xix - e es n V . 1 2 1 2 C l ti o , 94 94 iii , 59 , - 2 1 0 . xxvn n az I I . 1 . 0 . . Bo if io VI , 9 4 3 3 xix 53 7 ; xxxiii 44

8 . 1 . . . 1 2 . 0 xx . 7 ; xxxii 49 ; xxxiii 44 ix 3 ; xii 9

2 2 . xvii . 49 ; xxvii . ; xxx - n 1 emene V . 1 0 1 1 . 82 . xxx . Cl t , 3 5 3 4 xix 5

2 . . xvii . 8 xxvii 59 ; xxx

- X I 1 1 6 1 xxvn. ann X I . Giov i , 3 334 2 se xix . 9 9 , g . T he P o p es C ont emp orary wit h D ant e 33 — d o mat l arge a government whose motive should

as as was m a s be lofty its position supre e , un whose pure and brilli a nt rays should illumin ate

a a a a e and wa the d rkness of d rk g , point the y to

eternity . Could there be a more p a inful contrast th an a a — a a m th t presented by the re lity re lity , oreover, a m m which , inste d of i proving, only went fro b ad

to worse . For i n the succeeding p o nt ificat es of

m . n t . V a d Benedic XI , Cle ent , j ohn XXI I . , it was the lot of D a nte to see the Pap acy enter upon a m a a yet ore degr ding ph se of its existence , when a ma m the Popes , h ving de the selves the a bj ect

a ' F a sl ves of the in g of r nce , were for seventy a a and ye rs his willin g c ptives in Avignon , to fore a a m a m tell ccur tely , though under the for of so e 1 a a a wh t gross llegory , the results which Petr rch records in his memorable pictures drawn fromlife in the modern B abylon .

But to return to the thirteenth century . The first step of the new suzera in was to cl aim ma and a m the ho ge of his subj ects , , d onished by

a a ama a a a a P p l b ss dors , the Polent of R venn , the

a a a m a nd d a M l test of Ri ini , Guido Montefeltro , swore fe alty to the Pope inste ad of to the

m a nd a a a E peror , P p l leg tes were dispersed throughout the province there a fter design ated as

a the Romgn a . D a nte describes its limits

' ’ ’ f ra 1 PO el mn la ma na l en , o te, e ri e R o,

’

. 6 . 1 . 1 05t . . I urg , xxxii 5 xiv 9 3 34 D ant e at Ravenna bound aries which were only probably too famili ar to hi mas he crossed a nd recrossed the country in a wa a his frequent w nderings , till there s h rdly a c astle or city of any import a nce th at was not him a known to , to be recorded e ch i n its turn in ‘ ’ the D ivin a Commedi a . Taking into account the n atural features of the cou ntry and the ch aracter i st i cs of the rulers , no territory, with the exception a has ma of Tusc ny , contributed so ny episodes to m the Poemas the Ro agn a . The description of the tyra nts forms part of the am d a and f ous episode of Guido Montefeltro , is the a nswer to the inquiry

Dimmi se i R omagnuoli hanpace oguerra

‘ Tell me if those who inRomagna dwell ’ a a war H ve pe ce or , a a m a a t l st for ul ted by the restless , le ping tongue of the fl ame by which he expi ates his fraudulent counsel in the I nferno . a a I n the Purg torio , Guido del D uc of Bret d a C alb oli tinoro and Riniero of Forli , clinging and ma a together in their blindness , king the dre ry a u circuit assigned to the envious , enl rge pon the

am m as a m a s e the e , they contr st the veno ous pl nts (venenosi sta /152) which h ave now t aken root in the Romagn a with the noble scions of former ‘ ’ a u d a generations . Alw ys , to q ote Benvenuto

m a a u a and u as I ol , t fe d with one nother, , j st b ad weeds extirpated by the plough swarm up

1 Inf. . 2 8 . , xxvii Fr anc esc a da Ri mini 35

a a again like the he ds of the Hydr , so in the Romagn a no a mount of good government and legislation would suffice to root out the fl a grant ’ 1 abuses th at prev ailed there . It is to the Romagn a also th at we owe the ‘ greatest of all the episodes of the D ivin a Commedi a

l a a na a fui Siede terr , dove t , ’ Su l a marina dove 1 Po di scende ’ P er aver pace co seguaci sui

T he land th at gave me birth I s situate onthe coast wh ere Po d escend s ’ T o s anw hi s se n s eams re t in oce ith que t tr , is the prelude to the immort al n arrative of Fran cesca da Rimini . as a N or , we h ve seen , is the origin of the tragedy on which it is founded far to seek in the a a cruel , unscrupulou s riv lry of the potent tes so j ustly stigmatized by D ante as tyrants . The favour of the Popes to whomthey p aid ma a ho ge g ve colour to their pretensions to power , a nd the sometimes empty title of Vic ars of the a m m a Archbishops , which g ve the i port nce in the e yes of the people , often led to their bein g elected

a ma a . m podest , or gistr te , of the city Then so e fortun ate conquest would extend the municipal or a a a and incre se the territori l rights of the St te , the cr afty ruler would ava il himself of the popul ar

1 ' ‘ ’ V e n ns R ea n s onthe P a . 6 . r o di g urg torio , p 4 I nf . , v . 9 7 . 36 D ant e at Rav enna enthusi asmof the moment to l ay the found ation

a and a . of bsolute , even heredit ry, power Step by step this process may be traced in the a re history of the Polent a family . They first he ard of in the history of Ravenn a as Vic ars of

a 1 1 6 as the Archbishops in the ye r 7 , next fulfilling

a ma a . the office of podest , or gistr te I n the twelfth century the government of R avenn a consisted of a podesta and two consuls ; e ach consul ruled for a and was fifteen d ys , then succeeded by the other

a consul . At the end of a nother fifteen d ys the 1 ffi all m first consul returned to o c e . I n these for s of popul ar government the Polenta took p art till they gradu ally g athered the reins of power into

their h a nds . I n the ye ar 1 2 7 5 Guido il Vecchio wa s Podesta

a a a nd m a a of R venn , he won hi self gre t f vour in the eyes of the citizens by the a cquisition of

a m a a m S t efaneschi u Cervi fro the P p l no inee , th s considerably extending the territori al influence of

Ravenn a. B ut in order further to strengthen his own and m position to subdue co pletely the people , he

invoked the aid of the M al atest a at Rimini .

a had at War The tyr nts , who long been with a a mm a a a e ch other, u nited in co on c use g inst the a a a a people . The M l test lent powerful support , a nd G uido i l Vecchio remained firmly fixed in his

1 T he littl e R epublic of San M arino still pre ser ves thi s e l ective m nmn T e a r 1 and c 1 e e . ce e e on e for of gov r t wi v ry y r, Ap il O tob r , two C a ptains of the Republi c are chosen a nd invest e d with six ’ mn s a o th uthority .

38 D ant e at Rav enna

I t is a ple asing ch ange to turn fromthe violence a m of f ction , the struggle for do inion beginning with the two grea t Powers of the civilized world a a a a a rr yed g inst e c h other in open opposition ,

a a and thence spre ding throu gh every St te city , and marked by vindictive tyra nny in every h ateful m m a for , to conte pl te the brief reign of Guido a ma N ovello . H is lordship over Ravenn is rked by an open preference for pea ce and the arts of

a a a peace . E rly i n life he h d shown th t when a and a a necessity rose , when the welf re of the St te was a a s m i n j eop rdy , he could fi ght deter inedly as an a ma a y of the tyr nts of the Ro gn , however much he preferred the cultured society of le arned menand the exercise of his own n atural gift for poetry . I n this light he appears to us as one of the precursors of those lords of the Ren aiss a nce who even i n the midst of the d in of consta nt warfare could pl a n the construction of p alaces and art churches , discuss points of rhetoric or , and at times could even l ay down the sword and t ake up the pen to write b allads and sonnets . ’ Such were Lorenzo de Medici at Florence a nd a u Guidob aldo t Urbino in the fifteenth cent ry , but Gu ido N ovello was before his age when he m a a a at a a and built hi self p l ce R venn , invited

a a D nte to be not only his guest, but lso his a an instructor in the rts of rhetoric d poetry . am a a as a a Of the C er Coronis , the p l ce is a a a a described in the ncient topogr phy of R venn , Camera a C oro nis 39

u a ma a a only the o ter w ll re ins st nding , f cing the m a and a to b of D nte , be ring the inscription

Questa Casa fu intempo dei P ol entani che ebbero l a glori a Di accogliere ospitalmente ’1 Dante Alighieri .

1 T s se e s e i n th e me the Po l ent ani had t he hi hou xi t d ti of , who an T mm. gloriou s privi l ege of receiving as th e ir gu est D te Alighi eri .

C HAPTE R I I I .

D T A TE A R R T R I C I N RA V A N E CH E OF HE O E N NA , A N D ‘ I L V LG R L UI ’ O A E E O' O .

C HAPTE R I I I .

T T R R T R R V DAN E A EACHE OF H E O IC IN A ENNA , ’ I L AND V O LG AR E E L O'U IO .

'ui comincio a l eggere D ant e i npri a R e tori ca V ulgare e molti a p erti u ’ ece di s a Po e ti ca armoni a . F ’ ’ ' ’ SA V I OZZO DA S I E A : R zme dz M Czzzo d a ' ' N

P zsfoza e di alt r i del S ecol o . . . , xiv , p 57 5

LT H OU G H in the first instance D a nte was the invited and honoured guest of G uido f a N ovello , there is su ficient re son to believe th a t he did not depend for his mainte n ance upon the hospit alit y of his p atron during — the whole of his soj ourn at Ravenna whether or no he a ctu ally filled the ch a ir of the Professor of a a Rhetoric i n th t city . The prob biliti es to which the red ac ademic al gown of his portra its gives colour i n more senses th an one are in favour of a him b ut this honour h ving been conferred upon , the a ctu al historical st atement which would make the fa ct cert ain is unfortun ately l acking . Schools of gra mmar and rhetoric since the rei gn of

Theodosius are known to h ave existed in R avenn a. The first authenti c notice of such schools being 44 D ant e at Rav e nna

a a m and ext nt d tes fro the sixth century, rests on m a the testi ony of Procop ius , the histori n of

a u a Justini n , with reference to Vincenzo Fort n to , a a a a t th t time a celebr ted rhetorici n . a a m There , under the sh dow of the gre t E peror a was J ustini n , civil j urisprudence digested for the use of all succeeding gener ations in the immortal ’ ’ a and works of the Code , the P ndects , the ’ Institutes . Long before the U niversity of Bologn a received a S t udi o r um a a her title of M ter , the gre t tr ditions of the Emperor a nd his fa mous code were h a nded down in the schools of R avenn a fromrhetorici a n a as m m m to rhetorici n , fro ti e to ti e they shed the light of their le arning upon the dense horizon of a the D rk Ages . had These schools , which received the support a m of the E stern E pire , continued to flourish t he a a a a nd under Ex rch te , the Longob rdi , the Rav ennese Bishops who represented the P ap al power . The record of those who held the office of a a a m1 2 68 public lecturer ppe rs to d te fro , when Pa sio dell a N oce was su mmoned by the Senate a a to give lectures on j urisprudence i n R venn . I n 1 2 8 a was a 9 , when D nte re ching the zenith of his

' ' was a zzs ci vi lzs power in Florence , U go d i Riccio j professi s in R avenn a. a a a 1 0 a had a Six ye rs fterw rds , 3 4 (D nte by th t m a a ti e been three ye rs in exile) , there is nother da a a record of one Leone Veron , who received

4 6 D ant e at Rav enna

a a a a M netti , one of the e rly biogr phers of D nte , supports the theory ; but the most conclusive a a a a evidence rests on codex in the L urenti n libr ry , a a cited by B ndini , which st tes

I t i s c mmn e a an n s o o ly report d th t D te , bei g tudying

a nna and n e s as a c hi s s in R ve , givi g l cture Do tor to pupil n a o s w s the s s cam sor man upo v ri u ork , chool be e the re t of y ’ 1 learned men.

This would coincide with the st atement by

a a ma a Bocc ccio , th t ny doctors of science ttended

the funeral of D ante . ‘ m I l a One of his inor works , entitled Volg re ’ a m Eloquio , is supposed to h ve for ed the subj ect

of his lectures to his pupils at R avenn a . I t seems th at up to the fifteenth century the ’ a ha a Volg re Eloquio d never been re d in It aly .

a The first edition we owe to G i n Giorgio Trissino , who made a fa ithful translation fromthe origin al

a a a a nd m L tin into It li n , u nder the pseudony of G i ov anB attist a Dori a dedicated it to the C ardin al ’ m . a Ippolito de M edici For long ti e , even up to d a was a the present y, it supposed th t Trissino had m a a a and a hi self f bric ted the tre tise , p ssed it under the n ame of D ante ; but the discovery of

- a a fourteenth century M SS . , not bly th t of Grenoble , which has been recently reproduced has an a n put end to y such supposition , even if the m a sa evidence of conte por ry history , to y nothing

1 ‘ lt Rit ’ 8 U . , p . 3. Il Vo lgare E l o qq 47

a f a of the intern l evidence , did not su fice to ssign a the work to D nte himself. Some h ave tried to determine the d ate of the book by internal evidence with reference to his 1 t ori cal person ages who are referred to a s still was m and a living when the book co posed , h ve

m 1 0 6 ma therefore fixed its co pletion in 3 , king it ’ a mm a antecedent to the Divin Co edi . Boccaccio and a a a Vill ni , on the other h nd , will be seen r ther ’ to lea n to the idea th at it was one of the poet s a l ater compositions . B ut in either c se there is nothing to militate against the supposition th at it formed the subst a nce of his lectures at

Ravenn a. Th at D a nte had the intention of writing such ‘ a book we h ave on his own authority : Upon this matter the different di alects of It aly) I a at a a propose to tre t gre ter length in book which , a God willing , I intend to write upon the Vulg r ’ 2 Tongue . a m a and a a Bocc ccio, his conte por ry, Vill ni , few a a m ye rs l ter on , testify to the fulfil ent of his promise

‘ ane r e a c he en Moreover, D t w ot book whi h titled ” D e a s Vulg re Eloquio , which he propo ed to divide nt art s b ut are an a s on i o four p , only two ext t (perh p acc n his s n ea in t he inmas ou t of udde d th), which terly and polish ed Latinhe reproves all the vulgar dialects of ’3 Italy .

1 ' M a l . . . zz d s e c ese . i . c xi i I l) . c A o E t , r h , lib , . ii , vi 1 ‘ I . v . n . e . . Co vito , , p 7 3 3 n ’ ccacc V a D a e . Bo io , it di t 4 8 D ant e at Rav enna

A nd a o s m a a w na few a b ut thi ti e, lre dy ithi ye rs of hi s

ea an m s a in a s c d th , D te co po ed book L tin pro e, whi h he ” en D e a e E lo uentia and as i s set titled Vulg r q , , it forth 1 in s hi s nen nwas thi book , i t tio to divide it into four n disti ct parts .

t eca s hi s a s c ut s b a Ei her b u e l bour were hort y de th ,

ec a s t he s a en s n two are or b u e two of book h ve be lo t, o ly ’ s an till ext t.

as m a a ma a I f, ost of the e rliest biogr phers int in , the loss of the two l ast books is due to the sudden a a ma de th of the uthor , we y indulge ourselves in the belief th at the two which remain consti

a tute the lectures which , either in the public ch ir

a a a of rhetoric or in his priv te house , D nte g ve

a a a to his pupils t R venn . The design of the book was to construct out of the fourteen ancient di alects of Ita ly an idiom a and S and a which , for be uty weetness effic cy , S a a a a nd hould equ l the ncient L tin , should be u nivers ally employed throughout I t aly as the a a organ of the expression of It ali n thought . D nte m an a was the first to who such ide occurred .

‘ ’ ‘ n na e find so t he ns a an Bei g u bl to , book ope , th t y one has ever before attempt ed a treatise o nthe vulgar

o n e and n at n e e s a t gu , perceivi g th the k owl dg of thi vulg r

n e i s n s nsa e all as not n men to gu i di pe bl to , o ly , but

omen and c n so far as e are a a a w hildre , th y ble, try to v il

emse s i t and s n t o en ent he d mnt th lve of , wi hi g light ju g e

o se e th e n a s e s and of th who, lik bli d , grope bout the tr et ,

man ms ms ac o e n s s s n a y ti e i pl e the rd r of thi g , uppo i g th t

1 V an . . 0 . c . ill i , lib ix , xxxvi 11 V ol gare El oqui o 4 9

which i s behind to be in front . With th at help whic h

n s us ma se ac a t h God se d to fro bove , we propo to f ilit te e m speech of the com on people . Nor will we merely draw fromthe sources of our o wn intellect t he water

e e s a our s he a n r m wh r with to l ke thir t , but , furt r, t ki g f o

s c s s e n we mix other our e the be t of th ir ki d, will the two t ogether i nord er to produc e a decoctionof the sweetest ’1 Hydromel .

a The use of the plur l in this opening sentence , and ma a on ny occ sions throughout the book , rather su ggests th at the ori gin al form of this tre atise must h ave been a lecture in which the lecturer invokes the assista nce of his he arers to as a elucid ate his subj ect , D nte describes with his ’ usu al felicitous touch in the Pa ra diso

’ me sc ne ch a r s n a Co di e t , dotto eco d ’ Pronto e libente inquello ch egli e sp erto ’ l a su n i a n Perche a bo ta s di s sco da .

- P d 7 . 6 66 . , xxv . 4

t o t he s a ac s inhi s as Like chol r, pr ti ed t k, Who willing to give proof of diligence ’ Seconds his t eacher gl adly .

The origin of l angu age occupies the first five

a a ch pters of the book . The sixth ch pter enters upon a qu a int dissert ation as to the la ngua ge of ma nkind before the building of the Tower of

'

a z. e. B bel ,

1 ’ I l a i . e . c . . Volg r Eloquio , lib , i 5 0 D ante at R avenna

T he formof speec h u sed b y the manwho was born ’ with out a moth er was never nourish ed with his mother s 1 m and ne e r sawc nor . ilk , v hildhood youth ‘ Should anyone e xist so prejudiced injudgment as to imagine th at hi s own count ry i s the most favoured spot in t o him ms a n c ssa co ns nc the world , it u t by e e ry eque e appear th at his o wnmother- tongue mu st be superior to any

an a e and nc he ne a hi s m other l gu g , the e would i f r th t other n an a s am tongue must have bee the l gu ge u ed by Ad .

‘ us mt he i s c as But to to who world our ountry, the

i t he s es a o a e un a s sea s to fi h , lth ugh we h v dr k the w ter

no o e e e we cut e and who of the Ar bef r v r our t eth , love Fl orence so muc h t hat because of our love for her we — are now suffering anunjust exile neverth eless our judg ment sh all leanrath er uponreasonthan upon the affec

o ns and o a own e n ti ; theref re, lthough for our pr fere ce and to sati sfy our ownlonging s there i s no spot o nearth m e e an o nc et o n nn or d lightful th Fl re e, y , tur i g over the volume of t he P oet s and oth er writers by whomthe world in ene a and in a c a i s esc and a n both g r l p rti ul r d ribed , t ki g

no c ns a onthe a s a s the and i t o ider ti v riou p rt of world, the difierent manners and cu stoms between the two Poles and t he a and n e s an a Equ tor, we believe u d r t d th t there are many regions and c ities more noble and more delight

a scan and orenc was n ful th n Tu y Fl e , where I bor , of c ama c z n and man na ns and man whi h I iti e , y tio y people use a more agreeable and more u se ful formof l anguage nn an a ans . e o m r ms th the It li R tur i g, theref re, to y p e i e, I maint ainth at a certainformof speech was create d by

God toge th er with the c reationof the first soul . When

sa m mean a a oca a w s I y for , I with reg rd to v bul ry of ord ,

1 m V I I 2 Co pare . 6 ‘ ’ n m ’ 'uell o che nonnacqu e . Il Volgare El o qui o 5 1

ns c ca a and e the co tru tion of the vo bul ry, the ord r of the ns c n w mwas s e co tru tio , the hich for u ed by ev rybody who c s ea a w s rm ams an ould p k th t ith thi fo Ad poke, d all hi s s me a po terity, up to the ti of the Tower of B bel , whic h may be interpreted the tower of confusion. This formof speech was inherited by the sons of Heber — called after himHebrew s to whomtheir language re ma n na a a c s n e a i ed i t ct fter the gener l onfu io , in ord r th t e me was b e nof a na m our Red e r, who to bor th t tion , ight, e H e s acc H i s man m wh n poke , ording to hood e ploy the an a ace an n t c n n d o s . l gu ge of gr , of o fu io ‘ It was the H ebrew idiomwhich was uttered by the ’ s s manwho s in s w 1 lip of the fir t ever poke thi orld .

a was a a u a This ide fterw rds relinq ished by D nte, as in the P ara diso he puts these words into the mouth of Ad a m

’ La lingua ch i o parlai fu tutta Spenta ’ I nnanzi che all ovra inconsumabile ’ Fosse la gente di N emb rot te att enta .

- P a ra xx . 1 2 1 2 6 . , vi 4

T he language I did use ’ Was wornaway or ever Nimrod s race ’ na m Their u cco plishable work began.

m was as But the isconception , we know, held ma a and a by ny gener tions , supported by schol rly an m d religious inds of the highest order . Although it has been S ince corrected by philological dis c overi es which h ave est ablished the rel ationship

a a and a between Hebrew, Syri c , Ar bic , other ncient

1 ’ I l a e . i . c . 1 1 Volg r Eloquio , lib , . vi , pp . 54 , 55 . — 4 2 5 2 D ant e at Ra v enna

m ma tongues , the oldest for of hu n speech still remains lost i n the d arkness of a ntiquity . But ever since the time of D a nte the effort to recover h as ma a a and a a as has it been de g in g in , for , it been truly s aid by one of the most modern writers upon the subj ect

Humanity turns with a natural tenderness and rever ence towards any details respecting the first P arents of

an n e i s no t s s n find a man M ki d , ther fore it urpri i g to th t y attempt s h ave beenmad e to discover whi ch of the ancient

tongues was the o ne original speech of Adamand Eve . s c ca ffo ts a e nn c ssa All u h philologi l e r h v bee e e rily futile , for the account giveninGenesi s of the calamity at Babel s s a s a e a s rna a se z how th t it took the h p of upe tur l i ure , which immediately destroyed the commonlanguage and permanently dislocated t he articulat ionof the people by c on s n i ts n ma a n and s s n i ts n fu i g or l ctio di per i g u ity, like

t he s en canc s anc a - b ed s udd vol i di turb e of river , re ulting i n a separation and a scattering of o ne mighty stream ’ n n w an nn m n 1 i to e d i u erable cha nels.

a . ma a a a Ch pter vii , with ny ch r cteristic touch , a describes the bu ilding of the Tower of B bel , and le ads up to the climax in the confounding ma for ever of the hu n speech . D ante follows 2 ‘ ’ Josephus when he interprets the word B abel

ma and a to e n confusion , in ttributing the sug gestion of the tower which was to reach to

he a ven to N imrod .

1 ‘ ’ T he S eec M ana nd . 8 . p h of Holy Writ , p 5 1 n . i . 0 . A tiq lib . , . iv

54 D ant e at R av enna

‘ ’ ui shed afii rma i es o c a nd g by their t v of , oil , ’ are a m si , derived , D nte supposes , fro one mm a co on source , bec use in the description of certa in things the three n ations employ the s ame ‘ ’ a a as am voc bul ry, , for ex ple , i n the words D io , ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ am ma a m cielo , ore , re , terr , vive , uore , ’

a ma and ma . re , ny others Here we find resolved into a nutshell the great achievement of modern a a ma as science , so th t D nte y be looked upon the father of the comp arative philology which rests on this principle . We find this theory pursued more closely in m a . h a a ch pter ix , w ere , t king the sin gle ex ple of ‘ ’ a m m the word or , he cites fro three selected ‘ ’ ‘ ’ ma a a a o c sters in e ch of the l ngu ges of , oil , ’ and a B orneil ' a a si , Ger rdo di , the ing of N v rre , a nd G uini c elli Guido , to prove the use of the word .

’ us n s a e an c n n es how Let i ve tig t , D te o ti u , the

a a ns ma nc a c ass n e a s v ri tio y pri ip lly be l ed u d r three he d , and wh eac es a a ns i s a s a a — y h of th e v ri tio l o v ri ble why, for am e the s a has a ren m ex pl , right ide of It ly diffe t for s e c e a ans s s a of p e h to the l ft , why the P du hould pe k ff n sans and m e s who di ere tly to the Pi , why, or over, tho e i nc se o an s and live lo neighbourho d , like the Mil e e the n a ans na the mans and s i h bit t of Vero , Ro the Florentine

a a s t he m s e ec a why , g in, hould for of p h v ry between s e n same ac ea ans tho e who b lo g to the r e, like the N polit and a an t he R avennese and n a ans the G et i, the i h bit t of

a za and a i s a s ms ma e s all F en , wh t perh p the o t rv llou of , why those who dwell in the same c ity cannot agree upon T he T o wer o f Bab el 5 5

sam o mof s e c — as xam n se the e f r p e h , for e ple, the Bolog e of Borgo SanFelice and the Bolognese of the City . All these differences and varieties of speech canbe attributed u ’1 to one ca se.

The c ause is traced b ack with some el abora tion to his ori gin al ide a of the confusion of the

a and Tower of B bel , the oblivion of the first m a a am a for of speech , which fterw rds bec e ltered and corrupt .

A nd man n e s a and a a e hi s rm bei g ver un t ble v ri bl , fo

s ec co n e c n n s t and e of pe h uld ev r o ti ue e tled fix d, but,

e n se was s c the c an s m like ev rythi g el , ubje t to h ge of ti e and ace at as e a a e the n e n s the pl , till l t th re ppe r d i v tor of art amma c i s n n ss an an na of gr r, whi h othi g le th u lter abl e conformity of speec h at different times and i n f n ’ 2 dif ere t places.

‘ ’ The gr ammari ans h aving decided to t ake si an a a ma a for dverb of ffir tion , D nte concludes from this th at the It ali a n l a ngu a ge derives a a a a a cert in uthority o ver the other two l ngu ges , a lthough i t is very difficult to decide between as all are a a the three , supported by gre t weight of testimony .

ma a a It y be u rged , he rgues in f vour of the ‘ ’ a a a a a l ngu ge of oil , th t on ccount of the f cility and sweetness of its di alect it cont a ins all the tra nsl ations th a t h a ve been either found or ren

a a s dered into the vul g r tongue , such the books containin g the a ccounts of the Troj a ns and

1 2 i . . M i d 6 c . 1 6 . 1 Lib . , ix , p . 3 , p . 5 . 5 6 D ant e at Ravenna

1 ma a ma ' the Ro ns , the be utiful ro nce of ing and ma and Arthur , ny other legends books of le arning . ’ a a o c a has The l ngu ge of , on the other h nd , to rest its cla im for distinction upon the fact th at it was the l a ngu a ge employed by the most eloquent writers i n the vulg a r tongue for their

m as A v erni a and ma first poe s , such Piero di , ny a a s m and other ncient writers , the ost perfect m a a the sweetest for of l ngu ge .

a t h e a a a a a m The third , th t is , It li n l ngu ge , cl i s

: a the superiority on two grounds The first , th t a m a those who h ve written the ost gr ceful , polished

a a an ma poetry were f mili r d inti te with it . Such ‘ i st a n ' were Cino d a P oja d his friend . The

a a second re son , th t it keeps the closest to the

a mm ll grammr which is co on to a . Leavin g the decision of this knotty point to a a li n ua others , D nte returns to his tre tise on the g vol ar e a a g , discussing the v ri tions which occur in and m a m a it , co p ring the one with nother . First of all he st ates th at It aly is divided into : a a n two p arts the right h nd d the left ha nd .

‘ an n ask at i s t he n s Should yo e wh li e of divi ion , I 3 r e fl ennn s —ou t he b i y reply , the yoke of the Ap i e right

1 ’ I n T ri ssino s transl ation the Latin origina l has b een wrongly ‘ ’ ren e e a c umT ro anor umRo manumue esti b us e n d r d , Bibli j q g b i g ‘ ’ rans a e La a a d ei T an e R man e eas t l t d Bibbi , I f tti roi i o i , wh r it ’ ’ ’ ‘ n a d T ro an d ma signifi e s i libri che c onte ngo o i f tti e j i e e Ro ni . 2 m ane means mse cx. . By who D t hi lf ( , p enD a n e s ea s the e t he ennnes he nc es Wh t p k of yok of Ap i , i lud t he e c a n t he s wn t he e mn cani n whol h i of Alp , follo i g t r i ology of Lu T he Pharsali a of Luc an 5 7

a s La a not all i t h nd lie the region of Pugli (but of ) , m c n scan and t he a c s Ro e, the Du hy (Urbi o) , Tu y, M r he

a I t b e r emem e e a canwas t he as hi s Ph arsali . will b r d th t Lu l t of t he four great sh ad es of t he poets wh o a dva nce d to gree t hi mand Virgi l wh enth ey mad e th e ir entrance into Limbo ’ ’ m an L ulti o é Lu c o . n 0 I . f , iv , p . 9 .

’ can P a sal a Lu , h r i , book ii R e treating Pompey with hi s tre mbling band T an a s a a hi s s an At roj w ll of C pu took t d , n r e e h e ne n s H i s chose seat of wa . H r i t d ’ i G ainst the great foe to range h s sca tt ered fri end s. Wh ere Ape nnine through wood ed hill s her p eak s R e nr e s a nd c se see s idg upo idg uplift , lo r k T he e s ea en m ms a anc res h ight of h v , id o t It li t , ’ s we n o e r all re n e s c nesse High lli g fo ig h ight o f d , ’ c a n ch s e c es ma n A h i whi tr t h twixt our twofold i , a nd P sa c n a n Lower high er. i doth o t i ’ T se es e n s th e T sca n a e s s e ho W t r hill , u w t r hor

nc nthe as e e wa es a ma a n a r . A o E t , wh r v D l ti ro H ere bount eou s sp rings give bi rth to ri vers vast W n a hi ch toward s e ith e r sea dividi g h st e . e a the a es C rusi umi um e ce M e a s L ft f ll L k , fi r , t uru , Senna I sa i s ne I saurus , p , joi d to , ’ A nd Orfidus c sm es t h a anS ea , whi h it H dri , A nd a an s an c e e b e th t Erid u , th whi h th r re a e ear es e me n s s No g t r th d poil r, lti g oil , n n ea n o ff e s s S c a s s . u ki g l d dry , b ri g for t poil rs sa c nhis an s a r s a e Fi t id to row b k with popl h d , W e nP ae n m es e nc se nce s a e h h tho , fro w t r our o tr y d ' i ndl ed t he ai r with red - hot scorchi ng re in ’ A nd al l the fou nt ains fromburnt earth were t a en a T hi s flood alone had waves whi ch could t he fire r estr in. ’ ess an But e c s sa n Not l th Nil e . Nil through Afri d ’ ’ Exp and s o e r Egypt s fl at a nd sluggi sh sand . f is d V I c se Not l ess th anD a nube . I h e ous our H a lf through the world withdrew no t fromeach sou rce Waters th at h e lp hi mfeed t he sea with fore ignforce T he a na ms as s es the - an S e r i f ll for , lop right h d id , T ibe r a nd hollow Rut ub a ; th ence glid e ’ V o lt urnt he s S a n s t he n s c a se wift r u , ight fog u ; s se e b ed t h e s eam ra s Lyri , who wood d tr withd w ’ mV est i ne a a S e s wa Fro s to M ri c . il r y W i ra n ms a c n s Sa lurnu n. ac o hi h bou d M , who t y ’ ’ N O ca e s t she s re c t o na s ne i h h ri n b a . rv l , ill t t h Lu g g y Lo nger t he ch ainth anc ountry ; fo r her S pi ne 5 8 D ant e at Ravenna

e a on e an La a the r s of G no the l ft h d lie Pugli ( e t of it), ’ La arca nc na La ma na La ma a La M d A o , Ro g , Lo b rdi , a a ana an n n l n d ce . I I a d M rc Trivigi , Ve i truth , Friuli

s a anno e n t he s a s as I tri c t but b lo g to left ide of It ly, ju t s an s t he nan Sea— a i s t o sa c the i l d of Tyrrhe i th t y, Si ily and a na nc n s ca— ms b e nc in S rdi i , i ludi g Cor i u t i luded the

s e On e s an in all . d se a ts c right id ither ide, the p r whi h are s nc and n in ac c as we a e thu i luded , eve e h ity, h v a ea sa find s me a a n s e c so a lr dy id, we o v ri tio of p e h th t if we care to calculate t he first and the second and all s s ns a n e a the ubdivi io of the vulg r to gu in It ly , we find that i n t hat small corner of the world alone there may b e e ven more th an a thousand or more variations of speech'

M a ny of these D ante proceeds to S how in the

a a r e a and b ad a nd a next ch pter discord nt , th t ,

a a a a like trees which h ve f llen cross the ro d , or a m a thorns which obstruct the p th , they ust be c st ’ o ut of the author s way as he p atiently plods

a a along the difficult p th of investig tion . Such ar e ma a the Ro n di lect , which , to our surprise , we ‘ ’ a was il i a le rn then pit brutto di tutto , lso those

a and of Ancon Spoleto .

e a n a nd a m ar e a N ext , thos of Mil o Berg o p ssed

R ses a c e s w e e s nc ne . i to G lli fi ld , h r Alp i li U m r an a s an S a ne e Fruitful to b i , M r i , bi fi ld , e e em ac n as i nous s e W ll till d , br i g with p hi ld - ea es T he earth bornLatintribes. Nor yet it l v ’ I a an n s c se S c a s ca es t li bou d , till lo d with yll v , ’ ni an n s an r es e n c s Laci e . O w t r ro k , Ju o f n e an a n th e ma n Lo g r th It ly , u til i ’ d n Loosend i t s bond with blows an flood s rolle d back aga i . ’ But since the doubl e sea t he l a nd o ercame ’ I ts l ast c liffs to P e loru s yi eld th eir na me .

ALT E PH I LLI M ORE . W R G . F . La C rusca 5 9

a a through the sieve , the h rsh ccents of the A uil e an and a a nd all a q j the I stri n , the p tois of the mount a ins and villages which offend the e a rs am are a of the citizen . Such , for ex ple , the C sen

and a . a a tini the Pr tesi The S rdini ns , who do a a a not re lly belong to It ly , but h ve only been

a are a included in the c tegory , next c st to the winds . a ma ma a Wh t , then , re ins for co p rison fter this vigorous sifting of the di alects of It aly Which

a a a ma of those , sks D nte , th t now re in in the sieve1 is the most to be esteemed B e it under

a a m stood then th t , to the sh e of the other princes

a a m m of I t ly , the p l of instrelsy belongs to Sicily and as to her illustrious heroes , such

1 en n i n the s e s ane a s e e—or Evid tly followi g foot t p of D t , i v , s c s ea n a n -c eca se se se a a n t he tri tly p ki g , bolti g ot , b u u d for p r ti g — ml h wh eat fromt he bran beca e the d evice of the A ccad emi a d ell a ‘ ’ sca and i ts m I l li b el fior ne c e l t a e s the Cru , otto pi ogli g th r fi nest T he met aphor was k e pt up by t he names of t he ’ me mers as e am e T ass s c ca and e ra assa an s b , , for x pl , o riti l lit ry il t , ’ e na S a a and as an d e R ss e re ca e I nfar i L o rdo lvi ti B ti o o i , w ll d Lo na M ea and I nfe ri no B n ea T ese e n e to ( ly) Lo g ( row Br d) . h titl d ‘ ’ ‘ e s c c sm a s n a nd ene as s : Our th ir fir t riti i ifti g, it op d follow ca em c has a en as we n w the e t he B n A d y, whi h t k , k o , titl of olti g eca se i t s t he resene m me me Cloth , b u bolt flour p t d to it fro ti to ti , a ma se a a e off t he an b e n assem e i n c nc a e th t it y p r t br , i g bl d full o l v according to c ustomat th e ir dwe lling ; a nd h aving l earne d from th eir steward th at a littl e b ag of flour had ju st bee nl e ft to b e p assed th e s e e a e e s a s b e e e em through i v , g v ord r th t it hould brought b for th ’ e a f n a d by th ir b ilif s servants. H avi g re d i nt he ti ck e t stitc h e upon ’ t he name amm I el le ri no e had the m the b a it of C illo g , th y outh of g n e a nd en t he es had e amne e e e e u ti d , wh judg x i d it , th y ord r d th ir ac mme a e a e t he meas e and th e e and f tor i di t ly to t k ur w ight , to e s e e he c ke o n e n e t acc s . r gi t r both , tog th r with ti t , th ir book of ou t No soone r said th andone ; and by o rd e r of t he Arc h - Consul (thi s was t he titl e of t he Presid ent of the A cad e my) t he flour was speedily ’ ' s e t he e and t he a n a a m — ma s se e i t . n ift d through boult r, br p r t d fro M il ’

T ass . e . 6 . 0 . Lif of o , vol ii , pp 9 , 7 6 0 D ant e at Rav e nna

‘ 1 me a e e c a nd M anfred hi s e - n son I p ri l Fr d ri k , w ll urtured , who e n a o e em r , whil fortu e f v ur d th , followed the highe

a and s a n c the e am s s a p th , di d i ed to opy x ple of be ti l e e tyranny around them. Th r fore those who were of lofty soul and gift ed with e very grace attach ed them

s es t es a nces i n e ma es so a elv to h e gre t pri th ir j ty , th t in th at time poetical compositions of the best w riters i n n It aly first appeared in their Court. A d becau se th eir e a was i n c e a all c r g l Court held Si ily, it f ll out th t whi h our predece ssor s composed i n the vulgar tongue was

ca e c an: s ma nta n and can n ll d Si ili thi we i i , it ever be ’2 alt er ed by o ur post erity . ‘ ’ ‘ Yet he a s as s i s not an a , dd , thi the l gu ge of the

ma the b ut n c a e s jority of people, o ly of the ultiv t d writer i t cann b e sa a c an of the Court , ot id th t the Si ili or l ’ the Pug i ani s t he most beaut iful of t he It aliandial ects.

a . a a C h pter xiii ddresses itself to the Tusc ns , who a rrog antly bo ast th at theirs is the volgar e i llustr e a and a re a of It ly , unhesit tingly con mm a de ed , together with the Pis ns , Lucchesi ,

S i enesi and as a , Aretini , obstin te in their u gly

a a nd a m mc an di lect , therefore not ongst the the a a vulg r tongue be found in its excellence , lthou gh

a a and the Tusc n writers , Gu ido , L po , one other

d a Pi st o a are Florentine besides , C ino j , fully

cognisa nt of how to render it in its excellence . are m As to the Genoese , they dis issed with the ironica l remark th a t if by ch a nce they forget to 2 ma as pronounce the letter , they y well give up a as z the point of speech ltogether , the constitutes

1 2 V 1 0 . E . 1 iii . 5 . , xii . 7 5.

6 2 D ant e at Rav enna fa a a vour , lthough the Bolognese h ve borrowed m m m a a a a nd a a nd so ething fro I ol , Ferr r , Moden , a a a as h ve thus dded to their own di lect but this ,

a a n mm as we h ve seen , is not unco on proceeding , a a Sordello tells us of his M ntu , which is bounded man m a a and a . by Cre on , Bresci , Veron This was a m so eloqu ent th t not only in his poe s , but a m S even in h is ordin ry ethod of peech , he dis 1 m f m - c arded the si ple use o his other tongue . I n the s a me way the Bolognese citizens h ave

a m m a and m borrowed sweetness fro I ol , fro Ferrara and Moden a a cert ain loqu acity which is has proper to the Lomb ard . This ch aracteristic ma m m re ined with the , owing to the ixture of the a a and a Longob rdi n foreigners , this is the re son a a wa s why neither Ferr r (Ariosto yet to be born) ,

a no r a a M oden , Reggio h ve supplied poet a a a a bec use , inf tu ted with their own loqu city , they could never att a in without a certa in a sperity

a vol ar e of diction to the cultiv ted g of the Court . a m As , then , the Bolognese h ve borrowed fro this and m a a a a a side fro th t , it is n tur l result th t their l angu age S hould remain tempered by a mixture of opposite ch aracteristics with a praiseworthy had a sweetness . But yet , if it been perfect a G uini c elli G hi sl ero di lect , neither Guido , Guido , a a nd F brizio , Onesto , nor the other poets , would a a m are h ve dep rted fro it , for they illustrious in a a nd a le rning , with perfect knowledge of the

a vulg r di alects .

1 S ee Il Volgar e I t aliano Illust re 63

The result of all these rese a rches and el aborate a as a m descriptions is to prove th t , not one on g all the It ali a n di a lects is worthy to be ex alted sufii ci ent ly above the others to give it a cl aimto be th a t one noble Itali a n l angu a ge in which all the le arned a nd cultivated people of It aly should con and i t ma a a a a verse unite , re ins th t l ngu ge should be constructed worthy of the Court a nd of the a a a all Sen te , which should ppert in to the cities of 1 a and a . a a It ly , not to one lone This l ngu ge , this a a u vulg r tongue , in its perfection should h ve fo r ch aracteristic qu alities . It S hould be noble

i llustr e a a car di nale a ( ) , c rdin l ( ) , st tely of

’ and cor tz imzo ma a the Court , g , which e ns j udici l

l aw. or forensic , belon ging to the courts of

a m a an N oble or illustrious , bec use both illu in ted d m a illu in ting, it should shine . a are men a ? Why , he rgues , c lled illustrious a m a are Bec use , illu in ted with power , they wont and a m a with j ustice ch rity to illu in te others ; or , a a c an g in , excellently instructed , they in their a n turn excellently instruct . Such were Senec a d ma m N u Po pilius . The vulgar tongue of which we a a a and spe k , being ex lted with le rning power , should ex a lt those who use it to honour a nd glory . Th a t it is exalted by le arning we can perceive m ma u for ourselves , when , freed fro so ny ro gh

1 Ch apter xvi D e llo eccell ent e p arl ar ’ a e i l a e e c mne a I a an Volg r qu l o u tutti gli t li i . 64 D ant e at Rav enna

a ma di lects , so ny perplexities of construction , so ma a m ny deficiencies of pronunci tion , so uch a a i t c an m n vill ge j rgon , beco e perfect a d elegant when employed b y such poets as Cino d a Pi st oja ’ an d his friend . Th at it becomes ex alted with power is e asy to prove ; for

What i s a great er power than that which canturn a ’ mans a so as ma him s not s he rt to ke wi h who did wi h , and no t as s an a e in he who willed to will , thi l gu g i ts noble fo rmhas done and does ? That i t raises t o honour

are i s those who gift ed with it very evident . Do not i ts

sc es s ass i n am all ea n s ar di ipl urp f e the gr t o e of the e th ,

' n a s n ? a e i s ne i g, M rqui , or Cou t Of th t th re no ed of proof ; and that it mak es it s followers glorious we our s es a e enc as o n acc o n s elv h ve xperi ed , u t of thi glory we n are a e cas e us . en a n bl to t our exil behi d Th , cert i ly it l deserv es to b e called illustriou s . Not without reasondo we bestow the second epithet “ ” c a na eca s as s of rdi l upon it, b u e , the door follow the

n i t ns ns e ts e so all hi ge whether tur i id or ou id , do the m d a c s c es n and n ultitu e of di le t of the iti tur retur , m and ma n s i n acc anc e vol a r e ove re i till , ord with the g

' zl /ustr e or t ca s ; or courtly of the Cour , be u e,

a ans had a the an a r if t he It li Court , l gu ge would eign

s n a a n i t n n c ss a all there a Cou ty P l ti e, bei g of e e ity th t

' s e ina s s ea vol ar e zl/ust r e who re id Court hould p k the g , n n an a e . a o i t has or l gu g of the Court H vi g Court,

’ e nsu ed th at our vo/g a r e zl/ustr e seeks refuge as a an e e nowi n s one n and now i n at w d r r, thi l ly dwelli g th , having no abode worthy of it 1 a e xvn. . 1 1 . Ch pt r , p 9 Il Vo lgare I t aliano I llust re 6 5

na i t i s ca e ens c a eca s Fi lly, ll d for ic or judi i l , b u e it serves as a measured rule for the things whic h have to be done ; and as t he accurate measure i s only to b e n the ms n c t s c a s fou d in o t excelle t our (of ju ti e) , it h ppen that all th at whi c h i s well weighed in our actions and c n ma law ma m e s o for ble to the y be ter ed for n ic, or judicial . s an a e s at s Thi l gu ge, th n , which hould be once illu t ri ous ca na s a and c a a , rdi l , t tely judi i l, we decl re to be the vo/ga re

a m H ere ends the first book , perh ps the ost m ta a a us i por nt of the two , bec use it l ys before ,

a a a down to every qu int det il , the d i lects of I t aly in the untutored rudeness of the M iddle

Age . I n the second book we find the gre at master of 2 a a a a t the l ngu ge , pen in h nd , diligently work

a a n - upon his el borate d self imposed t ask . Th at ’ I l Volg are It ali ano illustre is a d apted alike for m as verse and prose is his first axio . But those who write i n prose ar e wont to model their l an

a a m a gu ge upon th t e ployed by the troub dou rs , it is well to ex amine whether all who write in verse a re entitled to the use of this polished style . It is only properly employed by menof science and a intellect , bec use it should be reserved for the ex a a nd m pression of noble ide s noble the es , of which such me nalone canbe the origin ating source . It d oes not belong to the rough and common herd

1 a e . . . Ch pt r xix , lib i ’ n n . R t a m . . al ca a e a e era . c i or do l o d ll util op , lib ii , i 6 6 D ant e at Rav e nna

v ersifiers m are ma ma of , of who there ny , who ke a verses without either science or intellect . And s without science or intellect the mind must be m a b arren of noble the es for verse , so , D nte

a a m. rgues , this st tely style is not for the

‘ And whenit i s argued th at eac h poet should adorn

his s as mc as ss we a m a ver e u h po ible , d it th t to be true,

at sam me if we saw anox a sa e but, the e ti , in ddl with

s s or a a sas s n e hou ing , pig girt with h , we hould not thi k eith r ma n o n c nra a n ss of the dor ed but, the o t ry, th t their ugli e was n anc name n n n s o ly further enh ed , or nt bei g othi g el e thanthe additionof something befitting the object to b e n a n m n a . se at c dor ed Ag i , to tho who urge th the o bi ing

n w s c r of the i ferior ith the uperior will produ e pe fection, I reply th at i s also true wh ent he two commingle and do m not ma ns a a . A s a e and s re i ep r te , for ex pl , if gold ilver

we but a s ema nse a re blended together, if the two p rt r i p a n n c ma s n s r te, the the i ferior , by o p ri o with the uperior n a m n a s m e e . e m ele e t, o ly ppe r or vil Therefor , if the the e

versification s not n se the s ns a for doe le d it lf to word , i te d n e an e an na s it s of bei g nh c d by or te tyle, unworthiness

i s n m ac a s as an man o ly the ore centu ted , ju t ugly wo appears to worse advantage when bedizened in silk and ’1 gold .

The question n aturally follows as to wh at are vol ar e i llustre fitting subj ects for the g , which , c a n being in itself excellent , only tre at of things ’ excellent . These are resolved by the author under a a a m three he ds , briefly st ted Fe ts of Ar s , Love ,

1 . i . . c . . 1 8 1 0 . Lib ii , , pp 9 , 9 La T ese id e 67

a a a nd Righteousness . All h ve been tre ted by the d a and a m are as gre at poets of the y, ex ples cited to feats of arms from the G ascon warrior 1 a u am as m troub do r Beltr di B ornio , to love fro 2 a a as a Arn ldo D niello , to righteousness Ger rdo

rni ell o . a d a Pi st o a di B o A g in , of love , C ino j ; ‘ d a again , of righteousness, the friend of C ino ’ Pi st oja D a nte) . ’ A S far as a u yet , so I know, D nte concl des , no ’ Itali a n has sung of arms . wa a I t s not long , however , before Bocc ccio a and took u p this ch llenge , supplied the de

‘ ’ i e. u i enc . fic y in his Teseide , , D uke These s

a ma a ag inst the A zons , whence Ch ucer borrowed ’ ’ m m in p art his 'night s Tale . H e plu es hi self on h aving filled the vaca nt pl ace in the eighty fourth st a nza of the l ast book of the poem.

0 ' s e But thou, Book be thou the fir t to t ll Of feats of M ars ; how warriors fought and fell I nvulgar parl anc e of the Latiumtongue

e s ha now ma ne n n n ns n D ed t t till re i d u k ow , u u g ; A nd as thou art the first whose keel will leap e as e ac ss a s Through the wid w t of tr kle w ter deep, ’ Ploughing through waves that ne er were plough ed b e e for ,

1 ‘ S a ch 10 sonBe am d al B r n e ppi ltr o o io , qu lli h l C e a Regiovane di ed e 1 mai co mfo r ti .

'u i x xvni . 1 1 . f , 34 , 35 Li dol ci d etti vostri ’ C he qu anto dure ra 1 use mod erno ’ a rann ca anc n F o ri ora i loro i chiostri . - P ur 1 1 2 1 1 . g , xxvi 5 6 8 D ant e at R av enna

’ all n ss ma s ass m Thou in lowli e y t p the o er, A nd fromthe novel subj ect of thy lays ’ 1 n a se a s s a e e s ame and . M y t h r with oth r ho our , f pr i

Of the five illustrations drawn fromthe writers 2 m a of the ti e , we select few of the verses by G uinizzelli a as Guido , j ustly honoured by D nte the a a m a f ther of Tusc n rhy e , on ccou nt of their per fect i onboth as to manner and matter

‘ cor n a a s m am Al ge til rip r e pre ore , Siccome augello i nselva la verdura

fu m anz che n c re Non A ore i ge til o , ’ en c a z c h m a a Ne g til ore n i A or , N tur ’ ’ a ss c me fu l Ch de o o Sole,

‘ S i tosto lo splendore fue lucente Ne fu davanti al S ol e n e m e in n ezza c E pre d A or ge til lo o, o si o amen C pr pri te, 1 m il a Co ca inc a del c . , lore l rit fo o

’ ’ d A more in en c 5 a en Fuoco g til ore ppr de, m e i n e a ez sa Co e vertut pi tr pr io ,

a a s e a a no n sce Che d ll t ll v lor di nde, ’ Anzi c h l Sol la facc ia gentil cosa ’ Poi che nha tratto fuor e P er l a sua za i l c io che for Sol , gli e vile,

La Stella i (133. valore si c a da a a Co lo uor, che f tto e n tur

c e en S hi tto, pur, g tile , ’ nna a sa d i a nnamora Do gui Stell lo .

1 ’ La T ese e . 8 id , lib . iv , 4 . 2 E . . v 2 e . . 1 . V . . , lib ii , , 5

D ant e at Rav enna

I n a i t s ms s a gentle he rt follow love u t t y, A s onthe burnished h elmthe glanc ing ray; n w c a s ms s e Subtle the gli t hi h d rt fro ide to id , m ’ A nd such the guise besee ing love s true pride . T he nature mean ar s as ma n the i s s Tow d love g et in fire een , ’ Cold mid the heat ; Love and the gentle heart together meet The place akin ’ ’

A s n a n a s n s ns n . iro dr w by lo d to e power u ee , etc

The interest of these lines is further enh a nced ’ by D ante s own reference to them i n his tenth a a sonnet . O n being sked to define the n ture of

as : love , he wrote follows

Amor e cor gentil so nuna co sa Siccome il saggio i nsuo dittato pone ’ ’ E cosi senza l uh l altro esser o sa m a ma razi o nal s z n Co e l en a ragio e.

Love and the gentle h eart agree in one ’ Thu s into verse by poet sage t i s d one A s o a lief without the ther one d re be, ’ w eas n nn As ithout r o reaso i g soul we see . m He is , oreover , the poet referred to in the ‘ ’ lines of the Purg atorio as h aving been robbed of his fa me by Guido C avalca nti :

’ ’ Cosi ha tolto l uno all altro Guido La gloria della lingua

‘ Thus hath one Guido fromthe oth er snatched ’ T he let ter d prize

1 ’ S nne x. I l anz ne e D ane e o t , C o i r di t Alighi ri , p . 9 9 . La Ret t it udine 7 1 while the concluding line of the p assa ge is supposed to refer to D ante himself

‘ e forse e nato ’ ’ ’ Chi l uno e 1 altro caccera dal nidol

A nd he perhaps i s born ’1 Wh o sha m r s ll drive either fro thei ne t.

m a But to return to the the e chosen by D nte , ’ La u u Rettitudine , for it f rnishes the sol tion of ‘ apparent inconsistencies in the D ivin a C o m ’ m a and a a a a and edi , the expl n tion of wh t is d rk

obscure . I nwardly convinced of the power of a a a ua ma use n tive l ng ge , he de of it while yet in its

roughness , not with the obj ect of perfecting roma ntic poetry nor of illustrating the theme of a love , nor yet to fl tter those i n power , but with the purpose of elucid ating the hidden depths of a nd a a philosophy theology, t king for his found tion the Systemof s acred mon archy which he had

. i a a a evolved Therefore , nste d of relying upon p g n

a ma and m uthors , he borrows both i gery ethod m a m a a fro the Ps l s , the C nticles , the Apoc lypse , ‘ and am the Prophets . I f we ex ine the D ivina mm a a m at Co edi ttentively, it beco es once evident th at it resembles i n no way the Greek and a a a m L tin cl ssic l ethods of construction , either a m a in sp ce , ti e , or the ction to be represented . With D ante the sp ace is no less than the whole — cre ation all the known world which he covers i n his j ourney fromthe centre of the e arth to the

1 et se xi . 9 7 , q. 7 2 D ant e at R av enna

a a and m. pl nets , thence to the st rs , even beyond the As in all th a t space there must be some connect

- a a a ing link , we h ve the str nge conception of a a a a gi g ntic Lucifer, who , f lling he d downw rds m a a fro the spheres , d ispl ces the surf ce of the globe in depth a nd extent sufficiently to invert a mm the Mount of Purg tory , whose su it is lost in the clouds as it j oins the first of the pl a nets . a a a Thus , the gr d tion of the heights of the Purg torio ’ is in proportion to the depths of the ‘ ’ and ma a I nferno , no less rvellous , producing scheme of a rchitecture as novel as it is awe i nspiring .

a m are Then , if we consider how these three re l s and a a a a peopled , th t to e ch inh bit nt is j ustly a m a pportioned either punish ent , prob tion , or

a m a a rew rd , it beco es evident th t the etern l principles of truth a nd j ustice govern th at di st ri n ar b ut i o . e a as a N or these principles w rped , a m ma superfici l observer ight think , by hu n passions . The punishments are not meted out to the enemies of D a nte beca use they were his m —inma a a a ene ies ny c ses , not bly th t of Brunetto a a and ma L tini , his de r honoured ster , the sufferers — were his friends but bec ause they had sinned against th at principle of righteousness which as m w m. hi his the e Like M ilton , who followed , ’ it was the gre at argument by which he mea nt to

‘ ss na nce A ert eter l Provide , s a s n And ju tify the w y of God to me .

1 ’ Pa a se o s c r di L t , . i . La D ri tt ura 7 3

a m L a a Under the n e of Drittur , Righteousness ’ 1 a a a a a e and ppe rs g in i n the C nzoni re , , with a a ma reference to the disordered st te of It ly, is de ’ thus to reply to Love s question as to who she is

che sonl a ti s a Io, pi tri t s a a a t ua a e so n ra Son uor ll M dre , Drittu ’ a a ann a c n a. Pover , vedi, p i ed i tur

Love is here me a nt to person ate the Love of m Virtue , whose other is J ustice , while the t attered and dil apid ated a nd poverty - stricken a condition of Drittur , Righteousness . illus trates the strife and confusion of the world at

a mm th t o ent . H aving disposed of the subj ect - matter a d apted

a a a for lofty style , D nte proceeds in his deliber te , methodic al way to tre at of the manner . Putting a a side prose , he devotes his ttention to the three

m : for s of poetry then in use the sonnet , the

a a and a and b ll d , the c nzone ; of these three the m a a a a a . c nzone , in his Opinion , be rs w y the p l

a a a Therefore , le ving the discussion of the b ll d and a s the sonnet for the fourth book, which , we was m know, never written , he devotes hi self to a the ex min ation of the c a nzone . H e distin ui shes — a g briefly the three styles the tr gic , the m and co ic , the elegia c . Ag ain relegating these two l a st to the fourth

a a book , he de ls with the tr gic style , the highest all a n d m. of , destined for the highest the e

1 nz n . 2 06 . I l a e e . C o i r xix , p 7 4 D ant e at Rav enna

and I t befits no other,

Let no one who attempts either theme or style think a as can b e acc m s t a a th t the t k o pli hed wi hout n tur l gift,

a ass and c n e art . gre t iduity, perfe t k owledg of the Such have beentruly described by the poet of the E neid as ess s and as mm a s ns s bl ed of the god , i ort l o of the god l et ms a a a e on an i s the pe k . P lp bl , the other h d , the folly of those who without science or art rely only upon their own natural tal ent to attempt to sing the highest

emes : m as m s m n and th let the ce e fro their pre u ptio , if fromidleness o r lack of study they are nothing but ees let m a m mta g e, the not tte pt to i i te the flight of the ’1 eagle .

The su cceeding ch apters de al with the me

a m m and a ch ic al construction of rhy e verse, tre ting at a a and length of the words , the verses , st nz s ,

m a as a rhy es , prep ring, he s ys , the wood for the a and a ma S f ggot the cords , th t he y how how the

a a . bundle , th t is , the c nzone , should be united a m To the verse of eleven feet he gives the p l , a a m both on ccount of the occup tion of ti e , a a and c p city of sentence , construction choice of

a a a a a all words . D nte s ys th t the le rned h ve been a a and m w re of this , their noblest poe s open i n ma this nner . are are a Verses , we told , be utiful when they close in rhyme ; but the poet should h ave free license to a rr a nge thema ccording to his own t alents if it makes a h armonious rhythm and a voids repetition .

1 1 1 C. IV Lib . 0 , . A mor che nel la ment e mi ragi ona 7 5

H e cites the tra nsl ations fromthe troub adour m m mare am a poets of his ti e , ost of who f ili r to ‘ u s either by n ame or allusion in the D ivin a ’ a Commedi .

G erault B orneil a a - de , who c lls his l dy love

’1 Mon Sobre T os ’ Mio sopra tutti )

' a a a the ing of N v rre , Teb ldo I I

’ r i D e t Amor ch en mo ncor repaire . D ritto Amore che in mi o core ripara

3 Fol chet t o di M ars al a :

’ ’ T ammab elhei s l amorosos pensameno

’ ’ Tanto mab b elisce l amoroso pensamento

‘ ending always with Cino d a Pi st oja and his ’ a friend , whose noble c nzone

Amor che nella mente mi ragiona

m a a is the song, set to the sweet usic of C sell , ’ a 5 sung by the spirits i n the Purg torio .

’ ‘ not s r s n s m r a e a Do be u pri ed, he co clude , y e d r, th t

a c so ma am s mso man a s I h ve ited ny ex ple fro y uthor , because it i s not possible to judge of the construction of

1 ‘ ’ P . . 1 2 m 0 . e Li osl he was a c z n urg , xxvi 'u l di ( iti e of Limoges) . 2 ‘ n I f. . 2 i am l xxii 5 . C p o o says : Poi fui famiglio d el buonR e T ebaldo . 3 ix . 9 4, 9 5

c mi sse e a ene a cui Fol o di qu ll g t , ’ Fun i i n m mi o oto o e . ‘ ’ 1’ xn. nzo mr . Ca e e . No , ii . 1 1 2 . 7 6 D ant e at Rav enna the highest style without some illustration of i t s p erfec

. I n a a a mas s i t tion truth , to obt in re l tery over tyle, a ms s s r c ass ca s would be o t u eful tudy to refe to the l i l poet , ” s c as e am s s a s u h Virgil , the M t orpho e of Ovid , St tiu and Lucan al so to those who h ave written prose inthe ea s s c as us n Frontinus a s gr t tyle, u h Tulli , Livy, Pli y, , P ulu s s and man s s w s s Oro iu , y other , to the tudy of ho e work n ’ 1 our ow solitude is friendly .

These studies must cert a inly h ave compre ’ a a m m hended the Ars Poetic of Hor ce , fro who D ante borrowed l a rgely in his tre atment of rhyme ‘ ’ ’ a nd m a nd a nd etre , the Rhetoric Poetics of ma a Aristotle , his revered ster , whose Pr ise is umm s ed up i n the single line ,

’ I l Maestro di color che sanno. n 1 I i v. 1 . f , 3

Evidently such were his gre at models as to a a and the choice of subj ects d pted for poetry ,

m a m a the ethod of de ling with the . The quot m a k tion fro ch pter vii . of the first boo of the 2 Volgare Eloquio runs p arallel with the ch apter ’ ’ m and i n Rhetoric Of the Beco ing in Style , the ‘ ’ ’2 chapters i n the Poetics O n Diction h ave l a id ‘ the ground for the suggestions in the Volg a re

Eloqu io as to the choice of words .

an 0 a are s w c ms s m M y, re der, tho e hi h u t be ifted fro ca a so a n s and s ma your vo bul ry, th t o ly the highe t be t y

1 ’ I l a e . i i . c Volg r Eloquio , lib , . vi . 2 ’ ‘ ’ R e s e s c c . . Ari totl h tori , vii 2 ’ P e cs c . . o ti , xix

7 8 D ante at Ravenna

a nd m a a rhyth , wherewith to interwe ve the Ch plet

a . of verse , occupy the three next ch pters It is obvious th at these rules must h ave a fterwa rds a a nd a guided Petr rch , Ariosto , T sso in succes ‘ a a sion . T sso , it is known , noted the Volg re

a a Eloqu io with his own h nd . But these ppear

now to h ave been quite forgotten in It aly . N o m m and odern writer studies the , therefore none are c ap able of reproducing the classic al c a nzone

. versi sci olti of the fourteenth century Their ,

a as a a a lthough , in the c se of Ale rdo Ale rdi , they often give expression to origin al a nd most

a ma are a a poetic l i ginings , very poor exch nge for

a and m the interwoven crown of gr ce rhyth , and m ma cadence elody , which will re in for ever

the ch armof the It ali a n lyrics . ma ma As of the nner so of the tter . The grea t M a ster would h ave written upon variety of am as ma style , for ex ple , to one nner being suit

and a a able for one subj ect , nother for nother ; a was only the fourteenth ch pter , which to be a m a a dedic ted to this i port nt subject , bre ks off i n wa s the middle . The end either never written or it a m a has been lost . The fr g ent th t remains r ecom mends discretion in the choice of the a rgument to be tre ated by the Poetic M use ; tha t the mode v ersificat i o n a a m of should be d pted to the the e , and as all the subj ect - matter for poetry is c ap able a a of division into two cl sses , pl cing the one on

a and a the right h nd , the other on the left , th t is sa m m to y, it is so eti es the province of song to Subjec t - matt er fo r P o et ry 7 9

m m a m m persu ade , so eti es to dissu de , so eti es it m m m a m should ove to j oy , so eti es to pr ise , so e 1 m am as ti es to bl e ; therefore , the words which tre at of things sinister (or on the left h a nd) a should hurry to their close , so , on the contr ry ,

a a those on the right h nd should , with suit ble

a a a lingering , dv nce step by step tow rds their climax . as H ere , if the pen of the writer were sud d enl a a a o ff a nd y rrested , the ch pter bre ks , the tre atise on the sublime style was therefore never m ma finished . N o ore were the two re ining

a a as a ch pters , which the uthor intended , we h ve

a a m m seen , to dedic te to the tre t ent of the co ic and a a a a nd elegi c styles , in which the b ll d sonnet H a would h ave found their place . d the work m a a a been co plete , D nte would h ve est blished the l aws for every kind of composition i n the a as m a vulg r tongue , even he hi self s id in the mm a course of the work , down to the co on d ily

parl ance of family life . But the fr a gment which remains to us has at a been quoted length , bec use it contributes in ma a a no s ll degree to the portr it of D nte , which

1 ’ ’ m a e a a n s P cs e s e c . Co p r g i Ari totl o ti , iv But e was e acc n a a e mann po try divid d ordi g to ppropri t ers. For menof a more v enerabl e ch aracter imitated b eautiful actions a nd the m actions of su ch en; but the more ignobl e imit ated t he actions of e a e c a ac e s s c m s n e a v e e ses inth sa me d pr v d h r t r , fir t o po i g vitup r ti v r e manne as the e s c m sed mns and enc m ms r oth r o po hy o iu . G i l‘

ence a s the am c e se i s now ca e eca se i n s me e H l o i bi v r ll d . b u thi tr ’ am z me ac e se e e a e e . th y u d to i bi , d f , h oth r 8 0 D ant e at R av enna in all his works is more or less drawn by his ma a a m own h a nd . These y be s id l ost to con n a a man u st it ut e a utobiogr phy of the , witho t th a t touch of egotismwhich seems a l most i n

ma a . separable fro utobiogr phy I ndeed , we find 1 m ma m hi so tru e to his xi , twice over expressed , th at a rhetorici a n should never quote his own

a m a a a a n e , th t his own is lw ys coupled with th t ’ ’ d a Pi st o a as a m of Cino j l ico suo , who chose ’ for his theme La Rettitudine . For with D ante his own person ality is always second to the work m a a a . he u ndert kes I t is there , un ist k ble in its

a m a a f ili r , severe outlines , but subordin te to the m a ma a . a a a tter in h nd Origin l , l ost rch ic i n its

S m a a a all l an i plicity , is the p ss ge which tr ces gu age to its source ; and then suddenly the proud yet wistful exile st a nds before us i n his regret a a a th t he c nnot i n j ustice , notwithst nding his

a a a he r un lter ble love for his country , ssign to l angu age the coveted distinction of h aving been

the first l a ngu age uttered in Paradise . m a With the ut ost deliber tion , step by step , he a a a and proceeds in his c reful n lysis , by his masterly division of the European l angu ages into groups forest alls in the thirteenth century the modern methods of comp arative philological and m ethnographica l research . Then so e little touch a a of irony in the illustr tion , like th t of the ugly ma and wo n bedizened with gold silk , the ox in a a a a tr ppings or the pig in s sh , brings D nte 1 n ’ I T a a . c . I i . . 1 6 . Co vito r tt to, , , p xxx . 3 I l Vo lgar e El o qui o 8 I

m — o r a a before us in his strong sense of hu our , g in ,

and a in his love of order fitness , when he l ys ‘ down the axiom th at orn ament is nothing but the a ddition of something befitting the obj ect to ’ a be adorned . H ere we find ag in forestalled the a a a keystone of the rchitecture of the Ren iss nce . a D nte took nothing for gra nted . All his work — is drawn fromlife the result of person al observa

a a a . a s tion , person l exertion , person l c re J ust the phenomen a of N ature in every varied ph ase a a nd at d a m of be uty , every hour of the y, fro the first S ilver strea k of the d a wn to the l ast r ay of a m am a the settin g sun , bec e f ili r to his eye in his a a r efl ec nineteen ye rs of w ndering , suggesting tions and illustra tions which are set like pearls a long the thre ad of his gre at conception of the ’ a mm a am a ma Divin Co edi , so to the s e c uses y be a ttributed his oral a cqu a int ance with al l the

a d i alects of It ly . Fromthe friendly and be autiful solitude of the a m a C stello of Tol ino , where he prob bly took m a a a refuge fro the h rsh ccents of Aquilej , to

a a a ma a P du , thence to Bologn , throu gh the Ro gn a n a a d Pu gli , where yet lingered the cultiv ted and a influence of the Court of Frederick I I . M nfred ear a m a a his son , the ttuned to the elody of C sell , ‘ ’ which in the Purgatorio could a nticip ate the

a a m a and celesti l h r ony of the spheres , c ught a a a noted , one by one , the ch r cteristics of e ch a n a mall d a d . i lect , sifted cl ssified the We h ave seen th at D ante took the Tower o f 6 8 2 D ant e at Rav enna

B abel and the confusion of speech for his starting ’ a a and point in his tre tise on the Volg re Eloquio , there is a dramatic unity of purpose highly ch ara c t eri st i c of his mind in the intention which he so a dequ ately fulfilled of fusing a g a in into one l angu age the v arious di alects of It aly .

But the gre at M aster did more yet . He t aught by ex ample as well as by precept . N ot only did he cre ate the It ali a n l angu age out of the raw ma a a and a u teri l of j rgon di lect , but he sec red for th at l angu age immortality when he wove it into such a C h aplet of verse as must for ever ma and a as re in the birthright the inherit nce , of

a a . the p st , so of every future gener tion

’ la l i na Del bel Paese dove i s suo .

I n 8 0 f . , xxxiii. .

a a n w a an In th t f ir regio , here the It li voice ’ I S heard . R Tr a m CA Y, . C HAPTE R I V .

LI FE A N D P UP I LS A T RA V E N NA

86 D ant e at Rav enna

This veneration is all the more remarkable a s the Pol ent ani cannot be said to h ave been favour ’ a bly dealt with inthe Divin a Commedia . With rega rd to the principa l episode connected m a a a d a m with the , th t of Fr ncesc Ri ini , the au was a nt of Guido N ovello , there no doubt th t Guido was himself famili ar with the famous lines

as b e m which describe her story , i ported one of ’ m mai da me fia the , Che non diviso , into one of 1 o wn his sonnets .

m a a u a M oreover , it ight be re son bly rged th t a a a a an the h ndling of the n rr tive by D nte , d the a a ma m unriv lled p thos which he i p rts to it , ight go far to reinstate the unfortun ate Francesca i n

the Opinion of posterity . I t certa inly gave the keynote to one of the e arliest historical n arratives 2 as of the event recounted by Boccaccio . a a m c an But p rt fro this episode , which of a am course be considered in two w ys , the f ily of

a a the Polent are rigidly dealt with by D nte . They are not exempted fromthe fierce invectives a a a ma a g inst the tyr nts of the Ro gn , into which a a a am a a c tegory lso f lls the f ily of C terin , the was m wife of Guido N ovello . She descended fro B a na a alli a am S a the g c v , f ily peci lly singled out ’ u a for vit per tion in the I nferno , i n words which could be ha rdly ple asing to their surviving 3 a was descend nt . N evertheless , so strong the

1 nn ‘ ’ m R . 8 . S e . U o t xii , lti o ifugio , p 3 4 2 ’ I I men ann ccacc s a l a mme a . i . Co to di Giov i Bo io opr Co di , vol , n 6 ez e . p . 47 , l io xx 3 6 - 8 xxx . 7 7 . Life and Pupils at Rav enna 87

and a a love of letters le rnin g , so gre t the venera a tion inspired by the person lity of the poet , a a ma blended , perh ps, with feeling of co p ssion for m and a a m his un erited unh ppy exile , th t there see s to h ave been no pl ace left for rancour in the mind n an Far m P ol e t i . of the generous fro this , the hospit ality to the father extended itself to the

and a a son , benef ctions were he ped upon Pietro a n di D nte by C aterin a a d her family . Such generosity ma kes a bright spot in the d ark a nn als of a period when revenge for inj uries received was a ma and far m a tter of course, , fro being vice , even aspired to a pl ace on the borderland of virtue . The j ust verdict of posterity recognises the noble exception afforded by the ex ample of the a am and has a all m Polent f ily , rep ired for er inj ury by a ssoci ating for ever the n a me of Guido N ovello with th a t of D ante . M uch interest centres round a as and a their rel tionship pupil te cher . There is historical confirmation of the fact th at Guido

a m a art N ovello le rnt fro D nte the of poetry, ’ a a s il m a described in those d ys dire in ri e volg re , art m as a the secrets of which see , we h ve seen a m a u to h ve been co prised in the Volg re Eloq io , and h appily there are sonnets by Guido still ext ant which serve to prove th at he was no u nworthy follower in the footsteps of his gre at a M ster . There is a collection of his verses in the 1 a a a m a u Codice M rci no , g thered fro v rio s sources

1 l ’ c c . c . . I a . m R t 8 S ec . U e c . 6 8 . x i , ix , t l . xvi lti o ifugio , , , 7 8 8 D ant e at R avenna

b a a M ezzab arb a and y Veneti n , Antonio Isidoro , as copied , the note records ,

‘ m own hand i n mn M a 1 0 e by y the o th of y, 5 9 , n ither an n an wa a n a w a ch gi g in y y, nor ddi g to th t hich I h ve ’ a s found in the ncient book .

This collection consists of sixteen b all ads in which we discover a cert ain power as well as variety of expression not always to be found in m a and a the inor poets of th t period , which rec ll a a m the influence of his gre t M ster , ore distinctly ‘ to be perceived when comp ared with his C an zo ni ere th an with his gre a t poem. We recognise many familar turns of thought and langu a ge besides the one alre ady cited out of

. a sonnet xi i , which fi nds its counterp rt in the

a a d a m and episode of Fr ncesc Ri ini , which for th at re ason is reproduced at length

’ E ra l ae r sereno e 10 bel tempo E t cantavan an l a e a gli gei per riv r , E t in quel giorno apparve primavera ’ Quand i o te vidi prima bella gioia . ’ B en s a tal ma a s fo ti gioi , che pp ri ti ’ co 1 nel b el s E novo color tuo vi o, iada la mia mn si a Che g e te non p rte, a s n ti ana a E qu ndo o o in pi lont p rte, ‘ ’ P iiI mi sovviende l tuo piacente riso ’ Si dolcemente ne 1 mi o cor venisti uns a s a che faci st i Per o ve gu rdo ,

D a e c Che mi m ar fiso tuoi b gli oc hi , ir

9 0 D ant e at R av enna

’ a en ac se an s ea L dy, wh in thy f e thy rv t h rt, A s i na m o c a e ec es irr r, le r r fl ted li , ’ ’ See t i s o me and o n a how f r d , look ev ry p rt ; A s the refl ectionwith the object vies ’ ea se an s a t i n n owne s So r d thy rv t he r thi e ye , n him n A d see sta d reflected inthy sight . Th e re i s no feature i nthy ownfair face c a s not anans r m n Whi h c ll forth we fro thy k ight .

T h sm e co mman anans n ac y il , thy look , d weri g gr e,

A nd n se an a a Love, thy willi g rv t, L dy f ir , ’ ’ E en a a ms him . though p rt, u t ever hold there

The cultured and refined t aste which could in the midst of a b arb arous age fi nd expression i n such delicate forms of thought was not less susceptible to the influence of the sister art of p a inting . I t is no uncerta in tra dition which records th at at the inst a nce of Guido da Polenta a mm a a Giotto w s su oned to Ravenn by D nte . We may please ourselves with fa ncyin g these two friends the great types of the highest a ttain able perfection inthe sister a rts in the thirteenth and a century , followin g interpreting e ch other more and more in the close h armony of a friend ship which had deepened with adva ncing ye ars . I nprocess o f ripening when both were at Rome a 1 0 0 had ma in the ye r of the j ubilee , 3 , it tured itself in th at brief interva l between the return of D ante to Florence and his fatal emb assy to 1 Boniface V I I I . The record of th a t period of their friendship 1 'd n Vz e a t e . 2 , p 9 . Life and Pupil s at Rav enna 9 1 rema ins in the a uthentic contempora ry portra it u of the poet , introd ced by Giotto into his fresco , a a on the w lls of the B rgello , representing the a rriva l of Ch arles of Valois as the p acific at or of am Florence . This f ous incident in the feud a and as between the B i nchi N eri resulted , it is

a a . well known , in the perpetu l exile of D nte B ut

a a a a m a by str nge irony of f te his p inted se bl nce , a s a a i ma portr yed by the h nd of his fr end , re ins as a perpetu al spectator of the event so fat al to

. m his hopes The episode is represented , oreover , on the wa lls of the P al azzo whence issued the h arsh and often - repeated decrees of perpetual a m b nish ent . M any ye ars of exile had p assed over th at hea d met a a a nd m when the two friends g in , Giotto ust h ave gazed once more upon the face so fa ithfully deline ated by himin the prime of manhood and a sad a a the flush of f me . It is th t no portr it should be ext ant by the s ame h and representing th at

am a as m a a a s e counten nce it ust h ve ppe red then , 1 wan a a with long ye rs of persevering study , d rk a ened with dis ppointed hope , furrowed with the h ardships of his wa ndering life ' And yet through all must h ave bl azed the unquenched fire of — a all a genius bove , the ennobling influence of e a lif lon g converse with things Divine . Such a and m portr it Giotto , only Giotto , the conte o rar a m a m p y rtist , the co p nion ind , the beloved

1 ’ ’ Si che mha a ii f tto p er p i anni macro .

P a n . , xxv . 3 9 2 D ant e at Ravenna

1 and m m a a a . a inti te friend , i ght h ve p inted Al s th at such a portra it does not formp art of the few ’ genuine fragments of Giotto s work in Ravenn a ' All th at now exists is to be found in the side a S an a a a ch pel of Giov nni Ev ngelist , representing a m and a the Ev ngelists with their sy bols , the L tin — a S S . m F thers of the Church Gregory , A brose ,

and m. a Augustine , Jero e These h ve been so rep a inted th at the origin al work makes itself felt with d ifficulty through the gray film which a def ces it . a O nce t he Church of S t a . M ri a in Porto Fuori was all covered with p a intings by Giotto ; not one m ma au trace of the re ins . But the be tiful work a a and d a of his pupils , Giuli no , Giov nni , Pietro m h as m m Ri ini , been recently redee ed fro the whitewa sh which defa ced it by the p a tient effort a of Don Pio Pozzi , the priest in ch rge of the a a a a church , reve ling cert in ch r cteristics of type which indicate both G iotto and D ante among

the byst a nders in the frescoes of the Present ation . Although this represent ation of the two friends an a m a c only rest upon tr dition , conte por ry evidence will furnish historical proof of the act ual presence of Giotto i n R avenn a at th a t

time .

The ch a in is unbroken . First of all we find the a sum 0 0 a record of of 3 scudi , beque thed by Lamberto d a Polent a in his will bearing d ate

a a 1 8 1 1 6 u J nu ry , 3 , for the express p rpose of

1 m m m ss a c i . 2 V asa D i cui era . . . ri olti i o i o vol , p 37

ane at a enna 9 4. D t R v went un armed to medi ate between the Ordelaffi and a and was the insurgent popul ce of Forli , so severely wounded th at his recovery was looked m as a a . a upon little short of ir cle Fin lly, he was a a elected Archbishop of R venn , where his a a a a ofli c e c re of his diocese , his ze l i n his p stor l , ma a a b e his re rk ble le rning , which devoted to reconstructing the decaying schools of theology and m a a and m usic in R venn , his si ple piety , single him out from among the r ap acious and am m as d a bitious clergy of the ti e , j ust Guido Polenta st a nds alone in his cultivation and t e finement amongst the l awless tyra nts of the

a a Romgn . I t is curious th at this Archbishop should h ave been so little noticed by the e arly biographers a an m a u m of D nte , for it is not i prob ble s r ise , though it cannot pretend to even the basis of a a a and m tr dition , th t those gre t kindred inds must h ave met in intercourse upon the scene of a common interest like the restoration of the a a ncient church of S anG iov nni Evangelista . The Archbishop predecea sed D a nte by a few S a am a hort weeks , or perh ps his n e would h ve been recorded in a ma nner less ambiguous tha n a a a a th t of predecessor in the See of R venn , Archbishop Bonifazio

’1 as o m Che p tur col rocco olte genti .

1 2 0 xxiv. 9 , 3 , i ’ Who fromthe reve nu es of h s bishopri c fed his flock . nna T he r occo was the anci ent pastoral staff of the See of Rave . I t was so ca e e a se ns ea of the s a c i n c the ll d b c u , i t d u u l rook whi h Life and Pupil s at Rav enna 9 5

had a if, indeed , it not sh red the honours of Pier ’ 1 D ami a no in the P a ra diso . The s arcoph a gus to which the rema ins of Arch a a a m bishop R in ldo were consigned , speci en of a a art e rly Christi n , is still to be seen in the a a at a a a u a c thedr l R venn . H rdly were the f ner l

m a was m rites co pleted , when D nte hi self over a m a t ken by the illness which closed his ort l c areer . a a and Guido N ovello , the Archbishop R in ldo , are a a m a Giotto , the gre t person l conte por ries of a a a and am u D nte in R venn , ong his pupils G ido may C l aimprecedence on every ground . With a a — in very short period of e ch other indeed , in — a ma nner almost simult aneous all these gre at ’ ch ar acters p assed fromthis world s stage ; but there were others belonging to either the first a and m m or second c tegory , so eti es both , who contributed their meed of interest and no i nsig nifican a t det ils to fill in the picture of the time . a We re d of Ser D ino Perini , Ser Pietro di Messer a a M en hino a Gi rdino the not ry , g Mezz ni the m Fid ucci o M ilo t t i ma rhy ester , dei the co p nion

c z e e mna es was s m ne a e s ne r occo ro i r t r i t , it ur ou t d by littl hri , or . T he ne e e s not n the e nmen hi s e e hi s li r f r o ly to gov r t of p opl , but to a e e a es T ese e e a e s na a n a l rg lib r liti . h , tog th r with p r o l f ili g, th t of n ms a e een e a a a n i n R a enna en glutto y , u t h v b qu lly tr ditio v wh ane was es en e e W c a ac er s c ma a D t r id t th r . ith h r t i ti i p rti lity, both as pect s of the ch aract er of the Archbi shop are present ed i n the ’ na o mme a H e i s as n a ace amn the ns Divi C di . sig ed pl o g glutto in ‘ ’ th at division of the Purg atorio wh ere thi s crime against self i s e xpiat ed ; but at the same time i s chronicl ed the red eeming virtu e of hi s ea e a H e e t he S ee Ra enn gr t lib r lity to oth ers. fill d of v a for twenty y ears ( 1 2 74 1 1 2 0 et se xxi . , q . 9 6 D ant e at Rav enna

a a a a of his w lks in the Pinet , who d issu ded D nte m a C arnev alli fro going to Bologn , N iccolo , Achille a a and a C anac c i o ma M tt relli , Bern rd o , who ny ye ars afterwa rds engraved the epitaph on the ’ m poet s to b . I t may be a sked how these n a mes h ave been a preserved through the long tr ct of centuries , and a a and at am m it is s tisf ctory , the s e ti e very a m m m a interesting , to tr ce the so eti es under feigned classic al n a me in the Latin eclogues written by the poet himself from Ravenn a to a a G iov nni del Virgilio . Giov nni del Virgilio , so c alled beca use of the facility he displ ayed in m a was a and a i it ting Virgil , B olognese , held

a a a a school in Bologn , where he received s l ry m a m a . a a fro the St te H e fterw rds oved to Cesen , where he died ; but he was at Bologn a when the remark able correspondence took pl ace between hi n a has a a ma d D nte . This correspondence lre dy ’ been alluded to in order to fix the d ate of D a nte s 1 a a residence at R venn . am m as m We will now ex ine it ore closely , fro as ma a m it , fro l ntern held by the poet hi self, there falls the most cert a in light upon this period of his life . The correspondence consists of one

‘ ’ m a m as a a poe , the C r en , it is c lled , of Giov nni

a nd . a del Virgilio , three eclogues The uthenticity 2 all has a and a of been cle rly proved , there h ve been several recent It ali a n editions with a nnot a

1 ' ‘ n c n 1 m . 1 V zde a e . , I trodu tio p 2 ‘ ’ U m R . 68 . lti o ifugio, p

9 8 D ant e at Rav enna

w w a s an th ea s s n Thro not ith l vi h h d y p rl to wi e, Nor clothe unw orthily the Muse divine But still thy verse i nsuch a formunfold — ’ Commonto all all clear thy meaning h old .

H e then implores D a nte to address his next m acific at i on a a a poe to the p of It ly , h r ssed on all and a a war and sides dev st ted by , the follow ing lines cont ain allusions to the principa l

a and a r i historic l events of the period , fix p p ox mately the d ate of the correspondence :

wa i wn s a ms a A ke, then tell how i g to re l bove 1 H i s lofty flight the sacred Bird of Jove ; ’ 2 Of Lilies lopped by Ploughman s ruthless h and ; ’ 3 How writhe nea th canine fangs the Pri sonB and ; ans o m a s Tell how Liguri h re with triu ph h il , ’ s n P artheno e s sa s Re ou ding loud, p proud il ’ a a e c s an Till C diz w k Al ide gi t rock , A nd through the world reverberates the shock an ea s a n I ster to F o will rep t thy tr i , ’ r - n And Dido s shores e echo it agai .

B ut the exact d ate seems to be fixed by the lines which describe in the present tense the siege of Genoa in the winter of the following

a 1 1 . ye r , 3 9

1 — The Eagl e of the Empire this i s anallu sionto the d eath of the

me en V I I . s 2 1 1 . E p ror H ry , Augu t 4 , 3 3 2 T he rout of the Florentines by Uguccione d ell a Faggiol a at

M ont ecab i ni s 2 1 1 . , Augu t 9 , 3 5 3 T he sl aught er of t he Padu ans by Can Grand e d ell a Scal a - b etween1 31 4 1 31 8 . 4 T he m an en ' n R e a es n en a triu ph t try of i g ob rt of N pl i to G o , 1 1 8 c es n e the a e s the July, 3 , whi h r ou d d throughout four qu rt r of Europeanworld . Life and Pupil s at Rav enna 9 9

’ E ennow e s m a s din war th re fill y e r loud of ,

A nd a s c mnac mnea and far thre t whi h e e, both fro r , a e nnne s O F th r Ape i , thy lofty cre t, A nd thou Tyrrhenian sea by storms possessed ’ 0 a s a s scatt ri n e all a ? M r wh t do t thou, g wid pe ce n ’ Thentune thy lyre a d bid such discord cease .

a m a a a The poetic l et phors , which ppe r so high fl own are a a a , supported by the historic l n rr tive a a of the events by M ur tori , in which he rel tes how fiercely the b attle r aged both by sea and l and round Genoa before the siege was ra ised a nd 'ing Robert a ble to make his escape to 1 Avignon . a as Such subj ect this , the eclogue proceeds to sa a a and a y, tre ted in L tin verse , not in the vulg r a tongue , would be worthy of the pen of D nte , and would obta in for himthe l aurel crown of a a a B ologn , whither Giov nni del Virgilio dj ures him to come— in the concluding lines of his m— or m at a poe , if he will not co e , will he le st him a sa a a send friendly word , to y the ppe l has not been distasteful to him? Alluding to a at a a the residence of D nte R venn ,

’ Su la marina dove 1 P 0 discende ’ Per aver pace c o seguaci sui n 8 i . ( f . v 9 . he is apostrophized as

1 ’ ’ nna I a a . . . 2 1 0 1 0 8 . A li d t li , t viii , pp 7 , 7 5 , 7 , 1 0 0 D ant e at Rav enna

‘ 1 e an s P o ans Dwell r on b k of , if hope c t give a m and m w n Th t thou wilt co e in y d elli g live, Some friendly missive send nor take amiss r n s sen s The feve ed li e I d to thee with thi , 2 w a a s its n Un orthy crow th t d re uplift ote , ’ Nor falls abashed befo re the Swans proud throat ’

sw m mas e m a . An er, y t r , or y pr yer fulfil N o common interest centres round the reply a was a a a a of D nte , which pp rently desp tched bout 1 1 m the summer of 3 9 . It is couched in the for an m a a of eclogue , closely odelled upon the P stor ls a a of his gre t M ster , Virgil , to which both the locality and the circumst a nces lend themselves u a a a with c rious ex ctitude , the first P stor l of ‘ Virgil being written from the l a nds about ’ m a and a a was Cre on M ntu , when Virgil i n a a —a nd co m exile , though fterw rds here the a — Ye p arison f ils restored to his country. t when D ante wrote his eclogue his hopes were a as ma a m l not yet de d , we y g ther fro its wistfu a a lines . H e follows Virgil ex ctly in his person T i t rus tion of y , while to his friend D ino Perini 2 m li a he gives the n a e of M e b oeus. G iov nni del Virgilio he addresses as Mopsus one of two

1 R avenna was at th at time surround ed by the variou s branch es mar P P n n the ea r e . T he P0 Pr the o adore o a d of gr t iv r di i o , di , the anc ca e the P adenna ac a e the s ee s br h ll d , tu lly flow d through tr t e n of th tow . 2 Probably imitat ed from n ’ A nd the hoarse raveno the bl asted bough . ’ D E S Vi r i l P as a i . DRY N g , tor l 1 M e a een T his i s shownby a gloss uponthe S . suppos d to h ve b nz a i n en ccacc . ce a e an . 8 e writt by Bo io Codi L ur i , xxix ; quot d ’ m R . 8 U . lti o ifugio , p 4

1 0 2 D ant e at R av enna

0 s s n hi s w m At length , Mop u , yieldi g to hi ’ n s s sa and s e him For frie d hip ke , I turned pok to

s sa m c s a n In en te, ind thy flo k , nor v i ly heed ” “ n s sa ms ca . Aught el e, I id thy ut o t re they eed

a ma a But M eliboe s persisting in his de nd , D nte and a pours forth his idyll , , declining the invit tion a to Bologn , gives free course to the still cherished and hope of return to his country , there there only ’ m to receive the poet s crown , in ter s which run p arallel with the well - known lines i n the Divin a ’1 mm a Co edi , R ather would I wait m c n an a m a e Till y own ou try gr t triu ph l t , And l aurel wreath for hoary locks prepare ’ ’ c an Lock s whi h erewhile on Arno s b k s were fair.

M elib oeus m and a urges the flight of ti e , sks a mm m T it rus when will th t o ent co e , to which y a a a a nd a a (D nte) replies g in , th t reply indic tes

a h ad a at ex ctly the point which he re ched , ‘ a m m a th t ti e , in the co position of the D ivin ’ Commedi a

Whenmy songs relate an s c c n the a a How pl et ir le rou d he venly g te, Of souls inbliss the sweet estate sh all tell

A s s t in a of tho e lef Purg tory or Hell , Thenshall the b ay and laurel intertwine — T o wnm ws s s are m . cro y bro for, Mop u , they ine

1 xxv . 5 :

Cona a ce ma c ona e ltr vo o i , ltro v llo R ne o P e a ed insul ne itor r o t , fo t ’ D el mi o Battesimo prend eroi l Capp ello . Life and P upil s at Rav enna 1 0 3

s s M elib oeus s see But Mop u , urged , do t not Will not away with words in comedy ? Such commonparlance and su c h trivial sound mn n n ese m w a d t ma . B e the o e , wi h the bou d s and as a anc So doe he write , to C t li hoir ’ Blushes that songs like th ese should e er aspire

s a e s s s ndid e c a m He p k thu , Mop u , the loud x l i , W a can s s c an e or a his am h t power Mop u h g , he l bl e

The allegory which follows of the favoured a solit ry sheep , while the rest of the flock repose a a a under the sh dow of gre t rock , the sheep 1 which is to give milk so abu nd a nt as to fill ma a ten vessels , is interpreted to e n ten c ntos ’ a a as u of the P r diso , yet nknown to the world , while the gre at rock which shelters the rest of the flock is supposed to represent the mount a of Purg tory .

One a e s a n s f vour d heep I h ve, thou k owe t well, So rich i nmilky store th at none cantell

T he a a n ance ma n gre t bu d . While the flock re i ’ ea a n s a n N th the gre t rock upo the heltered pl i , s i nsea c am Or el e r h of food together ro , a t an so a h n Ap r d lit ry s e wa ders home . ’ s s an c m s her n ee No hepherd w d o pel willi g f t , But straightway comes to yield the treasure sweet m r c so ce t en ss s e Fro the i h ur ve el ov rflow , A nd s t o the e Mopsus will my labours sh ow .

1 ‘ T he a n ance i s n en e e ese n the a n an n bu d i t d d to r pr t bu d t, flowi ‘ ’ ‘ g e se the na mme a ca e t he Bucol icum a me n v r of Divi Co di , ll d C r , eca se en i n t he a n e c n as the scan b u writt vulg r to gu , by o tr t with t a h a n p u c ity of t e L ti eclogu es. 1 0 4 D ant e at R av enna

n oa s e Te d thou the g t , for good t eth will they need 1 r a a On the h ard b e d of ch rity to feed . ’ s s s n nea t he S a n oak And thu , till itti g th pre di g , ’ A nd as n s M el ib oeus s e re oni g o er the word pok , ’ ’ san and n ea s a s We g po dered o er ch other l y , ’ a z While in the hut h ard by prepared the mi e .

u The interesting correspondence contin es , for Giovanni del Virgilio h astens to reply fromhis ‘ ’ ‘ ’ n ative cave or grotto in Bologn a to the

a a a him poet , whose l ys h ve been desp tched to fromthe pine forest at Ravenn a

’ T ere w e onmea s s a m a h , her dow w rd of e er ld green T he nse ee s a n s i s s de , d p h dow of the pi e een

n s a as s n ne s i n n a row Pi e th t e ti l lo g, d rk ’ M anthe lone c oast wh ere H adrians breezes blow ’ Soft as the zephyr o er the favoured strand ’ fl owrin m l s scen asan an Where g yrt e t the ple t l d, A nd m a s n sea li pid w ter , hurryi g to the ,

’ O erfl owtheir banks and b id themfertile be ’ s c a s and n a s a e s a In u h pot, e th uch gr t ful h de,

’

E en 0 T it rus s n was ma e . there, y , thy o g d ’ n r s a and m m n e s The Eu u bre thed , o er the ur uri g tr e

h ec eac me n n eeze T e ho r hed , bor e upo the br n t he r c s e s nc and c a A d through o ky t ep, di ti t le r , ’ I t fell as bal samonmy li st ning ear. — ’ T he milk I tast e or was it nec t ar s wine ? For since the goldenage no draught like thine

1 ‘ Come su di sa l e ’ ‘ ane al e c rn e ca e Lo p trui , o duro ll ’ ’ ’ e Lo scend ere e l salir p er 1 altrui scal .

P an . 60 . , xvii 59 ,

I 0 6 D ant e at Rav enna

s who w see a a a n Tho e ould the honoured f ce g i , T o learnthe old and hear thy newest strain m n a Co e, the , I pr y thee s s art mad Mop u , thou ? a s n ma an P ltry thy gift , thy dwelli g e n d b ad . ’1 Canthese with Jolas palace proud compare as who n s his s s c Jol , te d gue t with ourteou s care ’ a a n s a s fl ut t rin wn s And yet g i Hope pre d her g i g , ’ n a e c s s n s Still e th thy f et the qui k de ire pri g . H ast ever seena maid with fond delight ’ a a m c s ns Behold child , wh t ti e the hild kee ight s a a n s Follow bird , the bird the w vi g tree ’ Trees whic h all eager wait the fresh ning breeze ?

Ti t rus 1 i ns c a s Ah , y to thee u h gui e

s i - n n Doth Mop u s turn h s ever lo gi g e yes.

s s hi mnot c m i s sa De pi e , but o e, for it id i ’ Love born of sight by sight s al so made .

a a m a nd I n second eclogue , D nte eets replies

to the poetic effusion of his friend . We re ad M elib oeus first , in the opening lines , of running and p anting with e agerness to bring him the

missive from Giova nni del Virgilio . And then a m m nother friend co es upon the scene , to who am A lfesib eo wa s D ante gives the n e of . He 2 Fiducci o M ilo t t i a i n reality dei , by birth a a at a m a Tusc n of Cert ldo , but th t ti e doctor — of medicine in R avenn a a favourite comp anion a a a a of D nte in his w lks in the Pinet , who w rned hi m a a a a a a and g inst le ving R venn for Bologn , 1 N ame cho senfor Guido Novello . 2 ‘ as a s Fiduci us Note d i nt he marginof t he M S . follows : M gi ter ’ ’ n r a nna d e M ilot tis d e e a M e c s tu e mo ab atur R e . C rt ldo , di u , qui , v ’

U m R . 1 0 . lti o ifugio , p 5 Life and P upil s at R av enna 1 0 7

all a as a who in prob bility , he survived D nte , hi a must h ave attended min his l st hours .

But to return to the eclogue . The hour of

da and m mid - d a the y, this ti e it is the full y

a a he t of the sun , is indic ted in one of those

m- m a m- a m a d escr i se i ythologic l , se i strono ic l p tions which so often recur in the p ages of the ’ a mm a — T i t r us a nd A l hesib aeus D ivin Co edi y p , a and m a t king pity on the flock the selves , h ve fled from the he a t of the town into the out o f and skirts the forest , there

N eath Sh ade of lime and p l ane and ash- tree gray T h e lambs and kid s inmixed confusionlay

A nd T it r us ab a a , y , ove thy ged he d ’ ’ A maple s bough s t heir shelt ring w elcome spread

T h w a m s n s a s s a n y e ry li b doth k otty t ff u t i , mt he a c i n Cut fro pe r whi h the earth had l ain. A l hesib aeus s a e and sm p p k , oothly flow

H i s as nn s as he s lucid re o i g , would how That souls which fromt he stars rec eive their force

’ ’ s s s a s r ni n a c s se . Mu t to tho e t r etur N ture our , etc

a a a all The tr nsl tion is not pursued , bec use ‘ ’ re a ders of the D ivin a Commedi a will be famili ar with the p assages which tre at the s ame at a subj ect , only gre ter length and with more 1 ma stery . But it is interesting to see how a a m strictly D nte dheres to his odel Virgil , for the discussion of the Pl a tonic philosophy by A lp hesib aeus finds a close p arallel i n the

1 ’ . 2 ' I r I v 1 cl e re a . . se . xxv 5 , q . , , q I 0 8 D ant e at R av enna description by Silenus of the formation of the universe and the origin of animals according to the Epicurea n philosophy .

’ san sec s e s a s ame He g the ret e d of N ture fr , H ow seas and a and air and ac am e rth , , tive fl e e the m and in a F ll through ighty void , their f ll ’ n c n a e i s a et . Were bli dly g ther d thi goodly b ll ,

’ ’

R E S Vzr zl as a . D YD N g , P tor l vi

a ma a a u D nte , continuing the i gin ry di logue , p ts these words into the mouth of A lphesib aeus

e man s a ea a a R vered old , do t d re to l ve g in ’ w ma s e s a n The de y e dow of P loru pl i , ’ A nd seek the darkness of the Cycl ops cave ? ’ en a fear st me a w t have ? My fri d, wh t thou for , wh t il m swee mas ' e us s a Oh , y t ter pryth e with t y, Nor heed the voi ce which would thee lure away ’ Climb not the steeps of Etna s shaggy rock s n m s o — n c The fore t y ph f rbid thy lovi g flo k , ’ Sad and ea e mas e s ss a ber ved , th ir t r lo bew il ;

w and s am a sam sad a . H ill, ood , tre repe t the e t le

By Pelorus he indicates the plain round

a a as a a a R venn , by the rocks of Etn the ppro ch to

a and an m a B ologn , y odern tr veller will recognise B without effort the j ustice of the comp arison . ut on account of his gre at love for Mopsus these obj ections would not h ave weighed with himd id a a m he not fe r the gi nt Polyphe us .

1 1 0 D ant e at Rav enna

A nd s an w s a a see di t t ood , lre dy k the fold

T he s a a s a n c e h ggy go t the ble ti g troop pre de . ’ ean a e e s t he fl owr ma M while h rd by , wh re nd y e d, as the wse n s s had a Jol i the lo g di cour e he rd , A nd nse n had n e w there, u e , oted very ord

ac us he s i nmann a n E h word to howed e i g pl i , ’ 1 e s s a a . Which we to th e, O Mop u , tell g in

V arious conj ectures h ave been h azarded as to

a ma who this gi nt is e nt to represent , whether ’ m at a m a a Ro eo de Pepoli , th t ti e Tyr nt of Bologn , ' a nd a a ing Robert the Guelph p rty gener lly , or ’ a a Z a a m a a and cert in eng , conte por ry of D nte , a descend a nt of the Venetico and G hi sol ab ella ‘ a c i animi c i a a C c of the I nferno , e ger to venge the insults of the poet . Whoever it was that the gi ant was intended to a a a person te , D nte thou ght it wiser to bide by the ’ a A lfesib eo and counsel , either re l or feigned , of , to stay at R avenna u nder the protection of his and a kind friend p tron , Guido N ovello , referred to am in the last eclogue under the n e of J olas . True m a u am to his i it tion of Virgil throu gho t, the n e of Jol as was chosen on a ccou nt of the friendship ne between Jolas and ZE as . I t has been thought worth while to a n alyze c arefully the Latin correspondence between and a au Giova nni del Virgilio D nte , bec se those who h ave the p atience to unravel the somewhat stilted cl assica l similitudes which were the 1 n u i I l Canzoni ere di D a t e Alighi eri gg untori l e Eglogh e Latine ’ n e ann d el V e D a e . 1 0 di Giov i irgilio di t Alighi ri , pp 4 , 437 . 2 1 66 . xviii . 4 , Life and P upils at Rav enna 1 1 1 ch aracteristic of the period will find the clue not only to the life and friendship of the poet at

a a a a R venn , but lso to the progress of his gre t a m work . For we g ther fro the correspondence m m a a . a so e very i port nt f cts I n the first pl ce , ‘ ’ that e arly in the ye ar 1 31 9 both the I nferno ’ and a m the Purg torio were not only co pleted , and a at a m but known discussed i n B ologn , th t ti e a and the princip l U niversity of the civilized world , the resort of thous ands of students . ‘ ’ a as a a . I n the second pl ce , to the P r diso More th a n once we find in the Latin eclogues ide as and p ass ages which recall some of the best ‘ ’ a known lines of the P ara diso . We h ve seen a a at all m th t ten c ntos were , events , co pleted , for under the simile of the ‘ ten vessels of milk ’ they were desp atched to Giova nni del Virgilio at a a and a B ologn , received , re d , highly pproved by him a a . There is no ctu l evidence to prove which b ut m a these were , if we co p re the opening of the a a tenth c nto , where the re der is invited to lift his eyes to the celesti al spheres th at he may

S ee howthence oblique ’1 B rancheth c a s the cir le where the pl net roll ,

with the lines in the eclogue ,

Wh enmy songs relate ’ H ow an s c n a n a pl et ircle rou d the he ve ly g te,

1 1 2 - 1 x . 5 V edi come d a i ndi si di rama ’ ’ nehi a t ce c che Pi a e c. L obliquo r hio i port , 1 1 2 D ant e at Rav enna it rather su ggests itself th at the c omposition had a a a nd a a re ched th t point , th t the first ten c ntos ’ of the P ara diso were the portion of the poem despatched to Bologn a . By me ans of the La tin correspondence we h ave gained some a cqu aint a nce with Dino Perini am M elib oeus and Fi uc c i o under the n e of , d dei i i am A l hesib aeus M lot t under the n e of p . But the picture would not be complete without the men tion of three other friends and pupils whose connection with their great M aster c an be traced m a a a a m with a l ost equ l cert inty , lthough their n es

a a t he e cl o ues a do not ppe r in f g , Pietro Gi rdini , n a an M n hino a a d C acc i o . e g M ezz ni , Bern rdo a am a a Pietro Gi rdini , whose f ily d tes b ck to

u ha the beginning of the thirteenth cent ry, d been for some ye ars a not ary in Ravenn a before D a nte c ame to t ake up his soj ourn there . This is proved by a document in the a rchiepiscop al a a M a 1 8 1 1 1 a rchives d ted y , 3 , be ring his sign a

ma a ture . Besides this deed , ny others ttested by himare extant to prove his existence in R avenna m up to the ye ar 1 348 . We ust keep this d ate m a a 1 6 before our inds , bec use in the ye r 34 Boc

a a a a a c ccio p id one of his visits to R venn , nd Pietro dei Gi ardini cl a ims our very speci a l atten tion as the source of the information which Boc

a has a a s m c ccio collected concerning D nte , fro the living friend who had seen and held const ant converse with the poet . Fromthe s ame source must h ave been derived

I I 4 D ant e at Rav enna as a a as M en hin pupil of D nte i n poetry , g o a m m Mezz ni the rhy ester , he is ore interesting to

. a ma a us N ot equ l to Guido N ovello in i gin tion , a a gr ce , or power of diction , his verses rel ting to the actu al events of the period h ave gre at v alue a froma historic l point of view . Thrown into a a m prison , fter the b nish ent of Guido N ovello , by a d a a m Bern rdino Polent , his verses written fro his c aptivity to his friend Antonio d a Ferr ara give a da a piteous ccount of his sufferings . Antonio a a a m him and Ferr r , on his p rt , co forts , holds out a prospect of escape in a sonnet dedicated to ‘ Hope ’

n a a s r My frie d, I will thou don th t f ire t obe ’ ws ma e Of Hope, who thro her ntl o er our globe t not n sa war ' For if thou wil , the I y, Be e m a ' nowthat without it ort l life lies bare . T he s ac man n she not s a ol e of ki d , did t y When Faith and Charity had fled away ?

H er S s s ma w n ss i ter , de by icked e to fly n k r m a s s . F o cruel e rth , to eek the ki der y

w s s w s Ah , who ould ojourn in thi orld of our , ’ But for the comfort of her succ ring powers Fal se dost thou call her ? Vainthe promised dream — Strike off the promise how does life then seem? nc c anc as ns a a a e am. Re o hould b l e h e, then t k the bl e ’ n : ? T o a d b e s ame . Deceived her, not to Hope, h

The reply of M ezz ani has only been preserved m in a fragmentary form. B ut it appe ars fro two a preceding sonnets (I I I , I V . ) th t their hope Life and Pupil s at Rav enna was a a centred , ccordin g to the Ghibelline pr ctice a ma and of the period , upon Ger n deliverer , in ‘ ’ a was a am so doin g their re son cert inly to bl e , for it was a v a in illusion to expect a nything from a th at qu arter . I t is evident th t the famous ’ a ppe al of their master to Germa n Albert was mm a fresh in their re e br nce , for it is reproduced word for word in the sonnets which vituperate ’ a m a a his successor , Ch rles of Luxe bourg, in C es r s seat . a u m B ut , like his predecessors , Ch rles of L xe a a bourg, l den with the spoils of It ly , returned ’ ma m as a a to Ger ny , ore intent , the histori n s ys , upon robbing It aly of her money than upon ’ 1 a and M en hino a he ling her divisions ; g Mezz ni ,

a hi m was co m like D nte before , obliged to seek

i n hO e a m as fort the p th t so e unknown deliverer , ’ am a personified by the f ous Veltro , would rise one who

Will not life support

a nor i t s ase m a s o e By e rth, b et l , but by l v , s man e I nhi s m Wi do d virtu . ight ’ ’ a a n a Sh ll safety to Italia s pl i s rise . n I . . 1 0 1 R Tr a m. f , i , CA Y,

was a 1 0 at a It not till the ye r 35 , the de th of

a d a a a a Bern rdino Polent , th t Mezz ni obt ained

a and a his rele se , during this c ptivity , which

a ma a had a co rres l sted ny ye rs , he nother p o n d o f m a a a ent no less i port nce th n Petr rch , whose

1 ‘ ’ M r A u . n n. (P a a . 2 1 2 2 , It li , viii , 9 , 9 I I 6 D ant e at R av enna

’ f him a and M ezzani s sonnet , of erin g consol tion ,

a m a reply , h ve been preserved in the conte por ry a a a M SS . I t is lso supposed th t the llusion is him a intended for when Petr rch , in his letter to

a Bocc ccio , refers to

‘ at sa e o f a enna n m n th old g R v who, bei g fully co pete t

ec in s c ma e s ass ns ace to d ide u h tt r , ig to thee the third pl ’1 i nour literature .

The first pl ace had evidently been a ssigned n a a d a . a to D nte , the second to Petr rch Th t he Opinion of M ezza ni was held i n high esteem a a m m a a ppe rs fro the testi ony of Coluccio S lut ti , a a S a who , in letter to friend , pe ks of M ezzani ‘ a s known to h ave been the friend and c o m ’ 2 p a nion of D ante .

m a m a a This testi ony is of gre t i port nce , bec use not only does it come from a contemporary

d m a source , supporte by docu ent ry evidence , but there is a ctu ally now ext ant in the Bibliotheque 3 N ation ale a t P a ris a letter fromC oluccio S alutati a a as E l to Mezz ni , ddressed follows o quent i s m m M e n hino a si i viro do ino g Mez no , civi R aven ’ a am a m n ti , ico ignoto c rissi o . The word ignoto shows th at they had never a a h known e ch other person lly , nor ad they corre s o nd e d p before this letter, which describes itself as the first writin g which had p assed between

1 ’ n. P a a e . S e . e c . i . . 2 2 8 L tt di F tr r , vol , pp 74 , 3. 2 8 . l t . 2 1 U . p 2 M S . Lat . 8 2 . 2 2 6 e in he t Ul t . 2 2 57 , pp 5 , ; quot d p . 3 .

1 1 8 D ant e at Ravenna

mzz camn si a an Nel e o del i , trov D te Smarrito fuor di v ia per selva oscura ’ E l ms fi r t e a e e s a s a an . br o e t r e v ti, etc ’ ’ A end x t t R . 1 . i o Ul . z pp f , p

Yet as a a an m a , liter ry curiosity d conte por ry

a a . work , it is cert inly worthy of ttention But the interest which surrounds Mezzani as a friend and compa nion of D ante culmin ates in the a a C anac ci sonnet ddressed to B ern rdo , in which he pours forth eulogies a nd th anks for the epitaph in honour of his dear ma ster :

n at as s r a Thi e, then, l t the piou t ibute l id , ’ ss rna at an s e Me er Be rdo, our D te fe t, ea e him a s n n s a ma D r r to bec u e o e el e h ve de,

all his s an ff n me . Of other friend , o eri g et

‘ I n ea n am sa ns winhi s a s h ve , id the i t , you pr i e, ’ A nd mn e s inaffl i ct i ons i e, who p ri h fire c a nor e e nor ce a e a se Su h th t y voi I d r to r i ,

Nor can I serve you as I would desire .

a s all an s s Th t which the lowlie t of D ti t , I , M a not est n a s and am y b ow of ho our, pr i e f e ,

as a a mn s Ab hed, I le ve to gre ter i d to try

How they may cel e brate hi s noble name .

‘ a nam canne Through thy device th t e ver die,

ness n s s a e U l , i deed, fir t die thi iron g — B ehold thy marble th ere where every eye

Canread the lines fromoff the solid page . Honour thu s paid unto the senseless clay ’ Of thy great love in life sh all fitly say. Life and Pupil s at Rav enna I 1 9

To which Bern ardo replied

P allas the beautiful to thee hi s eye T h a ns w as n ea y troubled vot ry tur ith g pi g br th , A nd as as di scomfiture a s , the l t dr w nigh , Through thee more constant meets the approac h of

death .

‘ A n a r en se an hi s d so St . L w ce, rv t of God, c ont he a nall a en la Stret hed bed of p i p ti t y,

A nd firmas c a s ro k the p th of orrow trod,

cas i n a hi s na a . Nor t, cow rdice, crow w y

e sa ms e So f lt the P l i t , who in bitter gri f Prostrate o nearth did mournthe livelong night

T he s m me s e e who as and e o eti h ph rd , wolf thi f

St o le B ath sh eba fromhimwho fell infight .

‘ we ss acc o n i n s c - se So of le u t, u h like gui , Cansteadfast stand beneath t he storms of fat e n end won o r s se U til the be , purpo e wi

Complete for those who thu s canpatient wait . A nd so i n ar mem anc a s , de re br e of thy pr i e, ’

e s s a s . I would revive thy hop , thy pirit r i e

Fromthese two sonnets we can settle app ro xi ’ ‘ mately the d ate of Bernardo C anacci s Epitaph ’ a and a a a 1 0 on D nte , pl ce it bout the ye r 35 , a m S which , looking b ck fro our ide of the five a a a m hundred ye rs which h ve el psed , see s to bring it sufficiently ne ar to the de ath of the poet to i nvest it with a very si gnific a nt interest . B ut by the surviving contemporaries and friends some such tribute to his memory must h ave been ’ a a nd a a mM ezzani e gerly expected , this ppe rs fro s

a m. sonnet , long before it c e 1 2 0 D ant e at R av enna

a The concluding lines of th t sonnet , which refer ’ to the gre at love in life entert a ined by Bern a rdo C anacc i a a a for D nte , est blish with cert inty the fact of their close a nd intimate friendship . But there are no other fa cts concerning Bern ardo which ca n be looked upon as equ ally cert a in .

ma him a Out of ny theories respecting , the prob b ilit i es seemto lie i n favour of his h aving belonged to a Bolognese family which h ad mi gra ted to

a a and a wa s ma R venn , th t he one of the ny rhymesters of the Romagn a ca lled upon by Guido Novello to compete for the honour of composing ’ D a a a was c om nte s epit ph . Th t he the successful a a a and c o nclud petitor we h ve lre dy seen , in the a a v ing ch pter the epit ph will be gi en , with further a a det ils connected with it . Upon th t tribute to the memory of his M aster a nd friend may justly rest the cl aimof Bern ardo C anacc i to the notice of posterity. Such were some of the princip al ch aracters in th at remark able group of friends who surrounded a at a a s m at hiz D nte during his residence R venn , y p him a n i ng with in the ye r ings of his exile , cheerin g

and a a his solitude , e gerly w tching the progress of

a a a his gre t work , with , prob bly , little thought th t their a ssoci ation with hi m would confer upon

ma a mm a the sh re in the i ort lity of his fame . Yet in th at way only c anwe account for the det a ils of their person ality which it has been possible to m and a a a m rescue fro oblivion , fter l pse of ore

a u . th n five cent ries , to reinvest with life

C H APTE R V .

CLO S ING YEAR S OF T H E L IFE OF DAN T E A T

RAV ENNA .

'u ando mi vidi giunto i nqu ella p arte mi a et a e c asc n e e Di , dov i u dovr bb ’ Cal ar l e vel e e raccogl i er l e sarte . - 80 . I n xxvn. 8 f . , 7

the l ast ch apter we h ave g a ined some i m pression of the life at Ravenn a contempo a a a nd r ry with D nte , of his own work in the m a m idst of it , which Bocc ccio su s up in one of his graceful p aragraphs

an n n a e a na a n s all D te the i h bit d R ven (h vi g lo t hope , not es n nc s m though the d ire, to retur to Flore e) for o e ea s n e c n a n and n n y r , u d r the prote tio of ki d be evole t a n and t e hi s ec es b e nst c man p tro , her by l tur i ru ted y s ns i n art oe and es c a in a tude t the of p try, pe i lly th t of

a n e n i n m n n as mc the vulg r to gu ; bei g, y opi io , u h the first amohg the Italians to place t he language i n a o e s n and a a as me pr p r po itio , to give it due v lue, Ho r was among t he Greek s or Virgil among the Romans . hima ma a e een c ns as a Before , lthough it y h v b re og i ed

an a no o ne had e t he s the c a e l gu ge , ither de ire or our g t o ma e ns mena i n c m s n sa at in k it i tru t l o po itio , ve th 1 2 4 D ant e at Rav e nna ballads of love and su ch - like light matters it was some ms s n . e a d e f c a r a ti e u ed But he prov d, fe tu lly p oved, th t i t migh t b e employed wh entreating of the highest sub ect s and t s a ar on e and ma j , hu ex lted our vulg t gu , de it m n ’ 1 ore glorious thanthat of a y o ther nation.

Althou gh it is obvious th a t we must not seek for a ny reference to the living contemporaries of D a nte at R avenn a in the p ages of the D ivin a ’ mm a m a a a Co edi , ore th n one p ss ge proves how deeply his mind was imbued with the p ast tradi m m tions of the city , fro the ti es of J ulius C aes ar and the Emperors down to the gre at families of T rav e r sar i a nd A nast a i the the g , over whose and recent extinction he deeply grieves, the out lines o f whose tombs must h ave been as famili ar hi ‘ — to m a s to us . Where such is the ex cl amation he puts into the mouth of G uido del Duca

i s z ? a na Where good Li io where Arrigo M i rdi , 2 Pier T raversaro and Guido di Carpigna a am dding , in the s e speech

a not scan see me M rvel , Tu , if thou weep

n - n Wh enI recall those o ce loved ames.

’ ’ With T raversaro s house and A nastagio s (Each race

P ur . 1 0 8 g , xiv . .

1 ‘ ’ n 2 . cc acc a a e . Bo io , Vit di D t , p 7 2 P e d e T raversari a Pod est ii i nR a enna i n 1 1 was a e i tro , v 7 7 , v ry R avennes s H e e e e h i s grea t ch aract er in early e hi tory . d liv r d

1 2 6 D ant e at Ravenna

a a interesting . Once on the co st , it now st nds in m a a ma a m the idst of green c p gn , fro which the n m sea has receded . The curious a d rather clu sy c amp a nile rises fromthe qu adrangul ar b ase of the old Roma n lighthouse of the port whence the church derives its n ame . The rema ins of the fou nder still rest in the ancient marble s a rcoph agus under a narchway on a a a the left h nd of the n ve , dorned with the figures a nd of our S aviour the Apostles in rude relief. Pietro Peccatore must not be confounded with ama a Rav ennese a Pier D i no , nother s int , born i n at a a 1 0 2 and 1 0 0 7 , who died F enz in 7 , whose life and works are too well known to be rec apitulated a a u him here . Only it is curiou s th t D nte sho ld self h ave foreseen the confusion which has arisen a and between the two s ints , which he tried to

forest all . Pier D ami ano is made by D ante to describe the Monte C at r i a and the mon astery of Fonte Avel m a l an a . This on stery is still to be fou nd nestling u nder the side of the mount ain in the midst of the oak gl ades watered by ever - fl owing springs of m a li pid cle rness , still served by the Benedictine a monks i n their white h bit , though only three represent the brotherhood which once peopled the

now S ilent and deserted cells . Still the room which D ante occupied rema ins as it was then ; and through the s ame window may be seen the a a a ri a rolling green sw rds of the b se of the C t , ma a th at gi ant of the Apennines , which y well h ve C l osing Years of t he Life of D ant e 1 2 7 suggested to himthe description of the met a phor i c al Mount of Consol ation

a a a le sue s a Gu rd i in lto, e vidi p lle ’ Vestite gia de raggi del pianeta ’ Che mena dritto altrui per ogni calle .

n 1 6 . I . f . , i

’ l ook d a and saw hi s s s a I loft, houlder bro d ’ Al ready vested with that planet s beam ’ Whic h leads all wanderers safe through every way.

And in the Purg atorio we find the actual m a am and ount in n ed , the convent described

Twixt either shore

a s an m a Of It ly, nor di t t fro thy l nd, A stony ridge ariseth in suc h sort i T he thunder doth not lift h s voice so high . They call it C at ria : at whose foot a cell I s sacred to the lonely eremite

s set a a and s . For wor hip p rt , holy rite There ’ s s a e So firmly to God ervice I dh red , a no s a s a Th t, with co tlier vi nd th n the juice s as ass a s Of olive , e ily I p ed the he t mm an wn s s Of su er d the i ter fro t , content n s c we ns I nheavenward musi g . Ri h re the retur A nd w c a s c was s fertile, hi h th t cloi ter on e u ed ’ T o render to these h eavens now tis fallen I nto a waste so empty th at ere long i an D etectionmu st lay bare ts v ity . ’ Pietro D amiano th ere was I yclept . n t P a . e se , xxi 9 4, q. I 2 8 D ant e at Ravenna

’ far a a a a So C ry s tr nsl tion is ex ct , but when he sa goes on to y,

Pietro the sinner whenbefore I dwelt s a i n s Be ide the Adri tic, the hou e ’ s a Of our ble t L dy, he makes the very confusion which D ante had tried to anticip ate by introducing the person al pronoun The origin al runs thus

’ I nquel loci fu i o Pier Dami ano E Pietro P eccatore fu nella casa ’ s a a sul a Di no tr Donn in lido Adri no, which should be rendered

aman was Pietro D i o there I yclept . Peter the sinner was the one who dwelt

s at c in s Be ide the Adri i , the hou e ’ Of our blest Lady .

There is one conclusive proof th at Pietro D ami a no could never h ave dwelt in the mon astery ’ ‘ a a a m a beside the Adri tic , bec use th t on stery was founded twenty - four ye ars a fter his death

by Pietro Peccatore degli Onesti . No one could a a a a a be better w re of this f ct th n D nte , who when at R avenn a was the contemporary of S an

a m a Ra in ldo , the estee ed histori n of the Church 1 had a which he governed for twenty ye rs . at a m ma M oreover , there were th t ti e ny living

a am m descend nts of the f ily of the Onesti , to who

1 ' V zde a nte.

1 30 D ant e at R avenna

him his own , provided for by Guido N ovello, the a u has u site of which , lthough conj ect re been b sy has with suggestions , not yet been identified with cert ainty .

It is time now to S pe ak of his family . By ma a 1 2 2 a a a his rri ge in 9 , two ye rs fter the de th

a mma a a of Be trice , with Ge dei Don ti , the l dy at m a a a a the window , whose co p ssion te gl nce p 1 h a a ad . pe led to his broken he rt , he six children O f these Alighiero and Eliseo died of the pl ague m a a he i n childhood . I peri , the eldest d u ghter , came the wife of Ta no di B enci venni Pa ntaleoni ma — the re ining three children two sons , Pietro and a and a a — a J copo , one d u ghter, Be trice sh red ’ 2 their father s exile . To Pietro we h ave alre ady had a a a a occ sion to refer , bec use cert i n d tes con nect ed a a b enefic es S an with the two ecclesi stic l , 2 m and S t a . a a Zenzani ola Si one di M uro M ri di g , a a are a m which he held in R venn , of gre t i port a nce in fixing the d ate of the arriva l of D a nte in was a a the city . Pietro l wyer of considerable a and a b e reput tion fortune in Veron , where a m a f filled sever l i port nt o fices of the State .

a m a Thence he c e to j oin his f ther in Ravenn a . The b e nefic es which he held there did not a an m a a involve in his c se , y ore th n in th t of

1 ’ a a 1 Vit Nuov , xxxv ’ e a a i nl i S i cche tutta pi t d e p re e raccolta. 2 ’ D ane e i l suo Sec . 68 . t olo , p 2 S an S mne M eca se l on the a the c i o di uro , b u bui t w ll of ity ;

M a a Zenza ni ola mthe name the s ree c e s s. Sta . ri di g , fro of t t whi h xi t to thi s day. Cl osing Years of t he Life o f D ant e 1 31

a a a a J copo , who held c nonry in the p rish of

at a a S . Giorgio Veron , the necessity of t king

Holy Orders .

a J copo , the elder of the two brothers , who ’ h ad sh ared to a cert a in extent his father s

a a was politic l c reer in Florence , included in the d ecr e e o f m 6 1 1 . N ove ber , 3 5 , which renewed for m a m and the fourth ti e the sentence of b nish ent ,

a a f a being lso included in the p rdon , o fered two ye rs a a l ter to the illustrious exile , he sh red in his indign a nt refus al to return to Florence on the him terms offered to .

as m a It w the custo in Florence , on the fe st d a a a S an a a y of the p tron s int ( G iov nni) , to p rdon a m m a m few of the conde ned cri in ls , offering the , a a a a so to spe k , before the lt r of the s int , lighted a a and m a t per in h nd , re itting the sentence to

a a 1 1 wa s a fine . I n th t ye r, 3 7 , it decreed , prob bly m a a f m for the first ti e , th t politic l of enders ight a m am and be d itted to th e s e privilege, the offer h was made to D ante . H is reply as been fort u ma a nd a tely preserved to us , wh tever doubts may h ave been c a st upon the a uthenticity of m as so e of his letters , to this one both extern a l and a a intern l evidence decl re it to be his own .

’ I s s as s w a sc r thi , he k ith o n worthy of the epithet ’ ma e n sa c c on s n ms hi s Al Sd g o , whi h he fer upo hi elf in 1 poem i s this the triumphant recall of D ante Alighieri to h is country after nearly fifteen years of unmerited

1 viii . 44 . 1 32 D ant e at R av enna e ? I s s e a an nnoc nce a n t o all xile thi the r w rd of i e p te t , w ma c o n n e a and s hoever they y be, of ti u d l bour tudy in the sweat of t he brow ? B e far froma manconversant with philosophy the mere thought of a baseness proper 1 n a a c a Gi ol o and his o ly to the he rt of hurl , th t he, like c man ns r n n s as s m s o p io of evil e ow , hould be o e pri oner n ransomed fromju st co demnation. ‘ Be it far froma manwho has once held the scales s ce a he n a s a the fine of ju ti , th t , the i jured p rty , hould p y

hi s n s as s e . to i jurer , to tho e ntitled to receive it n s wa m c 0 Not i thi y will I return to y ountry ; but if, 2 m a e s a e wa y f ther, through the , or through other , noth r y could be found which will compromise neither the honour

the ame an in a wa w at n set nor f of D te, th t y I ill o ce

i f cann re - n c an myself. For I ot e ter Floren e by honour

- a a not t e n at all . s ble p th , I will e ter it And for ooth in a c ne the ma find ms can wh tever or r of world I y y elf, I not behold the sunand the stars ? Can I not beneath any portionof the c anopy of h eaven meditate upon the s s s Fa b ness ma e ms a man highe t, weete t , u l I k y elf of no r n n not n one s n inthe ac e ow , if , i deed , di ho oured f e of and the c nc ? amconfi the people ity of Flore e Nor, I n ’3 n s a wa ea . de t, h ll I ever t for br d

The rest of the letter is lost but the frag m a a ent cited , copied in Bocc ccio s h ndwriting, a a a a and is to be seen in the L urenzi n Libr ry ,

1 P a s me e - n nc mna the m rob bly o w ll k ow ri i l of ti e. 2 n n r en m The Flore ti e f i d to who thi s l e tter was addressed i s s se a a e een Fra M c ne the P the uppo d by B lbo to h v b ori o , rior of n n M onast ery of Fo t e Avell a a ; but th ere are also oth er th eories ’

ne . . es ec n V a D a . r p ti g it it di t , vol ii , p ‘ ’ ’ 2 mc en n s a x. a O e M n e e . Epi tol , All i o Fior ti o , p r i or , vol iii . , 0 1 p . 5 .

I 34 D ante at R av enna

B ut the entire reticence on the p art of D ante himself respecting his family rel ationships is an a a was ma ccepted f ct . There no exception de , a nd there is no ground for supposing th at the vituperation which Bocca ccio has heaped upon mma a a . Ge , his wife , origin ted with D nte She may or may not h ave been the Xa ntippe depicted a a by the pr ctised h nd of th at prince of n arr ators . N o word upon the subj ect fell fromthe lips of

D ante himself. a a On the other h nd , there is no word of pr ise , or even any mention of her after she beca me his a an wife , no llusion to her in y of his writings , a nd a he a it is cert in th at S did not sh re his exile . a all This bsolute silence , this proud reserve , shows the more strongly by contrast with the outpouring am a of the stre of his strong ffection , the expres sion of every tender thought the human he art is

a a a a c p ble of, with reference to Be trice , devotion

far m a m which , fro bein g we kened , see ed only

a a a and to g in strength with the l pse of ye rs , which finds expression in the l atest utterances n au of his poetic ge ius . H is youngest d ghter

am a nd was w a at bore her n e , ith her f ther

R avenn a . It is not surprisin g th at this fact should h ave

m art a m m suggested to odern ost inspiring the e , and th at it should h ave commanded the utmost and a ma skill of poet , novelist dr tist in clothing it with all the grace and pathos ima gin able . B ut at m a has a present , till ore rese rch c st further light Cl osing Years of t he Life o f D ant e I 35 m upon the subj ect , we ust be content with the fa ct th at her presence at Ravenn a is proved by the circumst ance of her entering the C onvent of S an ’ a a a a a nd Stef no degli Ulivi fter her f ther s de th , th at there Bocca ccio found her when he brou ght

1 fl orins her, in 35 3, the pension of ten gold , a a a whereby Florence , too l te , ende voured to rep ir n a irreparable act of inj ustice . The archives of Or S an M ichele still preserve the following entry

‘ ' 1 . h 0 . . B occ aci o fiorini c S . , 35 A M G v . d ept io di . ic i ’ d oro perche gli desse a Suora Beatrice figluola di

an e naca nel ns a D te Alighi ri, Mo Mo i tero di S . Stef no ’ nn ’1 dell Uliva di Rave a .

To this visit of Boccaccio to R avenn a we owe ’ m the sketch of D ante s life . It for s the prefix to the fa mous comment ary delivered first of all in m was a the for of lectures , when he ppointed by the Government of Florence the first public ex ’ a mm a ponent of the D ivin Co edi , in the Church

n a 1 S a at . of Stef no Florence , in 37 3 But to return was as S . to the ketch of the life I t , he tells us in

a a s a a m his pref ce , intended slight ends to the mm a and a e ory of D nte for his exile , the l ck of a ny monument i n Florence . He wished to supply with hi s poor faculty of writing the honours which the commonwe alth had refused to the noblest of

her sons .

1 ‘ l t . 2 1 . U p . 4 I 36 D ant e at Ravenna

ms sam c a And therefore, being y elf of the e ity, lthough mycitizenship i s but the smallest frac tionwh enset by the

e a n and an e sid of the l rge obility virtue of D te Alighi ri , yet as each fellow - citizen i s under a solemn obligation a his a am and a c c to celebr te gre t f e, th t whi h the ity

a n ma n ce n not a n een ne ought to h ve do e g ifi tly h vi g b do ,

nw n a the as m I , though u orthy to u dert ke t k , will with y a n ea t o not n e a s a e poor bility e d vour do, , i d ed, with t tu a s se c ne e b e in m or gorgeou pul hre, for ith r would y m en all n a t ma power, but with y p , u equ l hough it y be to s c a m i n e a i t ma not sa amn u h the e, ord r th t y be id o g strange countries th at our nationi s unworthy of such a A n i h n n m e . d r nt e e a s po t I will w ite Flore ti idio , bec u e it will agree with that whic h b e employed in the greater

a his w s n s c hi s m s a him p rt of ork , thi g whi h ode ty forb de

s a a i s sa hi s his to pe k of th t to y, the nobility of birth, s s and a s a n one life, tudie , h bit , g theri g together in the w s hi s m s n w he has ms ork of co po itio , the hich hi elf made so c lear to post erity that perh aps my exposition w s a to sc an c a e em ill erve r ther ob ure th elu id t th further . a s i s m s m n n n e n con Not th t uch y wi h or y i te tio , b i g n a in s as n s b the te t to bide thi , in other thi g , y judg men s s anms and e t of tho e wi er th y elf, to be corr cted by m’ the .

P assing by th at portion of the sketch which rel ates to the e arly life and c areer of its gre at u a a a s bject , we will turn to those person l ch r cter i st i cs which must h ave been derived fromPiero

a was a di Gi rdini , who still living when Bocc ccio 1 a rrived in Ravenn a .

1 'd V z e a nte 1 1 2 . , p .

D ant e at Rav e nna

ee ness i n c ce o n and gr di the hoi either of fo d or dri k ; , a he a c a e ca a e he lthough ppre i t d deli te f r , lived for the ms a onc mmnand na a amn o t p rt o o ordi ry food , gre tly bl i g those who made luxuriou s food and i t s spec ial preparation e s e a n a s c e not eat th ir tudy , d cl ri g th t u h p ople did to n s a eat . 0 one was m an live , but lived , i te d , to N ore vigil t i n s a n no a ne s c n n tudy, llowi g other c re or i t re t to o te d so mc so as ca s hi s w and with it , u h to u e grief to ife

am e ecam a s m hi s a s f ily befor they b e ccu to ed to h bit , m s m wh en th ey accepted i t as a atter of course. He eldo s ness ec a ss and n s a poke, u l dir tly ddre ed, whe he did pe k it was with a voice and manner e x ac tly measured and a a e t he ma e i n an a n as n d pt d to tt r h d , lthough whe the occ io e e hi s e ence was c and a n an en r quir d loqu ri h bu d t, flu t

a s and a e s n n nc a n. l o , with c r ful di ti ct e u i tio I nhis youth he took great delight insongs and melo es and a ac e mse an ne had ma di , tt h d hi lf to yo who de 1 himself famou s as a rhymester or minstrel ; and the result o f this d elight showed it self in compositions a a m c so a an e hi s d pted for elody , whi h were rr g d by

ns e n s m c was n n mi tr l frie d . How u h he i flue ced by t he en ass n e has a a e nc a s n t der p io of lov lre dy b e le rly how , and i t i s universally believed th at this passionwas the mainincentive to hi s becoming first of all a rhymeste r in t he a n and n e s vulg r to gue , the , urg d by the de ire to give solemnity to t he declarationof hi s passion and to gain s s n am he e n ec ms i n ub eque t f e , dilig tly perf ted hi elf the use of it till h e had not only outstripped all his con

em ar es b ut so ea m and t por i , he gr tly i proved developed it that many at the time and many since h ave desired H e and succeede d i nbecoming experts in i t . preferred

b e a n and a s a in r e a hi s to lo e to live olit ry life, o d r th t 1 ase a . 1 . C ll , ii 9 Cl o sing Years o f t he Life of D ant e 1 39 contemplati ons might be unint errupt e d ; and if some

s en s c hi m e n at a me in thought udd ly tru k , he b i g th t ti t he c man s ma n s e and o p y of other , he would re i il nt a s ac no ma a es on was ut him b tr ted, tter wh t qu ti p to or

a se a n ma n had e c nc e wh t ob rv tio de , u til he ither o lud d hi s meditation or di smissed it from hi s mind ; this would oftenh appeneither whenat tabl e or whenwalking hi s c man ns and e s a an with o p io , th y de ired to t ke other

m n ass wa . H i s s es s n y tudi he pur ued with u re itti g iduity, and no newoccurrence was ever allowed to alter or di s h sa s pl ace t e time all otted to th em. It i s id by tho e rt c e e nce at e n one da i n enna i n wo hy of r d , th b i g y Si ,

n the an a o eca and a o a n fro t of booth of p th ry , b ok h vi g been brought to himwhic h had for a l o ng time been — promised to him a book muc h though t of by the learned men m ne e a n een seen him of the ti e, but v r h vi g b by and having by c h ance no place where he could take it a a st o t he nc s w y to udy it, there up n be h out ide the e e he s ace ms booth wh r tood , he pl d hi elf, with the book

him and e an ea i t s c a a before , b g to r d with u h vidity th t, alth ough on account of a general feast- day in Sienna there was a j ou st and t ournament going o n before hi s e s acco mane t he c as a ns and a m ye , p i d with l h of we po r our, t he so n a s ms ca ns mens and t he s s u d of v riou u i l i tru t , hout — of t he people to say no thing of the accompaniments of t he eas s c as an n ea mn and f t , u h the d ci g of b utiful wo e , deed s of prowess and skill o nthe part of t he young men — he was never seent o stir or to lift hi s eyes once from t he o and a n ace mse t e at n nes was b ok ; h vi g pl d hi lf h re o , it no t a e es e s a a n ea t he o o till ft r v p r th t, h vi g r d bo k thr ugh , and a n ma e mse o o u mas e o f h vi g d hi lf th r ghly t r it , he

o mhi n h wh a r se fro s seat . Onbei g ask ed o e c ould refr in

o m oo n at t he a s ec ac e in n o f him re fr l ki g g y p t l fro t , he D ant e at R av enna

a had not en n a a and so plied th t he be eve w re of it, to the first w onder was added a second for hi s questioners n to ruminate upo . ‘ H e was mo e a ma s n s , r over, poet of rvellou ge iu , of s n mem a nd en ne ec — So mc so a ou d ory , ke i t ll t u h th t ni n ar s ass s n at a sc ss on whe P i , i ti g di u i , De quolibet, a subj ec t at th at time mu c h debat ed i n th e sch ool s of

o o o een es ns e e t o hi m the l gy, f urt qu tio w r put by different men o f a a nn n e en ns gre t le r i g upo diff r t poi t , with the a mens fo r and a a ns o n e e s h e rgu t g i t ith r ide , , without ’ a mmen s es a n a e e e m e an i n o t h it tio , g th r d th tog ther, d ,

e o as t e had ee ut him e e th ir rder h y b n p to , r pli d to

mo ne one i nt he same e mc s e the by ord r, with u h ubtl ty meeting and confuting the arguments on the contrary s t he c n was e as a m a ide, whi h thi g look d upon ir cle by the bystanders. ‘ T o the loftiness of his th ought and the subtle ty of hi s n nt e ac hi s own o ks a e an m i ve iv f ulty w r , r th r th y

s ea s c en s mo n . H e on e n word , b r uffi i t te ti y l g d for ho our and am e a s mo e anwas a o e c ns s en f e , p rh p r th lt geth r o i t t i n t he no i h s c a ac e . o r with b lity of h r t r But, the othe

an a s i s e so a e m e as h d , wh t pirit th re ltogeth r hu bl to be

ns ns e t he a emn s ame ? A nd was i e ibl to llur e t of f it , I

e o nacco n s on n a h e e e t he believ , u t of thi l gi g th t pref rr d s o f e e c n a as o s was s e tudy po try, p r eivi g th t phil ophy up rior

all o e s s i ts c nc c n n to th r tudie , ex elle e ould o ly be u der s o and a e e e s a a i n to d by the few , th t th r xi ted lre dy the world many famous philosoph ers ; whereas i n the case of poetry it was easy to all t o understand and d elight f w n f n in e t o s e a d ar et ee . it , y of p et they were b w

e e o n b mans o a a t he Th refor , h pi g y e of p etry to tt in to almost obsolet e and distingui shed honour of the laurel c n he a ms u s and com row , g ve hi elf p both to the tudy

1 4 2 D ant e at Rav enna

’ a a a D nte , in one d y s j ourney , p ssed through was a a nd Lu go , where he che ted given short ma a m a e sure by ercer ; throu gh Fusign no , where he was made to p ay a n unj ust t ax ; through

a a a a was B gn c v llo , where he insulted by the a a people . Rec pitul ting in his evening orisons a d a a a the three outr ges of the y, he is s id to h ve excl aimed

s a a c a s a Fusi nani et ab nam e A t ter Lu i, ju titi g i f i pl be ’ l lli a nos mn B a neocab a liber Do i e. m s a a the Lu hese r m n s c Fro the t nd rd of g , f o the i ju ti e Fusi nanese and mt he ns s men of the g , fro i ult of the of ’

a na a a us 0 . B g c v llo, deliver , Lord

The tr adition remains a mong the people of

a a a an a an B agn c v llo to such extent th t , when y one emb arks i n a se arch for hidden trea sures or

are a a a ntiquities , they derided for se rching fter ’ ’ a a ss a ma the bones of D nte s . The poor ni l

a d a was - a which c arried the poet th t y so ill tre ted ,

ma a u while its ster , the Ghibelline p ssing thro gh was a Guelph territory , insulted , th t it died shortly

a and was at a a a a . afterw rds , buried B gn c v llo

a m a a has A second necdote is i port nt , bec use it a a a reference to wh t is c lled the Credo of D nte , m m which , a lthough pronounced by odern criticis a has t to be apocryph l , hi herto been printed with a a a the minor works of D nte . I t w s origin lly a published in the fifteenth century in L tin , in the m S and a a a a odern pelling , tr nsl ted into It li n by Cl osing Years o f t he Life o f D ant e 1 4 3

1 a a a 'u drio . Confronted g in with the origin al 2 M S . a by Rigoli , who discovered corrobor tion in no less th a n twelve origi n al M SS . of the fourteenth ’ a nd a a a centu ry , cquired terzin in this process , 3 h ad which never been printed before , the Credo was pla ced by himat the he a d of a collection of ‘ rhymes by v arious gre at writers, with the follow ing introduction

It would not be possibl e to open our collection with n n a m e s s nam. a e s a s s or illu triou e D t t d fir t, both on account of hi s fame and becau se of the c hronologi cal order whic h we propose to adopt in the disposition of W i our material . e therefore start with h s Professionof ” ’ a c na ns s es the E x osi F ith , which o t i the Apo tl Creed, p n ac amen and ca n m a tio of the S r t , the De logue, the e u er ’ n ea s ns the a a as s tio of the d dly i , P r phr e of the Lord ” ’ 5 in z m a and a a a a. Pr yer, the Ave M ri ter ri

as a ma has Althou gh , tter of poetry , it no

a a m a extr ordin ry erit , yet on ccount of the terse and pellucid exposition of the fa ith a s D ante a a believed it , showing ex ctly wh t his tenets were 6 a a even with respect to the observ nce of Sund y , it

1 ‘ ’ S a e R a ne n e e a a a s an a Author of tori gio di Og i L tt r tur , t d rd wo rk . 2 e la Ri r i ana Codice d l cca d . 2 ’ ’ n e t . as e e e c . M ol di q u ll t r o , , xxvi ’ a R me s n S g gio di i di diver i buo i Autori . 5 ’ I l anz ne re D ane e et c . D a P e a ce . C o i di t Alighi ri , , i tro Fr ti lli 2 I l T e z si e che c asc nsi sa r o , i u ripo ’ D ogni fati ca und l nell a semana ’ S i ccome S anta Chi esa a perto pose .

T he c mman me n i s ca e the M i ni ns ea the eca se o d t ll d i t d of fourth , b u he s and sec n are ma e n one t fir t o d d i to . 1 44 D ant e at R av enna is to be hoped th at the further rese arches in con t empl at i on will remove all doubt th a t it was indeed his work . M oreover , the origin of the m co position is not a little interesting . The story is a s follows There dwelt in Ra venn a a le arned fri ar of the m was a n and a i nor order , who inquisitor , he r ‘ m a a m i ng uch t lk of this D nte , he deter ined in his he art to know him so th a t he might see whether in truth b e erred fromthe fa ith of Christ ; a nd m a was a one orning , when D nte in church to a worship our Lord , this inquisitor rrived i n the n a am a d was hi m. s e chu rch , D nte pointed out to a him mm Then the inquisitor c used to be su oned .

a a a hi m D nte ppro ched with reverence . The a a a inquisitor then sked , Art thou th t D nte who

a a a a a s yest th t thou h st p ssed throu gh hell , purg ” “ and a a ? a am tory p r dise And D nte replied , I

D a nte Alighieri of Florence . And the inquisitor “ a ma and went on ngrily , Thou kest songs sonnets

- a nd such like rubbish . Thou wouldst h ave done far a amma and a better to write gr r, h ve been content to rest on the found ations of the Church of God , giving no heed to such inventions , which may one d ay bring thee the reward th at thou ” a ma as merit est . And D nte kin g if he would a reply to this , the inqu isitor s id , This is not the m a d a m ti e but on such y we will eet , for I wish ” to investigate these things . D a nte then an a m a a him swe re d th t this would be ost gree ble to ,

n a m. a d , le ving the inquisitor, retired to his roo

I 46 D ant e at Rav enna

a a me a and a M r . Eleph nt , do le ve lone ttend to ’ your own affa irs . These anecdotes are preserved in Ravenna with as much ca re as the tradition which indicates t h e ’ a a a a a p th , c lled the Vi le de Poeti , or del Poet , t ken by D ante on his way to the Pine Forest . C HAPTE R VI .

P I N E TA E M B A S S Y TO V E N I CE—D E A TH A N D B URI L A .

I O— Z

1 5 0 D ante at R av enna

and a a a u so on till he re ches Engl nd , dding to ches of local interest which could only h ave been oh t ained a a by person l knowledge of the spot . This argument is still more forcible when a a a a m a pplied , not to city or pl ce , but to so e p ss m a ing pheno enon of N ture or sudden effect . How , am had m for ex ple , if he not hi self witnessed it , could D ante h a ve described the appe a rance of C a ri sc e nd a w the Tower of , h ich , if the clouds behind it are travelling in the direction contrary a ma m to the inclin tion of the tower , ke it see 1 a bout to fall ? A s appears T he Cari scenda m n a Tower of , fro be e th an ance a ass c Where it doth le , if ch p ing loud sa ac ss a s an s So il ro , th t oppo ite it h g , c e nae s s eme as at mn as Su h th n A t u e d, i e e e ’ I marked hi mstooping .

R Tr a ns. CA Y,

a a a Or , g in , the gentle f ll of the snow in the silence 2 a m a a and of ount in p ss , or the sudden rising S pre adin g of the mist till the whole l a ndscape was h ad m blotted out , if he not hi self beheld the phenomen a while p a ssing the Apennines in the ea rly winter a m a wa m I n si il r y, only ore forcible still , the ‘ ’ forest in the Purg atorio is a living picture of the

a a a a a nd has Pinet t R venn , been referred to in all mm a m a this sense in the co ent ries , ost not bly 3 in th at of Benvenuto d a Imol a . 1 2 1 6 1 1 . . 8 xxxi . 3 , 4 xxx 5 . ’ 3 num 1 6 1 1 6 o me t . 2 . C , iv ,

1 5 2 D ant e at R avenna m light . And when the S irocco blows fro the south - e ast the pines on the co a st turn towa rds and a a the west , through their needle foli ge p sses a sweet murmur as of anZE oli anh arp

‘ T al a ram inram si acc , qu l di o o r oglie a ne a sul ass Per l Pi t in lito di Chi i , ’ E 1 e Quando 6 0 Scirocco fuor disciogli .

- ur x 1 2 1 . P . . g , x viii 9

nas m an an Eve fro br ch to br ch , Along the piny forests on the shore ass s a n m Of Chi i , roll the g theri g elody, When Eolus h ath fromhi s cavern loosed T n ’ he drippi g south .

R Tmm. CA Y,

a a a a The birds which , by n tur l instinct , h ve

a a u sou ght refuge in this evergreen rc de , undist rbed m a m by the stor , sing on in ce seless elody

Non p erb dal lor esser dritto sparte

a a e er le c m T nto, che gli ugell tti p i e ’ Lasciasser d operare ogni lor arte ’ M a con na z a a m pie leti i l ure pri e , a a riceveano n a l e C nt ndo, i tr foglie, ’ Che tenevanbordone alle sue rime .

’ - fi i 1 1 8 . z , 3

Upon their top the feathered quiristers w n art and Applied their o ted , with full joy c m s s m and a d s r Wel o ed tho e hour of pri e, w rble h ill m a s a c d a s A id the le ve , th t to their jo un l y ' ’ ept tenor.

R Tr a ns. CA Y , T he Pinet a I 5 3

Then we h ave the description of the c an als

a a a which , t regul r interv ls , intersect the dense a a m regions of the gre t forest , c rrying their li pid a sea a w ters to the , their b nks lined with fresh herb age

’ G iamavean trasportato i l enti passi ’ ’ all a ca s a an ch i o Dentro nti elv t to , ’ ’ N onpotea ri veder doud i o m entrassi ’ ‘ ecc an a i ii mi se un Ed o l d r p tol rio , Che inver sinistra consue pi ccole onde ’ Piegava l erba c he in sua ripa u scio . ’ e ac che son ua ti mn Tutt l que, di q pi o de , Parri eno avere inSe mistura alcuna s di a che n a nasc n e Ver o quell , ull o d , A vvegna Che si i nuova bruna bruna ’ m a e a che mai Sotto l o br perp tu , n R a iar non asc a é na. gg l i Sole ivi , Lu Coi pie riste tti e congli occhi passa i

la dal fiumicello er m ar Di , p ir e ’ L n v ri zi n s i a gra de a a o de fre chi ma .

H id 2 2 - 6 , 3 .

r a had m s e s Al e dy y t p ,

s so far n a anc n Though low, i to th t ie t wood

ans me co not kenthe ac Tr ported , I uld pl e

re had ene n m a Whe I t red , whe behold y p th Was n e a c t o bou d d by rill , whi h the left

n a s en t he ass With little rippli g w ter b t gr , a ss nea no a Th t i u ed fromthe brink . O rth w ve ’ H ow c ean soe er a no t seemt o a l , th t would h ve

m m in se c oma e s So e ixture it lf, p r d with thi ,

ans c s c ea et a on o e Tr pi uou , l r ; y d rkly it r ll d , ’ a enea e t a oomw c ne e D rkly b th p rpe u l gl , hi h r 1 54 D ant e at Rav e nna

m s sun m n s Ad it or or oo light there to hine. My feet advanced not but my wondering eyes ’ ass n a s ame s P ed o w rd , o er the tre l t, to urvey

The n M a - m s e ma a te der y bloo , flu h d through ny hue, ’ a In prodigal v riety . n R Tr a s. CA Y,

N o one who had ever visited the spot could ‘ fail to recognise in the divin a Forest a spessa e ’ viva of the terrestri al p ara dise the ch ara cter i s i cs F at a a and t of the Pine orest R venn , one gla nce b ack at the Latin eclogue of Giova nni del ’ m a Virgilio , while confir ing D nte s description , will S how how famili ar these were also to his 1 correspondent . This conj unction of testimony would lead one to suppose th a t the concluding c a ntos of the ’ a as as a a Purg torio , well the whole of the P r ’ m m d iso , were co posed in the cool , ysterious S h a de of the forest to the melodious ac co mp ani ment of the rustling pines and cea seless song of the birds . To this period also belong those minor works of ’ a — a a an D nte the Credo , lre dy referred to , d the ‘ ’ a a a P r phr se of the Seven Penitenti al Ps alms .

a a a a This p r phr se , though , of course , l cking in the power and vi gour which ch a ra cterize the origin al

a has a work of D nte , c u ght the spirit of the writer, m a am a pro pted prob bly by the s e feelings , th t appea l fromthe inj ustice of men to the j ustice a m an of God , which inspired the ps l ist , d the

1 ’ Vzde ante a e I V 1 0 , Ch pt r . , p . 4 .

1 5 6 D ant e at Rav e nna he passes at once to th at hour appointed to a ll men m which c a e also to D a nte . O nly in so far a s the d ate which he assigns t allies with the period of the return fromVenice does the testimony of Bocc accio throw any light upon the vexed ques

a a a tion . It is upon the n rr tive of Vill ni , sup a a a a ported by M netti , th t biogr phers h ve hitherto

a m rested for their st te ents . The chronicle of Villa ni records th a t D a nte died

‘ i n the c a na i n ma na his r ity of R ven the Ro g , on eturn fromhi s Embassy to Venice onbehalf of the Signori da ’1 a mh e e . Polent , with who liv d

a a m Then follow further p rticul rs , fro which we

m m a had gather the otive of the E b ssy . A dispute a risen between Venice and Ravenn a ; a Veneti a n had a a R avennese ship been tt cked by the , the

a a and ma d . c pt in killed , ny of the crew wounde

a m o n The Veneti ns , furious , quickly deter ined ma an a a reprisal . They de lli nce with the Orde l affi at m Forli , pro ising to supply funds to the a mount of golden fl orins to ra ise and equip

a s ma i mmedi at e war a a troops so to ke upon R venn , a nd , in return for their support , they were to receive a free supply of s alt and gra in while the war l asted . They l a id their griev ance before the M al atest a of

m a mm m Ri ini , rel ting the offence co itted in ti e of pe a ce a g ainst the Republic by Guido da Polenta a and the commune of Ravenn a . As protest a g a inst such anoutrage they summoned Pa ndolfo

1 ’ S e . . c. . tori , lib ix , xxxiv Embassy t o Veni c e I 5 7

a a a m a a and to withdr w his lli nce fro R venn , to refuse the p a ss a ge through Rimini of any force

a a a a a sent to the ssist nce of R venn , under p in of m e . a being consider d the ene y of Venice Cesen ,

m a a nd a a m a I ol , F enz received si il r instructions

m a fro the incensed Republic . Me nwhile the Ord el a f fi lost no time in responding to the

a a m at e a a Veneti n propos ls, pro ising onc to tt ck

a a all a m R venn with the inf ntry they could uster , as well as to supply two hundred c a v alry within the first and three hundred within the second m a a m onth , in order to defe t th t city , the ene y of

a nd a Venice , with force v lour , to the utter loss a nd destruction of the s ame until she sued for

’ pe ace or a truce .

a a a all a R venn , thus thre tened on sides by

m a m m a co bin tion of ene ies , one of who lone

a sufli c e d had would h ve for her destruction , no m a a a a ti e to lose in p cifying her enr ged dvers ry , a nd Guido d a Polent a decided to desp atch a n i mmedi ate Emb assy to Venice to avert the i m

a s a n a pendin g storm. N or w there y hesit tion in

a a s a m a a his choice of D nte the princip l A b ss dor , not o nly on a ccount of his le a rning and well

a known powers of rhetoric , but bec use of his

ma m m a diplo tic experience in for er e b ssies , h is

a Ord e l a ffi a m previous rel tionship with the f ily ,

S a a nd m who h red his politics , one of who ,

S a a ha d as e a 1 0 c rpett , he served secr t ry ( 3 7

a a a M atters h ving re ched th is thre tenin g crisis ,

a was a a nd ma a m del y d ngerous , the A b ss dors ust 1 58 D ant e at Rav enna

a a a h ve left Venice i n the l st d ys of August . Althou gh no d ocument has yet been found in the Veneti a n a rchives rel ative to the a rrival of this m a m a a m first E b ssy fro R venn , the docu ents which do exist ar e as follows 1 m 1 1 2 1 . a I . Au gust , 3 The deter in tion of the M aggior Consiglio a s to a rupture o fall negoti ation

n a a between Venice a d R venn .

1 1 2 1 . a I I . August 7 , 3 The desp tch of the a ma a o a Veneti n A b ss dor , N iccol di M rsilio , by Doge Giov a nni S o ranzo to Cecco degli Ord el affi to solicit his alli ance .

. 2 2 1 2 1 . as I I I August , 3 The reply , cited , of

l affi Cecco degli Ord e . m a 2 0 am Another docu ent , th t of October , the s e a m a a a a ye r , one onth fter the de th of D nte , rel tes

second m a a m a a to the E b ssy desp tched fro R venn , in which there is pl ain a nd distinct allusion to the had previous Emb assy . This evidently resulted m a a a i n the preli in ries of pe ce , the provisions of which were c arried a st age further by th e a nd second Emb assy . The reply of the Doge the Council le aves no roomfor doubt upon the matter .

You already know (these are the terms in which it i s c m s s and mmss ers ouched), both fro our elve our co i ion , that i t i s our intention to live i n peace with the com mn a n a e a s a al r ead sa id u ity of R ve n , but b c u e you h ve y , and sa now a are not m o y , th t you e powered to reply , g

ac s c ns and n s s b k for your in tru tio retur , either your elve ,

s r in s a w an a ra c on or let other retu n your te d , ith r nged

1 6 0 D ant e at Rav enna

‘ : M a ni fic o d a a title Al g M esser Guido Polent , a a a a 0 1 1 Signor di R venn The d te M rch 3 , 3 4 . — Whether or not this is a genuine letter and at present the arguments rema inequ ally b al a nced c a n m only be decided by so e fresh discovery . I t saw 1 first the light in 5 47 , being published in a

m a a a volu e entitled , Prose Antiche di D nte , Petr rc , ’

a . a a Bocc ccio , etc , collected by cert in Anton

Francesca Doni . Where as the other Latin

c an a epistles be confronted with origin l M SS . , in a m the c se of this one , up to the present ti e , the

. a a as a M S is l cking . The initi l difficulty to the d te , 1 1 a 1 2 1 c an 3 4 inste d of 3 , be disposed of in two

a : a a m a w ys either th t it is ist ken figure , which 1 m a a see s to be the Opinion of B lbo , or th t it belongs to a nother of the occ a sions when D ante an m a was sent on E b ssy to Venice . Possibly it belon gs to the compliment a ry visit of congratul a tion desp atched fromR a venn a to Venice on the occa sion of the election of the Doge Giovanni nz 1 1 m S ora o , 3 4, which see s suggested by the m intern a l evidence of the docu ent . However

a ma a a th t y be , the gre ter p rt of the letter consists a a a of anindign nt protest bec use , h vin g begu n his

a a was a or tion in L tin , he told to desist bec use the la ngu age was not understood by the Veneti a ns in cou ncil assembled ; a nd the second a ttempt to a ddress themin his mother - tongue was a ttended was a with as little success . N or their i gnor nce

at - D al to be wondered , considering their Greco

1 ‘ ’ a a ane . 1 B lbo, Vit di D t , vol . ii . , p 33 . Emb assy t o Veni ce 1 6 1

mati a n origin . Then follows a request to Guido

him a a a m a ma never to send g in on si il r E b ssy , which could neither add to his own reput ation nor be productive of any s atisfaction or consol ation to

his p atron . The letter concludes with the p ara graph

s a s a a a s as m s I h ll t y here few d y to fe t y bodily eye , whic h are naturally enchanted with the novelty and

a s s and s a en n s be uty of thi pot , h ll th retur to the weet

a n m mn s n n h ve of y retire e t, urrounded with the be ig pro ’ c s 1 t ect i onof your princely ourte y .

We must a ccept with some reserve the st ate ments in the chronicle of Vill a ni th at the Vene

a a ti ans purposely refused to listen to D nte , fe ring th at the power of hi s eloquence might deter them fromthe revenge for which they thirsted also th at they would not send himb ack under escort

a a am in one of their ships to R venn , lest the s e dreaded eloquence Should convert the Vene

ti a n Admiral and corrupt the fleet . This seems

a a a a a sc rcely prob ble , lthough it is not unn tur l th at Villa ni should omit no touch in his n arr ative which might enh ance the reput ation of D ante as m a a n orator . It is ore likely th t he took the return j ourney by la nd to escape any vex ation by mu a a m the Veneti an fleet . We st lso be r in ind th at the ro a d along the co ast was the accepted highway a nd post communication between the

a ma a a nd and M rches , the Ro gn , Venice , con

1 ’ Le s e . . 82 . Epi tol , viii , p 4 I 6 2 D ant e at Rav enna

t inued to be so up to the close of the last century . The treacherous waves of the Adri atic a nd sudden fierce storms were too well known to the dwellers on the co ast to ma ke it a chosen method of co m muni cat i o n between Ravenn a and Venice . The very Veneti a n soldiers were ordinarily despatched a a M a rc ab o a by l nd , the C stle of h ving been built as a fortress to command the l and access . There was also the question of time ; the Emb assy was obliged to return without del ay to l ay before Guido N ovello the proposals upon which the a s afety of the St ate depended . I t w s not likely th at in such an emergency they would expose themselves to a del ay of possibly twenty d ays on a j ourney by sea which could be a ccomplished by ma ma a . l nd in three or four We y, then , i gine the route pursued by D ante and his fellow - Ambas sad o rs. They would prob ably h ave gone by boat a a am P el est rina and long the shores of M l occo , ,

a a a a sea- a C hioggi , p st the gre t Mur zzi , or w lls of

and a Venice , possibly the sunset over the L gune , a E u a nean u with the soft h ze upon the g Hills , wo ld h ave brought to a close the j ourney of the first

d a . d a a a y The next y, p ssing through the delt of the Po by means of the huge fl at - bottomed

a a as m a bo ts or r fts which then , now , for ed ma mmu a e ns of co nic tion , they would re ach in the evening the ma gnificent Benedictine Abbey of m a a m Po pos , whose t ll tower, glittering with aj olica

and a - a m a terr cott , ust h ve been a welcome sight

a a . a as at to the we ry tr vellers Prob bly there , the

I 64 D ant e at Rav e nna t aken down fromthe lips of aneye - witness of th at a a m a de th , Pietro G i rdino , to who D nte confided ,

‘ as la inhi s as s c n ss w c a he y l t i k e of hi h he died , th t he had already passed his fifty- sixth year by as much time as the interval between the preceding M ay and that day 1 (S eptember I 4 ) . n a n c e m and n He the h vi g re eiv d , with hu ility devotio , e e cc s as a sa amen acc n s v ry e le i tic l cr t, ordi g to the rite of

s an a and n nc e all the Chri ti F ith , bei g reco il d to God for s n s c had n c n a H is and tho e thi g whi h he do e o tr ry to will , at ac man i n mn eme pe e with , the o th of Sept b r, in the

ea 1 2 1 o n t he da n n n n y r of our Lord 3 , y whe the I ve tio the ss i s a c a of Cro celebr ted by the Chur h , to the gre t r a sa da ena and n a g ief of the fore id Guido Pol t , ge er lly to a all t he z ns a nna he c mmn e hi s th t of citi e of R ve , o e d d ea s n an s hi s ea the w ry pirit i to the h d of Cr tor, which , I not was ece n a ms hi s sa doubt , r ived i to the r of intly a min s n H im i s Be trice, with who , the pre e ce of who the m a n a e ms s Supre e Good, h vi g bid f rew ll to the i erie of s w s i n a t o as n thi orld , he live th t other life, the everl ti g ’ c i n felicity of whi h there s no e d .

a m am a a Further , we le rn fro the s e n rr tive how Guido d a Polent a c aused the body of D ante to a all a and lie in st te , vested with the insigni decorations becoming a poet ; th at it was then a ma c arried by the chief citizens , cco p nied by the

am a ma whole l enting popul ce , with every rk of

an a - a honour d distinction , to its l st resting pl ce , a a a a a ne r the Church of the Fr ncisc ns in R venn , as a a h where it w deposited in the s rcoph gus , whic

1 ’ nn B cacc i . V a a c . it di Giov i o io, vol T he Ret urnfromVeni ce 1 65

remains as it was to this d ay. Guido then r e a had turned to the house in which D nte lived , and a u m a a there, ccording to the c sto of R venn , a and a a pronounced long eloquent funer l or tion , with the double purpose of giving emph asis to the deep le arning and distinguished merits of the a a nd m m de d , to co fort the living friends to who

a m his loss would occ sion such bitter ourning .

A few lines in verse by Antonio Pucci , of which a a w and m a the tr nsl tion is given , follo , so ewh t amplify the prose n arr ative of Vill ani and Boc c accio :

‘ ’ a nna a a n sm There in R ve , ne er g i to ile,

a n m en e w s But l te retur ed fro V ic , hither ent ’ massa r on s es erew A b do Guido h t hile, ’ am c s am He died id the ity loud l ent.

int a a e es He, the true poet , h t g rb th y v t ; T he laurel c rown they place uponhi s head A noble book he Clasps to silent breast ’ With cloth of gold t h ey drape hi s funral bed ’ s na s at a s c s Thu willed Pole t Lord, l vi h o t, in hi ’ Some time life s kind and courteou s host .

C HAPTE R VI I .

T HE T T T H E S V RY OM B OF DAN E , AND DI CO E OF S H I S R E MAIN .

‘ ‘ m ’ I nt erra e t erra i o corpo .

a as d a a a de th , in life , Guido Polent held f st by the privilege of honouring his revered

and a had guest , the hospit lity which never ce ased to accomp any the living formof the poet was now directed to r aising such a monument over his rema ins as would alone h ave h anded hi mdown to posterity had his own merits fa iled

. wa s to do so Moreover , it to be inscribed

an a a nd a m with epit ph , th t this ight be worthy of

a m the occ sion , G uido threw it open to co petition am all ma a hO in a ong the poets of the Ro gn , p g th t either because they wished to p ay their individu al

a a a m mm tribute to gre t n e , or fro otives of per

a a a a son l v nity to g in d istinction , or bec use they wished to win the favour and a ppl ause of the cele b rat ed a a Lord of R venn , there would be every motive 'Or emul a tion a mong themto produce a n epit aph which would fit ly instruct posterity as to I 7 o D ant e at Rav enna the high merit of himwhose remains were e u i n a a a closed th t sepulchre . Most unfortun tely m a sche e so h ppily conceived , so worthy of Guido d a Polent a in its l a rge - he a rted liberality and

was a an keen desire for perfection , frustr ted by n m undeserved a d overwhel ing dis aster . ‘ ’ a mm was am J ol s , it will be re e bered , the n e a ssigned b yD ante to Guido N ovello in the Latin a correspondence , bec use of the friendship between a a nd ZE neas was a J ol s ; but there lso , thou gh a was a a an m D nte un w re of it , ele ent of prophecy ‘ ’ a ZE neid in the comp rison . The lines of the rel ate of Jolas

I nhigh Lyrnessus and i nTroy he held T wo a ac s and was m ac e e e p l e , fro e h xp ll d

all the m man as ma ns Of ighty , the l t re i , ’ A littl e spo t of fo reigneart h c ontains. ’ ’ ’ zE neza 8 0 0 R E r a ns . S T . , xii , D YD N

But before we re a ch the n arrative of subsequent

a tre chery , we will turn to the one bri ght spot which relieves it , which sets the crown upon the

a an rel tionship between Guido N ovello d his guest , a nd shows th at the sons of D a nte knew how to ’ a ppreci ate the const a nt kindness of their father s

b e p atron and friend . I t will remembered th at Guido N ovello wa s called a wa y fromR avenn a to Bologn a almost immedi ately a fter the de ath of a m 1 1 2 1 and D nte , Septe ber 4 , 3 , therefore he had been some seven months at Bologna when

was a a 1 1 2 2 . he elected C pit no del Popolo , April , 3

1 7 2 D ant e at Rav enna

S i conviene seguitare dichiarando ore bi sogna quella n n c . che a si a parte al libro p . di to p titulo cio convie e ell ’ a c mnc a c osi ce mzz ammn qu le o i i ndo pro do Nel e o del c i , etc . , which may be translated

‘ I n order that the fruit newly givento the world by t he s s s e and an r illu triou philo oph r poet , D te Alighie i, ma b e n sa n and m e as as y of u iver l be efit, or e ily t ted by those whose natural intellect i s not seconded by scientifi c n ac hi s son t n m s a k owledge, I , J opo, , in e d to de on tr te in plainlanguage some part of hi s profound and true mean i n T h g. e whic h for more c learness it will be better to c s a nn w e i s n essar a a follow lo ely, expl i i g h re it ec y th t p rt

a esa o c n assa e in s n and of the for id bo k iti g the p g que tio , n’ nn c e el mezz d el amm . begin i g with it, I pro e d N o c i , etc

s d a a This work is ent first to Guido Polent , a as bec use no one is so fit to correct it Gu ido , on a ccount of his i ntima te a cqu a int ance with the m a a as poe itself, qu intly described by J copo his ’ m a S a a re a u . ister , whose fe tures so f ili r to G ido The sonnet is as follows

A ccib che l e bellezze Signo r mi o Che mia sorella nel suo lume porta ’ H abiand agevolezza alcuna scorta Fill incoloro inc ui p orgondisio La qual di tal piace r c iascunc onfo rt a ’ M a nona qu elli c b an1a lu ce morta ’ Che l ri cordar a lor saria oblio ’ Pero a voi c havet e sue fatt ezze Per natural prudenza h abituat e

Prima l a mando c he la c orregiate . T h e To mb of D ant e 1 7 3

’ E s ella e digna che l a commendiate ’ Ch altri none che di cotai b ellezze ’ i m z H abia s co e voi vere chiarez e .

I n a and mas mne order th t, O lord ter i , ’ s s e s a s as a an s n My i t r be utie , they r di t hi e, M ay with the mo re fac ility unfold T 0 os s e em es e th e who e k th with d ir to hold , T he c ons c e e c m s whi h u h will v r o fort hed , But not onthose inwhomtrue light i s dead (T o su c h remembranc e gives oblivionplace )

e sen — e - n n ace Therefore to th e I d the w ll k ow f , am a n and ea nn e F ili r, lo g by gift l r i g prov d , sen a she ma a e I d, th t worthy y be pprov d For none as thee with such discerning eye ’ ea es so ea as s B uti gr t h t powe r to d e c ry .

a a m a C rducci , one of the gre test odern uthorities

a a a mm on It li n liter ture , co ents thus upon this sonnet

‘ There i s certainly no affinity between the v erses of an and s aco et a a a D te tho e of J po, y to h ve for f ther the father of the Divina Commedia i s a matter for family

n n can c ma pride to which othi g be o p red in thi s world . T o a s e a e his h ve felt thi prid , to h ve lov d the work of

a acc n o f i t s s a c a ac e f ther, which , on ou t uperl tive h r t r, must deprive anyone bearing the same name of any hope of distinc tion to h ave loved it so well as to h ave c loth ed this awful and terrible visionwith a semblance of c or

oreal m and a ca it one t he s es p for , to h ve lled by of weet t

nams am e a ns s n a af ec na e e of f ily r l tio hip, howi g by th t f tio t mta the ac e i nhis s s s e phor pl e it h ld thought , te tifie to the noble and generous nature of t he man; for the power 1 7 4 D ant e at R av enna

e nc n s i ts own sa and ac to r vere e ge iu for ke, the f ulty to ’1 n e s an s an n s c n n se s s f. u d r t d it , t d o ly e o d to ge iu it l

a This pref ce , often to be fou nd i n M S . copies ’ a mm a a of the D ivin Co ed i , rests for uthenticity

m m a a u pon three of the ost i port nt , bec use the — a . m I a e rliest , M SS of the poe . The Bodlei n M S fromwhich the tr a nsl ation on the pre i v o us a ha s ma . a p ge been de . I I Th t of the

C arri ani a a a a of M ntu , which be rs the sign ture of

a a a 1 80 and a the scribe , J copus de Pl centi , 3 , , fter

a givin g the introduction by J copo Alighieri , cites a a a lso the sonnet , which , with the fores id intro

was a a duction , sent , by J copo , the son of D nte , ma and d a to the gnificent noble knight , Guido

a A D a Polent , . . I I I . Th t of the Codice

a e u a a at a D ntesco , in the B iblioth q e N tion le P ris , d a a am te which , besides be rin g the n e of

a has a J copo , lso this conclusion

‘ Per ipsummissu s fuit ad magnificumet sapientum

‘ milit em D iI m Guido nem de Polent ia anno millesimo ’ c n s m s m s c n m mens s tre e te i o vige i o e u do dii pri o i Aprile, a nd is followed by the valu able glosses of our '1 a J copo upon the I nferno .

m a a This proe io , or pref ce , by J copo Alighieri , a m m which rel tes to the whole poe , ust not be ’ confused with a nother gloss upon his father s

1 n n ’ a cc e a a a r a D a e. C rdu i , D ll v ri Fo tu di t 2 ’ U m R . 1 . lti o ifugio , p 7 5 1 n me a no w e . No . old u r l , 534 4 °° ’ ’ ’ e da P re h c se d l n ac n S guitato g hio e J opo supra l I nfer o .

1 7 6 D ant e at Rav enna

a a 1 2 - 1 2 8 a a a ha L n ( 3 3 3 ) beg n to ppe r . Both d a a nd ffi a a politic l o ci l rel tions with Guido N ovello , which we may fa irly conclude may h ave been drawn to a common literary centre by their j oint ’ and a mm a close study of the Divin Co edi . I n all probability this would be also the period when a a a Giov nni del Virgilio , in response to the ppe l m a m a fro Guido N ovello , wrote the f ous epit ph

s a s n s do mati s ex ers Theologu D nte ulliu g p , Quod foveat c l aro philosophia sinu

a M usarum rat issimus a o Glori , vulgo g uct r,

m ul u rum u l acet et a a sat t e o um. Hic j , f p q p Qui loca d efunc tis gelidi s regnumque gemellum

D ist rib uit lo ici s rhetorici s ue m s. , g , q odi Pascua Pi erii s d emumresonab at aveni s

Atropos heu l ectumlivida rupit Opu s .

n a a s em lorenti a fruct um Huic i gr t tulit tri t F , a suo E xil iumvati patria crud . Quemp ia G uidoni s gremio Ravenna Novelli Gaudet honorati c ontinui sse Duc is Mille t recenteni s t er septemN uminis annis ’ Ad sua sept emb ris idib us astra redit.

e an an n inno ma Dante the th ologi , w ti g dog

a s c e s es in s s m Of all th t Philo ophy h ri h her gloriou bo o ,

t he ses ms am s a T he glory of Mu , the o t f ou uthor in na a the ver cul r, his name s s s Lies h ere, but with trike the two Pole , indue e b e c and e c Who told ord r, y rul of Logi Rh tori , Of the places for t he cold dead and of that other em

pire . Epi t aph by G i o vanni del Vi r gili o 1 7 7

’ as an c e a t he e e s ca L tly , he beg to el br te Sh ph rd Ar dy an with Pieri pipe .

as en s a e s the i ni ts Al viou F t cut hort work bloom. T o hi m n ra e rence hi s n n c u g t ful Flo , u ki d ountry, Rendered to her poet a bitte r recompense of exile H impiou s Ravenna delights to h ave h eld

I n h s m her n ll t e bo o of ho oured Lord Guido N ove o .

I n ea 1 2 1 o n s m the y r of God 3 , the Ide of Septe ber, h n ’1 He returned to i s ow star s.

The touch of intern al evidence as to the Shep ’ ’ ’ a m a herd s Arc dy , fro the pen of D nte s corre s o nd ent m a p , in the eclogues fro which we h ve m a dd a cited , see s to nother convincing proof to the weight of evidence i n favour of Giova nni del

Virgilio as the a uthor . a a a c an Following the n rr tive nother step , we picture to ourselves th a t this would h ave been the epit aph engr aved by G uido N ovello upon t h e ‘ ’ egregi a sepoltura with which he intended to honour the resting - pl ace of D a nte on his return a a a a m a to R venn , fter the expir tion of his te por ry 2 a was a office of C pit ano del Popolo . This frustr ted by the trea cherous plot which a nnounced itself by a m a a d a a the brut l urder of R in ldo Polent , Arch a a and bishop of R venn , brother of Guido N ovello . Documents still ext ant attest the immedi ate de a a a a p rture of Guido for R venn , to venge his ’ a and m brother s de th , the pro pt succour tendered

b ut a r e - by the B olognese , in v in ; he never entered

1 T ans a nma e m . S . Philli o re E s . O r l tio d by , q , C C xford . ’ J h h 2 V zde a nt e 1 1 , p . 7 . I 7 8 D ant e at Rav enna

and a m the city, thus the first proj ect for the dorn ent a u of the sepulchre , either by the h nd of the sc lptor

am . a or the verse of the poet , c e to nothing Th t

a the lines of Giov nni del Virgilio , however , were a a preserved we owe to Bocc ccio , who tells us th t he himself ex amined the poems of the competing ma a poets of the Ro gn ,

and a as onacc n t he a ms c th t , ou t of gre t i fortune whi h s c not foiled the purpo e of Guido Novello, they ould ea on m nor n e had s app r the to b ; i de d , it been otherwi e, all c m s ns a n ns could the o po itio h ve bee i cribed there, but n ms n — s s s o ly one o t worthy of the ho our the e ver e , I

sa a n s n me and a n am y, h vi g been how to , h vi g ex ined mall c s a as s e and s m the , I on ider th t, both to tyl enti ent, n n s a a and am s the fourtee li e by th t gre t f ou poet,

ann n ma n m Giov i del Virgilio, the i ti te frie d, oreover, of a are ms s a n and D nte, the o t worthy of pre erv tio , there ’1 fore I transcribe themhere .

We h ave seen th at Guido N ovello was the fortu nate recipient of the e arliest complete copy ’ a mm a ma a of the Divin Co edi ; but , it y be sked , why did aninterval of nine months el apse between the de ath of D a nte a nd the present ation of this copy to his p atron ? This is accounted for by a very interesting contemporary a necdote related by a a a and a Bocc ccio i n his n rr tive , corrobor ted by a ma a Piero di G i rdino , whose inti te rel tions with

D ante will be borne in mind by the re ader .

‘ ’ ‘ was ccacc s us a a w an as It , Bo io tell , h bit ith D te,

s nas had ns six a s a n oo he fi i hed or eight c nto , before nyo e

1 ’ Vita di D ant e.

1 8 0 D ant e at Rav enna

s na s n i n hi s s e ane hi s a a i n ee vi io l ep of D t , f ther, cl d w es and an n n n hi s a hite rob with u wo ted light upo f ce, a a ce a s him a seeme as he ac dv n tow rd ; th t it d if , J opo, thenaddressed himand ask ed himif he still lived ; to w Yes a was a a r hich he replied , , but th t he live with t ue — life not with this of ours. Then it seemed as if he (J acopo) further ask ed him(Dante) wh e th er before pass i n n e had c m hi s and g i to the tru life he o pleted work , , if

had m e e w e was mss n n he co pl t d it, h re the i i g portio , ha s t i n w c d a b e n . T o s hi h they ough v in, to fou d thi question he appeare d to hear for the second time the s ns n n a sw Ye . A d s m as n er, , I fi i hed it the it ee ed if the spirit took himby the h and and led himinto the c am w was s e w n and h ber here he wont to l ep he in life , , c n one ar sa i s e a w tou hi g p t of it , he id , I t h re, th t hich ”

a so n s . a n sa s you h ve lo g ought for And h vi g id thi , it seemed as if both the visionand hi s o wnSl eep vanished s m ane s c acc ac w i ult ou ly, on whi h ount he (J opo) ould declare th at he was quit e unable to k eep fromcoming to him e ar n at nc a at had c (Pi r Gi di o) o e to rel te wh oc urred , in order th at they might both go together and search in s n ca w r a an a c a the pot i di ted, of hich he et ined c ur te r c c n i n er see i t had n n e olle tio , ord to if bee poi ted out by a true spirit or was merely a false d elu sion of the a w n m . as s e set ind Therefore , lthough it till ight , th y ff e a at s n ca and o togeth r, rrived the pot i di ted , there they n a s a a ns a t he w e fou d tove fixed g i t the w ll, hich yi lded

as f s m e ea n n a e ily to their ef ort to ove it , r v li g behi d it w w c had n e sca little indo , whi h hitherto e tir ly e ped their — observation nor did they evenknow that it was there and in that n - s a s m man s , wi dow e t they found o e u cript

e s m and a s m am sh et , ildewed bout to peri h fro the d p of w n c eans mm wa s . s the ll The e, he l ed fro ildew, they per T he D reamo f J ac o po A lighier i 1 8 1

n n m t he een s can cei ved o ea s. , r di g the , to be thirt lo t to At this discovery th ey proceeded at once to copy them ’ and s n emacc n a s s m Can e d th , ordi g to the uthor cu to , to

an e a ca a and en n m t he me (Gr de d ll S l ) , th u ited the to i p r s the em c had feet work i nth eir due place . Thu po whi h it ’1 t ak enso many years to constru ct was completed at last .

The simple n arrative of Bocc accio has been given word for word as he received it fromPier a di Gi rdino . a a a was Th t Pier di Gi rdi no existed , th t he the a nd a at a friend pupil of D nte , present his l st

a a a a was a illness if not ctu l de th , th t he live when

a a m a a 1 6 are all Bocc ccio c e to R venn in 34 , ma and a tters of proved history , these f cts being

a all a now p tent to , no purpose is g ined by citing

a a m those uthorities who since , rgu ing fro one mm a a co on b sis , h ve either rej ected with scorn , a and a or believed , or p rtly rej ected p rtly believed

the extr a ordin a ry v ision . B ut it must be pointed out th at the neg ative criticismwhich has e agerly ass a iled the credibility a a a of the n rr tor , the better to discredit his st te m m ent , is not supported by the ore recent investi ’ at i o n a g of B occ ccio s literary work .

G i or na le D antesco a The for the current ye r , which cont a ins two very interesting a rticles ’ l l a a entitled culto del Bocc ccio per D nte , points

’ out how the whole of Bocca ccio s work be ars the

m a and a i press of his i ntense devotion to D nte , th t more a nd more as his study d e ep e n e d of the gre a t

1 ’ ccacc V n 6 a a e . 6 . Bo io , it di D t , pp 3, 4 I 8 2 D ant e at R av enna

a a a M ster , the result ppe rs i n his own work , till ‘ ’ a a was a the Vit di D nte , which the l st of ’ a am Bocc ccio s writings , bec e

a ce ess e in a an a n n no ss pri l j wel It li liter ture, redou di g le t o the glory of the biographer than the subj ect of the “ s s a an e ons a biography . Be id e the It li diti of the Vit di an oss ss a n ans a ns and a a ases D te , we p e L ti tr l tio p r phr re - ans a n a an e o n i ts diffu tr l ted i to It li , which prov how, s cam t he c mmn a mn so s a ion , it be e o o p tri o y, to pe k , of rea and s a e n c e der copyi t lik , the field upo whi h th ir

a c n nra l bours were o ce t ted . ‘ a n i s am n an ac Wh t, the , the ou t of reli ce to be pl ed uponthe great novelist ?

‘ a sa e n ane t and Sh ll we y with Ar ti o, M t i , Filelfo, a a i s ca e ess and n s ? a we G ddi , th t he r l u tru tworthy Sh ll share the sceptical Opinion of his work held by V ellu

e o sc n a f T i rab oschi and T odeschini ? t ll , Bi io i, M f ei , Or s a a e e c and c a h ll we go littl furth r, with Mer urio , de l re that he i s not the author o f the work at all ? All th ese e x aggerated stat ements h ave been brought into the c c e m nc c sm and all now n a I l ru ibl of oder riti i , k ow th t ” a s cca c ma n s a n and w Cert lde e (Bo c io) de i ve tig tio , dre — hi s informationfromt he best and purest sources from

a n a n me t he s e an Piero Gi rdi o , for lo g ti di cipl of D te ; ’ n a e n t he t he mo s s A dre di L o Poggi , nephew by ther ide and n e n an o f hi s a s of Alighieri ; Ser Di o P ri i, other gre te t

n s a nd all no a if an se n sses a frie d k w th t , y of the wit e g ve c n a c ence a e n ca hi s o tr di tory evid , the biogr ph r vi di ted C l aimto a trustworthy narrative by honestly stating the s a e s ns ea n a e c s ever l v r io , l vi g the re der to the free ex r i e ’1 of hi s ownjudgment . 1 ’ n Gzor nal e D a nt esco nn V . . e a a Ser e a e V I I . , A o , ii d ll Nuov i , 'u d r o ,

0 . p . 3 4

1 84 D ant e at R av enna

him ac s a o mass n at eas s s n b k ; how th t c p io l t, uppo i g it not s and so s c n s to be thy wi h , with thi fi tio eek to

m e s m the ame m c re ov o e of bl of thy for er ondu c t . I e amc a n o f a no t b e n tell th e, I ert i it, th t he will give

a e and in a en as in for him b ck to th e, th t hour wh , by k g , se s c mass n o on thou wilt ek to how thy o p io , th u wilt, e n e se a t he r a m nna b i g r fu d , re p ew rd of thy for er i te m n c rue lty. But wh at a I advisi g th ee to do ? H ardly can a a s are ca a e n I believe th t, if de d bodie p bl of feeli g, th at of Dante would wish to leave t he place where i t now

es n s i n far m n a li to retur to thee . It lie ore ho our ble m n s in co pany th a any thou couldst supply . He lie a enna far m e en a a art R v , or worthy of v er tion th n thou , and nows n some a e a a e i n if howi g wh t of the d c y of g , her

h far m an he youth s e flourished ore th thou e ver wilt. S holds as i none vast sepulc hre t h e bodies o f great and men so a e e i s no a c e holy , th t th r p rt of the ity wher you can tread with out feeling th at their ashes lie beneath n s o ane s you . Why, the , hould the b dy of D t de ire to

n e lie amo n ea wh o it retur to the , to g thy d d , , would se m es i n ea a n e and a ac ons e , pr erve d th the g r r bid f ti of

e and i n nm the o ne om lif , their e ity flee fr the other , like t he ames ans ? eas a enna fl of the two Theb Wher R v , a ms c m at e t he t he ma s l o t o pletely b h d in blood of rtyr ,

s da cs are e e n s where to thi y their reli r v re tly pre erved, and in like manner the bodies of many a magnificent me and a and no men s n s e p ror , other gre t ble , di ti gui hed o o n ac n anc es and b th cou t of their try good work , will re not a a es es all her c s joice little th t , b id other pre iou was a s t o dowry , it l o the gift of God her to be the per p etual guardianof su ch a treasure as i s the bo dy of him w s s a e e the a m a n the o o ho e work h v h ld d ir tio of wh le w rld, of whomthou wert no t worthy ; and yet not so great will be T he P r oph ec y o f Bo ccacc io I 8 5

at ss ss n hi m a her n e m her joy po e i g , but th t e vy of th e fro m had hi s n a s e n a who he origi will be gre ter till , gri vi g th t she can n c a mthe c his as d a es e e o ly l i re ord of l t y b id th e,

A n so ema n i n to whombelongs the first . d r i wit h thy

a e Ra nna o c n i nher n s gr titud , while to ve , rej i i g ho our , will n ’ belo g the triumph of posterity .

a Re d by the light of subsequent history, the a a a m prophecy is not little extr ordin ry , so uch so

a a a are a a th t , lthou gh the f cts lre dy known to m a ost students of D nte , no excuse will be required a m a for rest ting the here . So gre t were the vicis sit ud es ma a a which beset the re ins of D nte , th t it would seemth at a s if in death no more th a n in life was there to be a permanent pl ace of rest for ’ lo corpo dentro al qu al i o feci ombr a . I n life we know th a t a cl ause in one of the sentences of exile forb a de the return of D a nte to

Florence under p ain of being burnt at the st ake . had a a H is body not been in the gr ve eight ye rs , when it was thre atened with the s a me fate . The proposed desecration arose out of a n unwarra nt ’ a a able use of his book D e Mon rchi a . The rgu ments on which the trea tise is b a sed were twisted by Ludovic of B a v ari a to b ack the pretensions of

a a a m Piero dell Corv r , the Antipope , who he

a a . cre ted bec use John XXI I , the reigning Pope , h ad hi m m a refused the I peri l crown .

a m a m The book , hitherto l ost unknown , bec e

a m m a nd f ous by t h is u nsee ly controversy , there

a a fore on the defe t of Ludovic , the dispers l of the

a a a a nd a Antip p l p rty , the f ll of the Antipope , the I 86 D ant e at Rav enna

a a a a was i n P p l Leg te , Bertr ndo del Poggetto , structed to burn the book as an heretical com position . The bones of the a uthor were condemned am a and m to the s e f te , were only rescued fro it by

m a a a the ti ely intervention of Pino dell Tos , gentle ma n a a nd Ost azi o d a a of Bologn , Polent , then in m at a a . a m power R venn But Ri inese onk , Guido a S an m was in Vern no , of the Order of Do enico , structed to prep are a refutation of the obnoxious n . R e rob at io e work , the M S of which , D e p ’ M o nar chi ae c o m o si t aea a p , is still ext nt in the ’ a a a a rchives of R venn . The M S . of the M or le

‘ a a m I I of Pietro di D nte , which t kes the for of La mento delle Sette Arti over the condemn ation a as a h as a of D nte heretic , lso been preserved to us . The contempl ated desecration of his remains a a m a would , it is observed with bitter s rc s , h ve sur prised nobody , for

wh at could signify the committal of a book and ju st a an nes the ames i n s ms w h dful of dry bo to fl tho e ti e , hen , i n nam ms e n s an menw e the e of the o t difyi g Chri ti ity, er n and not n n i n s n bur t, u freque tly the full tide of life, ou d i nbody and mind

For more th a n sixty ye ars a fter this first attempt to viol ate the sepulchre the rema ins were

a a . llowed to rest in pe ce Durin g this period one , a a if not two , epit phs were engr ved upon the has a m s arcoph agus . I t been s id by so e of the a writers upon this vexed question , th t these epi 1 l t . 1 U 9 3.

I 88 D ant e at Rav enna

a The epit ph , with the prefix

E pi taffiumad Sepul crumD ant i s i nRavenna ’ ac m m mB rnar um anatro Urbe f tu per Do inu e d de C ,

as follows

‘ a M onarchiae Su eros Phl e et onta l acus ue Jur , p , g , q Lu strando cecini vo luerunt fata quou sque Sed quia pars c essit meliorib us h ospita castris

A ct oremue s m et i it fel ic i or as s q uu p tri ,

H ie claud or an s at rii s ext orri s ab s D te , p ori ’ m enuit a l orentia ma a mri Que g p rvi F ter o s.

T he s na c c s a a ms Right of Mo r hy, ele ti l re l , ’ e on t h ne na a e a e s n s n Phleg th , i f r l l k , while tr v r i g , I u g

Long as t he fat es so will ed . Becau se of me One a t has ase o m e e and a s soar p r ce d fr h r , upw rd ed ’ a a s i ts mid s a s H ppy tow rd Author the t r ,

T o i n e ens ma e c me e . dwell bett r t t , d wel o th re

e l ie an e ans om an Her I , D t , b i hed fr thy l d , m ’ c b a e me o e scan . Floren e who r , th r t of love

This inscription remains upon the tomb to this da a y, but the second epit ph , which belongs to the ‘ am a a a s e period , lw ys cited together with the J ur

M o nar c hi ae a d a C anat ro h as of Bern rdo , dis a ppe ared fromthe s arcopha gus . Th a t it was once a nd a was at a am there , th t it inscribed bout the s e m a a m a ti e bove the one still ext nt , it see s h rdly a a possible to doubt , fter the discovery of the Cesen ’ a mm a a copy of the D ivin Co edi , by Fr ncesco di

a a . a 1 8 M estro Tur Tr nscribed i n 37 , it recites th at this second epit aph had been recently Epit aph s by D a C anat ro and M e zzani 1 89

’ engr aved ; th at it occupied a pl ace above the ‘ ’ a M o narc hi ae and a was J ur , th t it the work of th at discreet and le arned manM enghino M ezzani 1 a of R avenn . This epitaph is as follows

Inclita fama cuiu s universump enet rat orh em

a s A li h erius fl orentina na s in e D nte g tu urb , Condit or eloquio lumenque decusque l atini Vulnere smvmneci s stratu s ad sidera t endens D omini ci s annis ter septemmille terc enti s n u u ’ Sep temb ri s i di bus i cl dit r aula superna.

‘ He whose gloriou s fame reach es through the whole

world , a e nin c en D nte Alighi ri, bor the ity of Flor ce,

T he n nac a t he s a an fou der of the ver ul r, bright t r d n a n ho our of L ti ity, a t he s r a n L id low by t oke of cruel de th, bou d for the s a s t r , th e a 1 2 1 e In ye r of our Lord 3 , on the Id s of Sep m 1 te ber 3th , ’ i n m er in a n And s u b ed the Court of He ve .

Whether it was indeed written by M enghino a a a m a 1 0 Mezz ni fter his rele se fro c ptivity in 35 , which prob ability is suggested by the st atement ‘ 1 a had in the M S . of 37 8 th t it been recently ’ a m was engr ved on the to b , or whether it , as

m sa a a so e y, the work of J copo Alighieri , it be rs , like the companion epit aph by Bern ardo d a

1 ce e a D na mme a d el S ec Codi d ll ivi Co di , olo xiv. Citato dal

D e Ba nes . 1 2 . ti , ii 35, 37 I 9 0 D ant e at Rav enna

C anat ro am a e a nd , the st p of the g , this should make us lenient to the j umble of false qu antities ‘ i sfi which Dr . Moore hopes never d id d gure the ’ ’ 1 poet s tomb . ma sum a We y, then , up the f cts connected with this first epoch of the sepulchre as follows : At a a m 1 1 2 1 the de th of D nte , Septe ber 3, 3 , Guido N ovello c aused the rema ins to be provision ally a a a interred i n stone s rcoph gus , evidently one of the many ancient s arcoph agi which to this d ay ma a a re in ch ara cteristic fe ature in R venn a . was Guido , driven into exile , foiled in his pur pose o f erecting the noble sepulchre which he had a and a a a a a re pl nned , the s rcoph gus ppe rs to h ve ma ined without orn a ment till p ast the middle of the fourteenth century ; only the n ame of the poet inscribed upon it gave evidence of its preciou s ’ a a contents . Shortly fter Bocc ccio s second or a a 1 a a third visit to R venn , in 353, the s rcoph gus a a a and ppe rs to h ve been repolished , either mu a a si lt neously , or within very short period of a a a e ch other , there ppe red upon it the two epitaphs cited above . was at a m 2 2 I t the close of the ye r , Dece ber , 1 6 a ma 39 , th t Florence de the first of those de mands for the remains of D ante which Boccaccio h a a a m in his prophecy ad nticip ted . This first cl i arose out of the decree th at five monuments were to be erected in S ant a M ari a del Fiore to the a most famous literary menof Florence . The n me

1 H i st or i cal Rev iew c e 1 888 . , O tob r,

1 9 2 D ante at Rav enna

about for some powerful ally to support their

ma a m was ma de nd , so their next tte pt de i n the ’ m 1 ti e of Lorenzo di Piero de Medici , April 7 , 1 6 a ma a 47 , through the Veneti n A b ss dor , urging a a Venice to coerce R venn , then under her m ma do inion , into yielding up the coveted re ins . a a I t is supposed , thou gh not bsolutely proved , th t this Amb ass a dor was no other th a n Bern ardo m and a a Be bo , th t when he f iled to influence his Government i n fa vour of the Florentine demand

a ma for the restor tion of the re ins , he directed his a n a energies to dor ing the pl ce of their repose . H is epit aph is a record of the neglected condition in which he found the sepulchre

Exigua tumuli D antes hic sorte jaceb as n n c n n Squalle ti ulli og ite pe e situ . At nunc marmoreo sub ni xus conderi s arcu

mn s et cultu S len idior n O ibu p d e ites. Nimi rumB emb us musi s incensus ethrusci s

H c mi n ms h oc c lu r o tibi que pri u o e e dedit.

l M LX X X I I I . ' a . CC C . al . n. A nn. S C vi J v ’

na s B emb . ae . ze suo P ui Ber rdu Pr t re os t .

an in en s c anc th r a Here, D te, the p uriou h e of y bu i l s s a e n an man Thou did t lie, c rc k own to y for the foul ne c gle t, ’ now n e a ma a thourt a s But u d r rble v ult l id to re t, ’ A n hin a s en d s st with brighter pl dour th an all . em s an s s For B bo, fired by the Tu c Mu e , er s me a Rend ed thi tribute to thee, their pri f vourite . a sa a n 1 8 s da The ye r of lv tio 4 3, the ixth y before the s n na m a s a fir t of ju e, Ber rdo Be bo, Chief M gi tr te, ’ e s at his s er cted thi own co t. B ernard o B emb o 1 9 3

He pl aced the work in the h a nds of the

m a wa s at a m sculptor Pietro Lo b rdi , who th t ti e employed by the Republic to execute v ariou s works

a as a m m in R avenn , , for ex ple , the two colu ns i n

a a a m the Pi zz M ggiore , the one sur ounted b y the

m a a a S an sy bolic l Lion , the other by st tue of 1 a a nd ma . a Apollin re , the i ge of St M rk , now i n the c athedral . These are only interesting as being the work

a m a of the sculptor who dorned the to b of D nte , and a m as a whose work , l ost it origin lly stood ,

an d a m c be seen to this y. The ingress to the to b was a ma b ut wa s not ltered by Pietro Lo b rdi , as h ad m a a still it hitherto been , fro the Pi zzett .

mm a a a I edi tely opposite , with its b ck to the w ll , ’ was a a a a was r e the ncient Arc L pide , which polished and somewh at reduced in dimensions

a by the clever sculptor . H e pl ced a bove it a u a ma a sc lptured effig y i n Istri n rble of D nte , with ’ ‘ a a a nd a the poet s l urel round his he d , the v ir a tippet of Doctor of Divinity upon his shoulders , act a man in the of re ding fro open book , which

a rests on desk i n front of hi m. The face being

a a a a i n profile , the tr dition l c st of fe ture is a a and mu ccentu ted by the sculptor, it st be freely owned th at both in attitude a nd expression it is a somewh at stiff and cramped represent ation of the poet . The chin is supported by the left

a a a h nd , the right rests upon nother book l id a a m an an open upon t ble , where three volu es d

1 S nce s ace a S anV a e emene M i di pl d by th t of it l by Cl t olli . I 3 1 9 4 D ant e at Rav enna

a are a m inkst nd lso represented . Although ore of an ffi a a has a e gy th n sculpture , the whole effect a m a nd a a a cert in erit ch r cter of its own . Pietro m a has ma b a a Lo b rdi , it been well re rked y Cicogn r , ’ appro ached his t a sk more from the a rchitect s ’ a m and th n fro the sculptor s point of view, the a rchitecture a nd decor ations h ave a cert a in

a a a a ch ste eleg nce ch r cteristic of the period . The

a - a a b sso relievo , or effigy , is let into b ckground A a ma m a of fric n veined rble , which ust h ve belonged at one time to some a ncient monu m a a a has an ent t R venn . This in its turn orn amentation of Greci a n marble which forms an a m ma a are the settin g d fr e . The two teri ls blended in the s a me way in the a rchitectural am a a a orn ent tion of the lunette bove , which t kes m a a a a au a the for of funer l wre th , h lf l rel , h lf a m m ma and p l , e ble tic of the glory of the poet and m the suffering of the exile , surrounds the otto ‘ ’ am m and Virtuti et Honori . The s e otto the s ame emblems ar e repe ated on a smaller scale in a little squ are of marble which was once an out a a side decor tion , but is now inserted in the w ll on

- am a a the left h and side . This orn ent c rries shield i n the centre , inscribed with the words

’ H i s non e a s c do M li , freely interpreted

’ ca s s w Be u e of the poet cro n, ’ ca s t he ma s a m Be u e of rtyr p l , ’ I n e m do ot yi ld to isfortune .

T h e M st er o us et t ers S . F . 1 y i L V . 9 5

a a The s rcoph gus itself, which origin ally was on the s ame gi g a ntic scale a s those which

a r e . a still to be seen in S Apollin re in Classe , was somewh at reduced in its dimensions by m a a Lo b rdi , but the proof th t it is the origin al one in which the body was l aid wa s cle arly a wa s 1 86 est blished when it opened in 5 . I t wa s then seen th at the lower sl a b which formed the bottomha d received a faint but distinct impres

H a sion of the skeleton . d the s arcoph agus been a ma 1 8 sculptured new out of the living rble in 4 3, and ma a the re ins then tr nsferred to it , it is a evident th t these , dry with the dust of a century

a nd a a a m h lf, could h ve left no i pression upon

a the stone . The lid of the s rcoph a gus is sculp t ur ed ma a a a , like ny of the ncient s rcoph gi , in

imit ation of the sc ales of a fish . It is raised on a a and a ma m pedest l , enclosed in rble fra e with orn amentation like th at of the upper p art of the m a to b . Upon the f ce of it the sculptured imit a tion o f a white cloth drawn and fastened with n a ils c arries the epit aph by Bern ardo d a C anat ro a s it appe ars to this d ay. It was repl aced where it h ad a m origin lly been by B e bo , with the prefix of the three capita ls S . V . F . These mysterious a m mm letters h ve been the subj ect of uch co ent , and h ave been va riously interpreted ; but it is sup posed th at Bern ardo B embo followed a tra dition much in vogue at the time that D ante wrote his

nd a . . a a . a own epit ph , th t therefore , S V F st nd for Sibi V i vens Fecit M ade by himself when — 1 3 2 1 9 6 D ant e at Rav enna

alive . Th at it was a mistaken tradition arising out of the use of the first person by Bern ardo d a C anat ro seems to be proved by the poetic al inter ch ange o f sonnets between Bern ardo d a C anat ro and M en hino a a a a g M ezz ni , but th t such tr dition existed may possibly a ccount for Bembo h a ving ca used th at epit aph only to be t e - engraved upon

m a a the to b , disc rding the other one , I nclit ’ a ma had a m F , which , we believe , up to th t ti e been inscribed above it . Such were the first a dornments of the sepulchre as they were completed by Bern ardo Bembo at the close of the fourteenth century . The suc c eeding century was yet in its youth when Florence returned to the ch arge and ma de the most famous and m m a all a m t the ost for id ble of her tte pts , his time being determined to possess herself by force of the treasure which Ravenn a had denied to her m reiterated entreaties . The Accade i a Medice a at and a Florence drew up the petition ddressed it , a a and not to R venn , but to Leo X the M edici

a - Florentine Pope , the p tron of the belles lettres was and a . a a the rts Moreover , he Lord of R venn , for th at city had by the League of C ambrai (1 5 0 9) p assed under the Pap al dominions . The petition of

M edi c aean a m a a 0 the Ac de y, be ring d te October 2 , m 1 1 h ad ma a . 5 9 , ny sign tures A ong these were am a a ama the n es of J copo N rdi , Luigi Al nni , Giro m B e ni v i eni a nd a a l a o Pietro Portin ri , descend

n o f am a . a was a t the f ily of Be trice Fin lly , it a b acked by M ich ael Angelo , who wrote cross it

1 9 8 D ant e at Rav enna

a a m knew wh at th at strategy w s . The first tte pt to a ccount for the loss of the remains is ch ara c t e r i st i c of the times

’ ‘ A nd s c s t he mm a a n u a thu , re ite e ori l dr w p by C rlo ‘ a t no a s a nma N rdi to Pope Leo, here could be tr n l tio de n s an ca se the e es m of the bo e of D te , be u d puti fro the

c a ma c a a n s hi s om n A c de i (Medi e ) h vi g vi ited t b, they fou d D ante neither i n soul nor yet i n body ; and i t being e a he had i nhis me in as e as i n beli ved th t lifeti , body w ll s ma e t he n ne no a pirit, d jour ey through the I f r , Purg torio, and a a s so i n a ms nowb e ass m a in P r di o, de th it u t u ed th t body as well as in spirit i neith er o ne or other of those ’ r realms he has been eceived and welcomed .

Whether or not this expl a n ation was considered a a r s tisf ctory we do not know , but the ve y sudden a a ma de th of Leo X . e arly in the followin g ye r y account for no steps h aving been t a ken to press m the matter further at the ti e . But to

m . a Cle ent VI I , successor to Leo X sonnet was speedily addressed by A l vi si recitin g the a a m f ilure of the tte pt of his brother Leone , ‘ ’ mm a him u So o P store , urging to p nish the R ave nnese had a a a nd who stolen w y the bones , , ’ a am m with pu n on his n e , to show cle ency to D ante by restoring his rema ins to an honoured place i n Florence .

m . a Cle ent V I I , of different disposition to d iffi X . was a Leo , too engrossed with politic l c ult i es to h ave either time or inclin a tion to follow and a t he u p the quest , Florence , d unted by hope T he Ch ap el o f B r ac ci ofort e 1 9 9

m m m a lessness of the e pty to b , see s to h ve given a a up the t sk in desp ir . I n Rav enn a the tra dition of the loss was

m a studiously shrouded i n ystery , if not ltogether a was a conce led . B ut there lways a floa ting sense of une a siness a mongst the populace upon the subj ect . m About the iddle of the seventeenth century, the Fra nciscans ma de considerable alterations i n the a B rac c i ofort e a m ch pel of , dj oining the to b of

a a a D nte . This ch pel , dedic ted first to the a a S an N tivity of the S viour , subsequently to

C r i sol o o am a a Pier g , owes its present n e to tr di tion connected with a very ancient wooden

a a nd was Crucifix which it cont ined , which held a a a by the people i n gre t vener tion . Andre

a re A gnello , the histori n of the ninth century , cords th at on one occa sion two friends came to

a a nd m a the ch pel , sole nly c lled upon the Crucifix to be witness to a secret lo a n between them. m was a The lender , exhibiting the oney he bout ma a to lend to his friend , de his invoc tion thus ‘ 0 m m Lord God O nipotent , do Thou be y ’ a surety for this ct . a m The friend , h ving received the oney, went away to the E a st withou t a ny thought of returning

a a a t a a a to R venn . The lender , l st we ry of w it m a a a and in g , betook hi self g i n to the ch pel , ,

a a st nding in front of the Crucifix , c lled upon the effigy of the S aviour to make good the surety 2 0 0 D ant e at R avenna

and m arm a ship , , by the ight of the strong (br ccio

m a a a . forte) of God , to int in his c use The historia n goes on to rel ate how the strong ar mof God brou ght b a ck the debtor fromthe Far

a and ma hi m a all a was a E st , de p y th t due , so th t a a a nd the two friends went their w ys in pe ce , the ch apel h as ever since borne the n ame of Braccio

— A r m Forte the Strong of God . This a ncient ch apel was origin ally connected with the tomb of D ante by a portico with marble m a a a colu ns . This portico ppe rs to h ve been a m a a 1 6 8 ltogether re oved by the Fr ncisc ns in 5 , when they were making considerable alterations a in their church a nd convent . The doorw y of

a a the ch pel , which corresponded with the entr nce

m a wa s and to the to b of D nte , blocked up , a nother access was given fromthe ch apel into the was church . The sepulchre reconstructed , with

a a a a the entr nce to the north , f cing the Pi zz

a a s da . M ggiore , we see it to this y a a a a But the Fr ncisc ns , bsorbed in the l rger a a nd rep irs of their church convent , contented themselves with reconstructing the exterior of the m a a a to b , le ving the interior in such st te of neglect a a a a a a th t C rdin l Corsi , the P p l Leg te , following

am a m m the ex ple of Bern rdo Be bo , deter ined to m m a rescue it once ore fro such condition . H e had a a i ndi not , however , t ken into ccount the g a na nt opposition of the Fr ncisca n Brotherhood .

a m and They cl i ed j urisdiction over the sepulchre , so h a ra ssed the stone - masons eng aged upon the

2 0 2 D ant e at Rav enna

s e s s s an A epulchre pr ciou to the Mu e d Apollo, s s Did piou ervice . c se c Whi h pul hre,

lms eca e the n s m A o t d y d by i jurie of Ti e, T he Council and P eopl e of Ravenna

ms mnen menc a a s t he a The o t E i t Do i o M ri Cor i, Leg te,

A nd ann a a e a Giov i S lvi ti , the Prol g te, M aking i t their ch arge

T o c nc e a n his o wnc re o il , by perpetu l ho our , to ountry e ea c zen Th ir gr t iti ,

I n own and at ownc s their right , their o t, n n es a s a a d a o . Did t bli h, rep ir, d r ’1 A D . M D x n. . c c

N ot s atisfied with this written record of his

a a a m a a restor tion , the C rdin l e ph sized his sh re i n it by c ausing his coat of arms to be engraved on a m a a shield outside the to b , fl nked by th t of

a a a Monsignore S lvi ti , Leg te of the province , on and a a a mm one side , th t of the Fr ncisc n co unity

on the other . The report of t h e master - builder C icognini is a a m preserved , in which he st tes th t he co pleted

a a nd r ot ec his work u nder the gu rd , with the p

a tion of forty sbirri , while the F thers of the venerable convent of S a n Fr a ncesco came con st ant l m a and am y to the spot , co pl ining l enting , and making all the disturb ance they could to a a hinder the work . There is lso ext nt the testi mony of the sculptor B er t ho z

‘ I n mn ne 1 6 2 n a i nma the o th of Ju , 9 , I e gr ved rble,

a ca e the e c a s a ms ac n t o with gre t r , thr e o t of r , cordi g the

1 mr E s . T ans a n . S . Philli o e r l tio by J , q 'uest io n of E ccl esiast ical j urisdic t io n 2 0 3

n s w c had e . e e s m order hi h I receiv d Mor ov r, I ole ly attest that at the same time t he workmen unde r my directionpolished the marble of t he sepulc hral urnwhic h

na ns i t i s sa id n s an and all co t i , , the bo e of D te the Poet , n m ’ the other surrounding marbl es which ado r the to b .

‘ ’ a a a The signific nt words , it is s id , show th t the sculptor was well aware of the tra dition of the

m a a e pty s rcoph gus . The question was aga in raised during the legal proceedings which ensued between the ma gistra tes

a a a a a and of R venn , b cked by C rdin l C orsi , the

a a a s o f uri sdi ct i o n Fr ncisc n Brothers , to the ri ght j

ma a over the sepulchre . The tter re ched a climax when anesc aped felon cl aimed the right of s anc t uar m a y within the precincts of the to b of D nte . The Padre Gu ardi a no of the Fra ncisca ns cl aimed the right of ecclesi a stica l immunity for the

man was a wretched , who , notwithst nding , forcibly dra gged b a ck to prison .

a a t he a a ha The uthorities , still b cked by V tic n , d

u a a m reco rse , to j ustify their ction , to the rgu ent th at D a nte h avin g been condemned as a heretic a a a a far m a fter de th , the pl ce of his buri l , fro h vin g an a m a a a was y cl i to the rights of s nctu ry , , on

a a a the contr ry , polluted Then the Fr ncisc ns themselves made use of the rumour th a t the bones a a were no longer there , r ther th n lose their ri ght of j urisdiction over the sepulchre . The ma gis tra tes decl ared th a t by the recent rep airs the

a a a a sepulchre stood isol ted , the Fr ncisc ns th t it still rested with its b a ck to the wall of the con 2 0 4 D ant e at R av enna

. m a vent Moreover , they pointed triu ph ntly to the shield of their community which the C a rdin a l had m a fi hi self f xed to the sepulchre . Thus the d ispute continued i n more or less degree throughout the century . The Francisca n

a Brothers , by sheer obstin cy , held their own , a nd a a a a a we ried out the V tic n , so th t we ctu ally a a a a a a a find C rdin l V lentino Gonz g , the P p l a a m Leg te , t king the into his counsels when he 8 0 1 u a . u ndertook , in 7 , nder the uspices of Pius V I ,

an a a the third d l st restor tion of the tomb . This m am M o ri i a a ma and a ti e , C illo g , gentle n n tive of

a a wa s as a . R venn , chosen the rchitect Preserv ma ing the work of Lo b rd i inside , he threw the exterior into the sh ape of the little mau soleumor temple which it now assumes . a a m The florid style of the period , d pted for so e m a mm a a a - a ock cl ssic e ori l in ple sure g rden , sur m a nd rounded with yrtles weepin g willows , ill accords with the severity of the Fra ncisc a n

m a a a environ ents , the d rk foli ge of the t ll cypress , m S an a a the gri tower of Fr ncesco , bl ck with

centuries , rising behind it , still less with the

stern gra ndeur of the poet himself. The work was complete when the Gonzaga shield was

made to crown the entra nce .

ma mwas a a 1 82 The usoleu in u gur ted in J une , 7 , a ma m when a meeting of the Acc de i degli I nfor i ,

a a was a m a a in R venn , sse bled to celebr te the occ m and sion by co positions in prose verse , which , ‘ n a had m sa a s a It ali n writer observes , ore to y

D ant e at Ra v enna

s a enz nza a a a Aloi io V l io Go g , C rdin l a t he nce m a Leg te for Provi of E ili , Of hi s muni ficence Improved and restore d What the neglect of preceding generations had allowed to

d ecay . ’ 1 A . D . M D CCLx xx .

I t now rema ined to prove th at the tomb which he had so lavishly adorned was indeed the recep

a ma t cle of the re ins of the poet ; therefore , in the presence of a few selected witnesses sworn to a a w as . secrecy, the s rcoph gus opened The C a rdin al was obliged to t ake refuge in ambiguous

a a m phr ses to conce l the result fro the people . But the entry of one of the Francisca n fri ars in a m a a at iss l , now in the h nds of the M unicipio

a a a a a R venn , st tes the b ld f ct

‘ T he c n of a was and n n w s offi D nte opened , othi g a

n ns so was s a a a n w ar fou d i ide, it e led up g i ith the C ’ i nal s S n r n and s c s e c was s r e d ig et i g, tri t il n e ob e v d as to ’ everything .

The Fra nciscans may h ave found a not un n atural sola ce for the loss of their j urisdiction

m ma a over the to b by king this record , for we re d

a a a a a a th a t the C rdin l, on le ving R venn , pl ced the a ma a and key in the h nds of the gistr te , , nothing a recom d aunted by the result of the i nvestig tion , mended to his most c areful preservation so noble a nd so glorious a relic of the p ast . a a a a Two C ardin ls , both P p l Leg tes , in two suc 1 il i m n . Ph l ore E T ans a . S s . r l tio by J , q T he République Ci sal pine 2 0 7 c eeding centuries ha d spent themselves in a dorn ing the tomb of D a nte . Their sculptured co ats of m ma a a a am and a r s de p rt of its rchitectur l orn ent ,

a am florid epit phs connected their n es with his . a a é i u Then , by curious irony of f te , the R publ q e

a a m - C is lpine c e upon the well worn scene .

a e ma Dressed in their little brief uthorit y , th y de

m a a as use of it to re ind the people of R venn , and a a am citizens brothers , th t the gre t ch pion , ‘ who had exposed the imposture of sa c erd o t a ’ ’ li sm m a , the Signor dell Altissi o C nto , the D ivine

a was - and a D nte , their fellow citizen , th t his glorious memory must be democratically cele b rat ed m a a a nd m , bidding the h sten with l urel yrtle to his tomb to shed the te a rs which flow fromthe eyes of a p atriot over a genius who has deserved well of huma nity . The deputies of the République Cis alpine do not appea r to h ave been troubled with any dis quieting fe ars th at they were p aying homage to a n empty shrine ; but in 1 84 1 we find the fact a ga in st ated with unmist a kable plainness in ’ M r ani mm Filippo o d s e oirs of Dionigi S t ro cc hi . a 1 1 8 1 S t roc chi H e recounts th t on J uly , 4 , D ionigi s aid to him

i s s m n ws e now a we There o ethi g I i h to t ll you , th t ar a n e lo e . Do you know that t he coffin of D ante i s

m t he nes are n n e he e pty bo o lo g r th ere . T Arc hbishop Monsignore Co dronchi told me thi s ; but do not breathe ’ a f i 1 a or s a s c . word bout it, it e ret

1 ‘ ’ M o rdani . e e e e a a a a . S t rocchi F Op r tt d ll Vit priv t di L ,

. 2 2 . vol iii . , p . 3 2 0 8 D ant e at Rav enna

Another qu arter of a century a nd the festivities ’ for the sexcenten a ry of D a nte s birth were being l a celebrated al over It aly . They were mde the occa sion by Florence for her l ast demand for his a remains . The M unicipio of Florence wrote s a a M a 1 86 follows to the Municipio of R venn , y 7 , 4

‘ One of the first considerations present to the minds 1 of the Commissioners i s the eager desire that the remains of the great poet should be laid to rest inhi s native city ; and ca s s es i s ms a m s a all a be u e thi d ire o t w r ly h red by like, and that it was debated for a long whil e how it should x ss was e a c b mans be e pre ed , it decid d th t publi ly, y e of t he ss and a n a mmss pre by priv te i iti tive, the Co i ion ’ n n ra s should i terpret to you the ge e l wi h of the people .

I l C arob b i a a a a , the Gonf loniere th t ye r, ddress

m ma a a a ing hi self to the chief gistr te of R venn , then a dded

I amsure you will make use of all your influence before the Common Council to obtaina favourable reply man n n s ca se s act to the de d of the Flore ti e , be u by thi

e s a the w n n a s s th y de ire to rep ir ro g do e by their nce tor , and the disastrous treatment D ante has received at their ’ h ands.

The M unicipio of Ravenn a replied briefly that a and a they could not gr nt the request, th t

‘ T he deposit of the sacred remains of D ante Alighieri in a na c n n a R ven ould no lo ger, owi g to the h ppily altered c n s a nas a o dition of It ly, be looked upo perpetuation of

1 n th e nmn Appoi ted by e Gov r e t to arrange the plan of the e es f stiviti .

2 1 0 D ant e at Rav enna here and now there to introduce his mattock into

a a m a a a nd the w ll , suddenly c e upon c vity , felt his tool strike a g a inst wood which g ave b a ck a hollow sound . H is curiosity being roused , the ma m a son re oved c refully other surrounding stones , when there appe a red a wooden box which parti ally a m a ma fell to pieces , reve ling so e portions of hu n

m wa i n skeleton . At the botto of the box s the scription

D antis O ssa D enuper revisa die 3 Jumi

and further ex amin a tion discovered a nother i n scription simil arly written on one of the outer pl anks of the chest

D ant is O ssa A Me Fra Antonio Sant i nn 1 6 H i c posita. A o 7 7 ’ Die 1 8 Oct ob ris.

ma at Fell et t i and A zed this discovery , Angelo

radi - ma a D , his fellow work n , quickly repl ced the a nd as bones i n the box , , securing it best they a could , conveyed the precious recept cle into the

a dj oining mausoleumof D ante . I n a very short time the news of the discovery spre ad like wild a a fire through the city . The uthorities rrived in

a and a was a h ste , in their presence deed dr wn up

a a by the not ry , st ting the discovery , while the popul ace outside could h ardly be restra ined from Di sco v ery o f t he Remains 2 1 1 bre aking down the iron g ate of the mausoleumin m and their ixed frenzy of curiosity j oy , while they mm a a a re e bered tr dition current i n the city, th t the Ch apel of B ra c c i o fo rt e cont a ined a treasure d a which one y would be yielded up . — Medical experts Professor C avaliere G iova nni — Pugli oli and Cl a udio B ertozzi made a ca reful

am a a nd re ex in tion of the bones , proceeded to construct the skeleton . The minuti ae of their am a a m a ex in tion , thou gh full of i nterest for edic l a fit l a or scientific tre tise , would not be y pl ced a here , but for the purpose of identific tion they were all sufficient to prove th at the rema ins were a a a indeed those of D nte . The st ture nswered to th at of the poet as ne arly as the mea surement of a c an m and skeleton represent the livin g for , the skull found in the chest corresponded ex actly with ’ the ma sk t aken from D a nte s face immedi ately a a was m fter his de th , which brou ght fro Florence

ma m a for the purpose of kin g this co p rison . The next step wa s to ex a mine the s arcoph agus a and i n the ch pel , here we will quote the words of

man - Dr . Moore , who received fro eye witness the account of the proceedings

mt a few a s a o one r . e e T he write Dr Moor ' , ye r g , ms n s n occas n and who was present o nthis o t i tere ti g io ,

ha e a a and s ese e as a a who d carri d w y , till pr rv d relic, small portion of t h e preciou s du st whic h was found at

h m s e amna o n ac t e bo tt o mof the to b . Thi x i ti took pl e o n n 1 8 6 a nd the tomé wa s t/zen ozmd to be emt Ju e 7 , 5 , f p y, — 1 4 2 2 1 2 D ant e at R av e nna

e ce a t a s s s anc e with the x ption of lit le e rthy or du ty ub t , and a few bones corresponding with most of those miss i n t he c est ec n sc e and es w g in h r e tly di over d , th e ere c ertified by the surgeon present to belong und oubtedly s m n n in i a s a the a s e t . e t to e k le o There w re fou d , l o,

t e e a e ea s c ssess a s c a few wi h r d l ur l l ve , whi h po pe i l ’ interest i n reference to the d escriptionof Dante s burial

na n e we a e a a e . c e to which h v lre dy ref rred It o t i d , furth r, s m e a mns e ma the sam o e brok n fr g e t of Gre k rble, of e th a c s es s material as e s r ophagu itself. Th e were oon found to proceed froma rude hole which had been n c e sa c a s at a r se k o k d through the r oph gu the b ck , p eci ly at the part accessible only fromt he inside of the monas t er w c e n all m a y, through hi h , b yo d doubt, the re ov l of n the bones had been e ffected . Thi s hole had bee s e c s and c men and n as topp d up with bri k e t, the pl tered n ’1 over outside so as to l eave o mark .

By the light of subsequent history we must now retra ce our steps to the period of the a bstraction ma m 1 8 of the re ins fro the sepulchre . I n 4 3, t he d ate of the reconstruction of the tomb by Ber

a m ma a nd n rdo B e bo , the re ins were in it , were ’

a a . a a a a n tur lly left there Bern rdo s epit ph , lre dy at and cited length , still to be seen upon the left

a ma m a a w ll of the usoleu , is st nding record of m a . 1 2 0 a a the f ct I n 5 , when bout to be cl i ed

by the Florentines , they were gone . But it wa 1 1 8 0 a m a s not till April 4 , 9 , th t the cul in ting proof was supplied as to how the remova l of the

‘ ’ H i st or i cal R evi ew c e 1 888 T he T m D ane , O tob r, , o b of t ,

6 8 . p . 4

2 1 4 D ant e at Ravenna

where no despoiler could re ach them. Fra a Antonio did not let it slip . He h stened to relieve the Fr ancisc a n Superiors fromthe burden of a secret which must h ave been tra nsmitted by e ach in turn to his successor in office for a Fra a centu ry and a half. I t is recorded th t Antonio S anti occupied a n importa nt offici al 1 6 2 and position i n the convent in 7 , held it till was a 1 6 a . fter 7 7 , the d te of his inscription H e a 1 0 a a was live in 7 3, when C rdin l Corsi busying m a m and was hi self with the rep irs of the to b , obliged to send forty sbirri to protect his work men from the h ara ssing att acks of the Fra n c i sc ans a a , who prob bly fe red the discovery of a a their secret . It w s fortun te for Fra Antonio ’ and his brotherhood th at the C ardin al s rep airs did not extend to the s arcoph agus itself. At length the works were completed . The P a dre Superiore must have drawn a long a and a a a a bre th of relief, v gue tr dition prev iled am a am ong the Fr ti , which they kept secret ong m a a B racci ofort e the selves , th t the ch pel of con t ained a great trea sure . a as 1 86 a a a at a As l te 5 , writer st tes th t th t time relatives of the l ast Warden were still exist ing who remembered h aving he ard of the s ame tra dition fromhis lips . There was yet a nother tradition present to the minds of the people at the time of the gre at dis ver c o y. T he D reamof t he Sacrist an 2 1 5

a a a a a The s crist n of the Fr ncisc n Confr ternity , a La a a a was c lled Confr ternit dell Mercede , wont to sleep in the d amp recesses of the ancient B i r am was ch apel of racc ofo t e . H is n e Angelo 1 a us a Grillo . Ricci , in his gre t work , tells th t i n 1 89 0 there were many who remembered himin

a a and a a R venn , th t he used to indic te the corner of the ch apel where the doorway had been blocked u and a a am u u p , to rel te dre which , tho gh t rned at m into ridicule the ti e , when viewed by the light of s ubsequent events is at le ast worthy of a a as attention . The n rr tive is follows The s a crist a n decl ared himself to h ave seen in his dre ama sh ade issue fromthe spot indi ca t ed a and a a , cl d in red , th t it p ssed through the a a ch apel into the adj oining cemetery . It ppro ched him and a was , , on being sked who it , replied , I ’ a a mD nte . a M 1 6 f w a a 8 . e a The s crist n died in y, 5 A d ys afterwards (it will be remembered that the 2 7 t h was d a a a the y of the discovery) , i n th t very ngle of the ch apel where the doorway had been a blocked , were found the bones of D nte . I t was a m am a ma not posthu ous dre , or story de a a a up fter the event by the old s crist n , for, being

a was ma . a are de d , he not there to ke it The f cts as a and as a a s 1 8 0 they st nd , l tely 9 there were a m a witnesses live to prove the . They be r a curiously close resemblance to the dre am of

1 ‘ l t . . 1 U p 74 . 2 1 6 D ant e at Ravenna

a as a J copo Alighieri , recorded by Bocc ccio , which has been so stu diously discredited by the m neg ative att acks of modern criticis . This l ast touch of the marvellous forms the concluding link to the cha in of an undoubtedly ma a a a re rk ble history, which those who visit R venn c an verify for themselves . On the wall of the cloister in S an Fra ncesco they can re ad the in scription which recites how th at was the very at spot where , the beginning of the sixteenth a was ma a century , the perture de by the Fr n ci scans a , through which they penetr ted into the a a a and m s rcoph gus of D nte , withdrew fro it his ma re ins , thus securing for ever the possession of themto R avenn a. I n the Biblioteca N azion ale they c an see the a a wooden chest , or box , c refully preserved , ex ctly as was Fr a it , with the two inscriptions by a and a a Antonio S nti , the Custodi n of the libr ry , a ua m as Achille P sq li , will tell the , he told the a a had m writer of these p ges , th t he hi self seen the box fall fromthe wall and empty its precious

am a contents upon the ground . I n the s e pl ce c analso be seen the c ast t aken fromthe skeleton in the gl ass coffin where the rema ins themselves were exposed to the exult ant popul ace of R avenn a . a u 2 2 and 2 6 l a For three d ys, J ne 4, 5 , , they y in st ate in the midst of the a ncient ch apel of B racci ofort e a u a , th t thro gh the now opened rch way they might be visible to the thronging crowds

D ant e at Rav enna

‘ Qual si lamenta perch e qui si muo ia Per viver colassi1 nonvide quivi ’ ’ Lo refrigerio dell eterna ploia.

P a n 2 , xiv . 3.

Wh oso laments that we must doff this garb

a m a nc Of fr il ort lity , the eforth to live mmr a a o he a no t se n I o t lly b ve, h th e ’ n a n s The sweet refreshi g of th t heave ly hower .

T H E

'

E l i ot S k 62 P a t r nost r R ow L o nd on. l t oc , , e e ,

U N V E RS T OF C L R N LOS N G E LE S I I Y A IFO IA . A T HE U N I V E RSIT Y LI BR AR Y T h i s b o o k i s D U E o nt he l ast da t e stamp ed b e l o w

J AN 1 2 1949

Fo r m L

’ m- » l o.