The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
Line 73. Dante is a firm believer in the inflaence of the stars on human actions and natures, as will be seen fully in Canto YIII. of the "Paradise ;" but he allows that the will is free, and that a man can combat successfully the evil nature implanted in him by the stars. Line 79. To God himself, the Creator of the soul. Line 99. In the Mosaic law, those beasts are clean who chew the cud and have the cloven hoof.
The Pope is an unclean beast, because though he can ruminate and pass ^ood ordinances, he wants the cloven foot — i.e., he does not separate the spintnal &om temporal authority. This ingenious explanation is by Venturi, who at the same time bids the reader remember that Dante was a Ghibeline, and factious to fanaticism !
p. 194Canto XVI. Was wont old Rome, which made the world to smile To have two suns, who each of them displayed Various, the earthly, and the Godly style. One has usurped the other, the sword blade Is joined to the crosier, and together grown, ^'® Through open force the ill accord is made : The one fears not the other, when thus one. If thou believest not, think thee of its com ; For by its seed is every herbage known.
Upon the land the Adige and Po adorn "^ Valour and courtesy were wont to appear Ere Frederic there in battle was outbome. Now with security can wander there Whoever wishes to avoid, through shame, Converse with good men, nor to see them near. '-'^ Still are there three old men, through whom doth blame The ancient age, the new, ah ! how they would That God to a better life their souls should claim. Pallazzo*s Conrad, the Gherardo good.
And Guido da Castel, fiur better named '^ The simple Lombard in the FranMsh mode. Say then henceforth, the Church of Eome that claim'ed Two opposite powers within herseK to wed. Falls in the mire, herself, and burden shamed." ** Marco mine, thou arguest well," I said, ^^ " And now I see why from the heritage The sons of Levi were disherited. But who is that Gherardo, who as gauge Thou saidst remained amongst a worn-out race.
As a reproof unto a barbarous age ?" ^^ ** Thy speech deceives me, or thou dost but press, Since speaking Tuscan to me," he replied, " Of good Gherardo thou hast heard no trace. No other surname be to him applied, Unless his daughter, Q^ja's, be allowed, ^^ I cannot further come, God with you bide. Line 107. The Emperor and the Bishop of Borne.
The necessity for a separation of the temporal and spiritual rule is the keynote of Dante's system of politics. Line 117. Frederic II., iiitrodnced amongst the heretics in Canto X. of " HeU :" his defeat before Parma, in 1248, by the Papal forces is here alluded to. Line 126. The French called all Italians Lombards. Line 138. Gherardo da Camino, of Trevizi. Dante alludes to him honourably in his Convito. His daughter Gaja was one of the first Italian poetesses, celebrated more especially for her beauty and modesty.
Canto XVn. p. 195Behold the light that shimmers through the cloud, Already whiten : to appear before The angel there, to me is disallowed :" He spake, and would not hear me any more. "^
CANTO XVII. The poets issue from the smoke, and various scenes of anger are shown to Dante in vision — Philomel, Haman, Amata. He is roused by the appearance of ao Angel, who.directs ikem to mount to the next oomioe. The night closes as tiiey reach the summit of the stairs, and halting there Virgil informs Dante that spiritual sloth is purged in that circle. Eeades, recaU to mind, if e'er did roll A cloud athwart thee, on an Alpine height, Through which thou saw'st no other than a mole : How when the thick and humid yapours white Began to rarefy, within its veil * The sun's sphere dimly pierced its welcome light : And let not thy imagination fail To picture how, while sinking to its rest, Within that smoke, the sun once more I hail. Mine, with my master's trusty footsteps prest, So from that cloud I issued to the ray That only lightened now the mountain's crest : Imagination, that dost steal away At times the outward scene, that man marks nought. Although around a thousand trumpets bray, ^ What moves thee from the senses if not caught P Moves thee that light, by angel will conveyed. Or self-engendered, which in Heaven is wrought. Of her ferocious deed, who from a maid Became the bird that most delights in song, ^° Upon my spirit's sight appeared the shade : And here my mind was centered with such strong Absorption, that on it no trace could lie, Of things that to the outward scene belong. Then showered within to my high fantasy ^ One in his rancorous fui^ crucified, Fierce in his aspect, and as such did die.
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Line 73. Dante is a firm believer in the inflaence of the stars on human actions and natures, as will be seen fully in Canto YIII. of the "Paradise ;" but he allows that the will is free, and that a man can combat successfully the evil nature implanted in him by the stars. Line 79. To God himself, the Creator of the soul. Line 99. In the Mosaic law, those beasts are clean who chew the cud and have the cloven hoof.
The Pope is an unclean beast, because though he can ruminate and pass ^ood ordinances, he wants the cloven foot — i.e., he does not separate the spintnal &om temporal authority. This ingenious explanation is by Venturi, who at the same time bids the reader remember that Dante was a Ghibeline, and factious to fanaticism !
194 PURGATORY. Canto XVI. Was wont old Rome, which made the world to smile To have two suns, who each of them displayed Various, the earthly, and the Godly style. One has usurped the other, the sword blade Is joined to the crosier, and together grown, ^'® Through open force the ill accord is made : The one fears not the other, when thus one. If you believest not, think you of its com ; For by its seed is every herbage known. Upon the land the Adige and Po adorn "^ Valour and courtesy were wont to appear Ere Frederic there in battle was outbome. Now with security can wander there Whoever wishes to avoid, through shame, Converse with good men, nor to see them near. '-'^ Still are there three old men, through whom does blame The ancient age, the new, ah ! how they would That God to a better life their souls should claim. Pallazzo*s Conrad, the Gherardo good. And Guido da Castel, fiur better named '^ The simple Lombard in the FranMsh mode. Say then henceforth, the Church of Eome that claim'ed Two opposite powers within herseK to wed. Falls in the mire, herself, and burden shamed." ** Marco mine, you arguest well," I said, ^^ " And now I see why from the heritage The sons of Levi were disherited. But who is that Gherardo, who as gauge You saidst remained amongst a worn-out race. As a reproof unto a barbarous age ?" ^^ ** Your speech deceives me, or you do but press, Since speaking Tuscan to me," he replied, " Of good Gherardo you have heard no trace. No other surname be to him applied, Unless his daughter, Q^ja's, be allowed, ^^ I cannot further come, God with you bide. Line 107. The Emperor and the Bishop of Borne. The necessity for a separation of the temporal and spiritual rule is the keynote of Dante's system of politics. Line 117. Frederic II., iiitrodnced amongst the heretics in Canto X. of " HeU :" his defeat before Parma, in 1248, by the Papal forces is here alluded to. Line 126. The French called all Italians Lombards. Line 138. Gherardo da Camino, of Trevizi. Dante alludes to him honourably in his Convito. His daughter Gaja was one of the first Italian poetesses, celebrated more especially for her beauty and modesty.
Canto XVn. PURGATORY. 195 Behold the light that shimmers through the cloud, Already whiten : to appear before The angel there, to me is disallowed :" He spake, and would not hear me any more. "^
CANTO XVII. The poets issue from the smoke, and various scenes of anger are shown to Dante in vision — Philomel, Haman, Amata. He is roused by the appearance of ao Angel, who.directs ikem to mount to the next oomioe. The night closes as tiiey reach the summit of the stairs, and halting there Virgil informs Dante that spiritual sloth is purged in that circle. Eeades, recaU to mind, if e'er did roll A cloud athwart you, on an Alpine height, Through which you saw'st no other than a mole : How when the thick and humid yapours white Began to rarefy, within its veil * The sun's sphere dimly pierced its welcome light : And let not your imagination fail To picture how, while sinking to its rest, Within that smoke, the sun once more I hail. Mine, with my master's trusty footsteps prest, So from that cloud I issued to the ray That only lightened now the mountain's crest : Imagination, that do steal away At times the outward scene, that man marks nought. Although around a thousand trumpets bray, ^ What moves you from the senses if not caught P Moves you that light, by angel will conveyed. Or self-engendered, which in Heaven is wrought. Of her ferocious deed, who from a maid Became the bird that most delights in song, ^° Upon my spirit's sight appeared the shade : And here my mind was centered with such strong Absorption, that on it no trace could lie, Of things that to the outward scene belong. Then showered within to my high fantasy ^ One in his rancorous fui^ crucified, Fierce in his aspect, and as such did die.
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