The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
xxxvi INTRODUCTION. The Government of Florence was now essentially popular^ but the Gnelph nobles, freed from the presence of their rivals, paid but little respect to the authorities chosen by the people, and tyrannised over the lower orders as ruthlessly as the Ghibelines had ever done.
Their acts of lawlessness were not, however, unopposed, and the leaders of the people procured the recall of some of the Ghibeline nobles, to serve as a counterpoise to the insolent power of the Guelphs. At the same time the Government was made more democratic, and the nobles being for a time restrained, Florence remained for some years in unusual repose.
At this period they made war on the Aretines and Pisans, defeated the former at the battle of Campaldino, a.d. 1289 (alluded to in the fifth Canto of ** Purgatory"), and after forcing the latter to capitulate at Caprona, 1260, on both which occasions Dante was present, obtained a complete ascendency throughout Tuscany.
The disputes between the nobles and the people now recommenced: the utter disappearance of the Ghibeline Action made the Guelph nobles determine to become the rulers of the city, while the people were equally determined to resist their designs.
Corso Donati, a leading aristocrat, whose restless spirit kept the city in strife until his death, killed a citizen in a street combat, and being acquitted by the captain of the magistracy, who was under aristocratic influence, the people took up arms to enforce justice. Giano della Bella, a noble who had sided with the popular party, withdrew from the city into voluntary exile, rather than by his presence encourage a civil war.
By the exertions of the friends of peace on both sides the alarming crisis was got over, and agreement between the people and the nobles was patched up, the former retaining the chief seats of power, 80 it was hoped at the close of the thirteenth century that the troubled city would again enjoy repose.
But it appeared that such was never to be the case : as Dante has related the belief of the time, Mars, the tutelar deity of Florence, never forgave it for erecting the Baptist in his place, and ** sempre con I'arte sua la fera triste. Scarcely were the disputes
INTRODUCTION. xxxvii between the Guelph and the Ghibeline and between the people and the nobles at rest when new factions were imported from the neighbouring State of Pistoia. A quarrel arose there in the family of the Cancillieri, descended from a common ancestor who had married two wires, one of whom was called Bianca. Her descendants taking one side of the quarrel were called Bianchi (Whites), the other Neri (Blacks).
The cause of either party was rapidly taken up by the whole town, which was thus divided into two factions, and the Neri being driven out, sought assistance from Florence — " Though in Pistoia first the Neri fail, And Florence taketh men and customs new. " H!eU," XXIV., lines 148, 4. Corso Donati at once espoused the cause of the Neri, and the whole of that city also was soon arrayed on the side of one or other of the contending parties.
All who yet remained of the Ghibelines joined cause with the Neri, who had also many partisans amongst the Quelphs, and their party became the most powerful. Even the people were ranged on one or the other side in this extraordinary strife. The Neri being the weakest, under the advice of Corso Donati determined to apply to the Pope to send Charles of Valois to assist them and reform Florence.
Their plot was discovered, and at this crisis Dante, who had but recently devoted himself to public aflfairs, was the chief magistrate of the city. Inspired by his energetic counsels, the magistracy at once banished Corso Donati and most of his followers, and at the same time some of the leaders of the Bianchi were also banished, though they were very shortly recalled.
Dante then proceeded to Rome to secure the good offices of the Pope, but during his absence Charles of Valois arrived at Florence, ostensibly for the purpose of healing its differences. — " Hell," VI., 64—75 ; " Purgatory," XX., 70—75.
By his manoBuvres and influence, aided by the opportune return of Corso Donati, the Bianchi were in their turn banished from the town, and Dante returning from his embassy to Boine found himself condemned to ruin and exile. Charles of Valois xxxviii INTRODUCTION. haying completed his task retired from Florence, and pursued the attempt on Sicily, against Frederic, grandson of Manfred, for which he had left France.
In this he signally failed, and returned discomfited to his own country, as Dante, exulting in the shame of the prince who had brought about his own ruin, makes Hugh Capet prophesy in " Purgatory" of the expedition of his descendant — " No kingdom there, but only sin, and shame. Will be his gain, to him more grievous far As such a loss so lightly doth he deem. " Purgatory," XX., 7^-78.
Dante, who thus suddenly appears upon the scene, now as the chief magistrate of his State, and now as a proscribed fugitive, was bom in May, 1265, the year in which was fought the battle of the Arbia, one year previous to Manfred's defeat. His father died shortly after his birth, but though of a Guelph family the child appears to have been left quietly in the city during the early misfortunes of his party.
During his youth the city enjoyed comparative quiet, and the young Alighieri, who early showed the studious and thoughtful bent of his mind, soon acquired, under the teaching of Ser Brunetto, all the learning of his time.
The reverent affection of Dante for his old tutor is clearly shown, although he does place him in HeU for a crime for which we must take Dante's word that he was guilty : — " It grieves me, what I never can forget, Your mild paternal image, good and dear. When in the world before me, you would set How man can grow eternal in his sphere ; And all my gratitude, while life remains, 'Tis fit that in my language it appear. " Hell," XV., 82-87.
Little is known of Dante's youth beyond what he has himself incidentally told us in his works; but the guiding influence of his life must be considered his passion for Beatrice, the daughter of Folco Portinari, for whom he has built so durable a memorial in his great poem. The passions wake early in the warm Italian clime, and Dante tells us that he was not nine years old when he first felt that
xxxvi INTRODUCTION. The Government of Florence was now essentially popular^ but the Gnelph nobles, freed from the presence of their rivals, paid but little respect to the authorities chosen by the people, and tyrannised over the lower orders as ruthlessly as the Ghibelines had ever done.
Their acts of lawlessness were not, however, unopposed, and the leaders of the people procured the recall of some of the Ghibeline nobles, to serve as a counterpoise to the insolent power of the Guelphs. At the same time the Government was made more democratic, and the nobles being for a time restrained, Florence remained for some years in unusual repose.
At this period they made war on the Aretines and Pisans, defeated the former at the battle of Campaldino, a.d. 1289 (alluded to in the fifth Canto of ** Purgatory"), and after forcing the latter to capitulate at Caprona, 1260, on both which occasions Dante was present, obtained a complete ascendency throughout Tuscany.
The disputes between the nobles and the people now recommenced: the utter disappearance of the Ghibeline Action made the Guelph nobles determine to become the rulers of the city, while the people were equally determined to resist their designs.
Corso Donati, a leading aristocrat, whose restless spirit kept the city in strife until his death, killed a citizen in a street combat, and being acquitted by the captain of the magistracy, who was under aristocratic influence, the people took up arms to enforce justice. Giano della Bella, a noble who had sided with the popular party, withdrew from the city into voluntary exile, rather than by his presence encourage a civil war.
By the exertions of the friends of peace on both sides the alarming crisis was got over, and agreement between the people and the nobles was patched up, the former retaining the chief seats of power, 80 it was hoped at the close of the thirteenth century that the troubled city would again enjoy repose.
But it appeared that such was never to be the case : as Dante has related the belief of the time, Mars, the tutelar deity of Florence, never forgave it for erecting the Baptist in his place, and ** sempre con I'arte sua la fera triste. Scarcely were the disputes
INTRODUCTION. xxxvii between the Guelph and the Ghibeline and between the people and the nobles at rest when new factions were imported from the neighbouring State of Pistoia. A quarrel arose there in the family of the Cancillieri, descended from a common ancestor who had married two wires, one of whom was called Bianca. Her descendants taking one side of the quarrel were called Bianchi (Whites), the other Neri (Blacks). The cause of either party was rapidly taken up by the whole town, which was thus divided into two factions, and the Neri being driven out, sought assistance from Florence — " Though in Pistoia first the Neri fail, And Florence takes men and customs new." " H!eU," XXIV., lines 148, 4. Corso Donati at once espoused the cause of the Neri, and the whole of that city also was soon arrayed on the side of one or other of the contending parties. All who yet remained of the Ghibelines joined cause with the Neri, who had also many partisans amongst the Quelphs, and their party became the most powerful. Even the people were ranged on one or the other side in this extraordinary strife. The Neri being the weakest, under the advice of Corso Donati determined to apply to the Pope to send Charles of Valois to assist them and reform Florence. Their plot was discovered, and at this crisis Dante, who had but recently devoted himself to public aflfairs, was the chief magistrate of the city. Inspired by his energetic counsels, the magistracy at once banished Corso Donati and most of his followers, and at the same time some of the leaders of the Bianchi were also banished, though they were very shortly recalled. Dante then proceeded to Rome to secure the good offices of the Pope, but during his absence Charles of Valois arrived at Florence, ostensibly for the purpose of healing its differences. — " Hell," VI., 64—75 ; " Purgatory," XX., 70—75. By his manoBuvres and influence, aided by the opportune return of Corso Donati, the Bianchi were in their turn banished from the town, and Dante returning from his embassy to Boine found himself condemned to ruin and exile. Charles of Valois xxxviii INTRODUCTION. haying completed his task retired from Florence, and pursued the attempt on Sicily, against Frederic, grandson of Manfred, for which he had left France. In this he signally failed, and returned discomfited to his own country, as Dante, exulting in the shame of the prince who had brought about his own ruin, makes Hugh Capet prophesy in " Purgatory" of the expedition of his descendant — " No kingdom there, but only sin, and shame. Will be his gain, to him more grievous far As such a loss so lightly does he deem." " Purgatory," XX., 7^-78. Dante, who thus suddenly appears upon the scene, now as the chief magistrate of his State, and now as a proscribed fugitive, was bom in May, 1265, the year in which was fought the battle of the Arbia, one year previous to Manfred's defeat. His father died shortly after his birth, but though of a Guelph family the child appears to have been left quietly in the city during the early misfortunes of his party. During his youth the city enjoyed comparative quiet, and the young Alighieri, who early showed the studious and thoughtful bent of his mind, soon acquired, under the teaching of Ser Brunetto, all the learning of his time. The reverent affection of Dante for his old tutor is clearly shown, although he does place him in HeU for a crime for which we must take Dante's word that he was guilty : — " It grieves me, what I never can forget, Your mild paternal image, good and dear. When in the world before me, you would set How man can grow eternal in his sphere ; And all my gratitude, while life remains, 'Tis fit that in my language it appear." " Hell," XV., 82-87. Little is known of Dante's youth beyond what he has himself incidentally told us in his works; but the guiding influence of his life must be considered his passion for Beatrice, the daughter of Folco Portinari, for whom he has built so durable a memorial in his great poem. The passions wake early in the warm Italian clime, and Dante tells us that he was not nine years old when he first felt that
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