Purgatory

by Dante Alighieri

  has taken much pains to sift all the notices he could collect relating to him. Honourable mention of his name is made by our Poet in the Treatise v. 17. Frederic Novello.] Son of the Conte Guido da Battifolle, and slain de Vulg. Eloq. 1. i. c. 15.

  by one of the family of Bostoli.

  v. 76. Thou inn of grief.]

  v. 18. Of Pisa he.] Farinata de’ Scornigiani of Pisa. His father Marzuco, who had entered the order of the Frati Minori, so entirely overcame the Thou most beauteous inn

  feelings of resentment, that he even kissed the hands of the slayer of Why should hard-favour’d grief be lodg’d in thee?

  his son, and, as he was following the funeral, exhorted his kinsmen to reconciliation.

  Shakespeare, Richard II a. 5. s. 1.

  v. 20. Count 0rso.] Son of Napoleone da Cerbaia, slain by Alberto da v. 89. Justinian’s hand.] “What avails it that Justinian delivered thee Mangona, his uncle.

  from the Goths, and reformed thy laws, if thou art no longer under the control of his successors in the empire?”

  v. 23. Peter de la Brosse.] Secretary of Philip III of France. The courtiers, envying the high place which he held in the king’s favour, v. 94. That which God commands.] He alludes to the precept-”Render prevailed on Mary of Brabant to charge him falsely with an attempt upon unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s.”

  her person for which supposed crime he suffered death. So say the Italian commentators. Henault represents the matter very differently: 102

  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory v. 98. O German Albert!] The Emperor Albert I. succeeded Adolphus in

  In latus alterne faevum dextrumque recumbens

  1298, and was murdered in 1308. See Par Canto XIX

  Nec javat: inde oculos tollit resupinus in altum:

  Nusquam inventa quies; semper quaesita: quod illi

  114 v. 103. Thy successor.] The successor of Albert was Henry of

  Primum in deliciis fuerat, mox torquet et angit:

  Luxembourg, by whose interposition in the affairs of Italy our Poet

  Nec morburm sanat, nec fallit taedia morbi.

  hoped to have been reinstated in his native city.

  CANTO VII

  v. 101. Thy sire.] The Emperor Rodolph, too intent on increasing his power in Germany to give much of his thoughts to Italy, “the garden of the empire.”

  v. 14. Where one of mean estate might clasp his lord.] Ariosto Orl. F.

  c. xxiv. st. 19

  v. 107. Capulets and Montagues.] Our ears are so familiarized to the names of these rival families in the language of Shakespeare, that I have

  E l’abbracciaro, ove il maggior s’abbraccia

  used them instead of the “Montecchi” and “Cappelletti.”

  Col capo nudo e col ginocchio chino.

  v. 108. Philippeschi and Monaldi.] Two other rival families in Orvieto.

  v. 31. The three holy virtues.] Faith, Hope and Charity.

  v. 113. What safety, Santafiore can supply.] A place between Pisa and v. 32. The red.] Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.

  Sienna. What he alludes to is so doubtful, that it is not certain whether we should not read “come si cura”—” How Santafiore is governed.”

  v. 72. Fresh emeralds.]

  Perhaps the event related in the note to v. 58, Canto XI. may be pointed at.

  Under foot the violet,

  Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay

  v. 127. Marcellus.]

  Broider’d the ground, more colour’d than with stone Of costliest emblem.

  Un Marcel diventa

  Ogni villan che parteggiando viene.

  Milton, P. L. b. iv. 793

  Repeated by Alamanni in his Coltivazione, 1. i.

  Compare Ariosto, Orl. F. c. xxxiv. st. 49.

  v. 79. Salve Regina.] The beginning of a prayer to the Virgin. It is sufficient here to observe, that in similar instances I shall either preserve the original Latin words or translate them, as it may seem best v. 51. I sick wretch.] Imitated by the Cardinal de Polignac in his Anti-to suit the purpose of the verse.

  Lucretius, 1. i. 1052.

  v. 91. The Emperor Rodolph.] See the last Canto, v. 104. He died in 1291.

  Ceu lectum peragrat membris languentibus aeger

  103

  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory v. 95. That country.] Bohemia.

  Full well can the wise poet of Florence

  v. 97. Ottocar.] King of Bohemia, was killed in the battle of Marchfield, That hight Dante, speaken in this sentence

  fought with Rodolph, August 26, 1278. Winceslaus II. His son,who Lo! in such manner rime is Dantes tale.

  succeeded him in the kingdom of Bohemia. died in 1305. He is again Full selde upriseth by his branches smale

  taxed with luxury in the Paradise Canto XIX. 123.

  Prowesse of man for God of his goodnesse

  Woll that we claim of him our gentlenesse:

  v. 101. That one with the nose deprest. ] Philip III of France, who died For of our elders may we nothing claime

  in 1285, at Perpignan, in his retreat from Arragon.

  But temporal thing, that men may hurt and maime.

  v. 102. Him of gentle look.] Henry of Naverre, father of Jane married Chaucer, Wife of Bathe’s Tale.

  to Philip IV of France, whom Dante calls “mal di Francia”—” Gallia’s bane.”

  Compare Homer, Od. b. ii. v. 276; Pindar, Nem. xi. 48 and Euripides, Electra, 369.

  v. 110. He so robust of limb.] Peter III called the Great, King of Arragon, who died in 1285, leaving four sons, Alonzo, James, Frederick and v. 122. To Charles.] “Al Nasuto.”—”Charles II King of Naples, is no less Peter. The two former succeeded him in the kingdom of Arragon, and inferior to his father Charles I. than James and Frederick to theirs, Peter Frederick in that of Sicily. See G. Villani, 1. vii. c. 102. and Mariana, III.”

  I. xiv. c. 9. He is enumerated among the Provencal poets by Millot, Hist.

  Litt. Des Troubadours, t. iii. p. 150.

  v. 127. Costanza.] Widow of Peter III She has been already mentioned in the third Canto, v. 112. By Beatrice and Margaret are probably meant two of the daughters of Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence; the v. 111. Him of feature prominent.] “Dal maschio naso”—with the former married to St. Louis of France, the latter to his brother Charles masculine nose.” Charles I. King of Naples, Count of Anjou, and brother of Anjou. See Paradise, Canto Vl. 135. Dante therefore considers Peter of St. Lonis. He died in 1284. The annalist of Florence remarks, that as the most illustrious of the three monarchs.

  “there had been no sovereign of the house of France, since the time of Charlemagne, by whom Charles was surpassed either in military v. 129. Harry of England.] Henry III.

  renown, and prowess, or in the loftiness of his understanding.” G.

  Villani, 1. vii. c. 94. We shall, however, find many of his actions v. 130. Better issue.] Edward l. of whose glory our Poet was perhaps severely reprobated in the twentieth Canto.

  a witness, in his visit to England.

  v. 113. That stripling.] Either (as the old commentators suppose) Alonzo v. 133. William, that brave Marquis.] William, Marquis of Monferrat, III King of Arragon, the eldest son of Peter III who died in 1291, at the was treacherously seized by his own subjects, at Alessandria, in age of 27, or, according to Venturi, Peter the youngest son. The former Lombardy, A.D. 1290, and ended his life in prison. See G. Villani, 1. vii.

  was a young prince of virtue sufficient to have justified the eulogium c. 135. A war ensued between the people of Alessandria and those of and the hopes of Dante. See Mariana, 1. xiv. c. 14.

  Monferrat and the Canavese.

  v. 119. Rarely.]

  104

  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory CANTO VIII

  v. 115. Valdimagra.] See Hell, Canto XXIV. 144. and Notes.

  v. 133. Sev’n times the tired sun.] “The sun shall not enter into the v. 6. That seems to mourn for the expiring day.]
The curfew tolls the constellation of Aries seven times more, before thou shalt have still knell of parting day. Gray’s Elegy.

  better cause for the good opinion thou expresses” of Valdimagra, in the kind reception thou shalt there meet with.” Dante was hospitably v. 13. Te Lucis Ante.] The beginning of one of the evening hymns.

  received by the Marchese Marcello Malaspina, during his banishment.

  A.D. 1307.

  v. 36. As faculty.]

  CANTO IX

  My earthly by his heav’nly overpower’d

  * * * *

  As with an object, that excels the sense,

  v. 1. Now the fair consort of Tithonus old.]

  Dazzled and spent.

  La concubina di Titone antico.

  So Tassoni, Secchia Rapita, c. viii. st. 15.

  Milton, P. L. b. viii. 457.

  La puttanella del canuto amante.

  v. 53. Nino, thou courteous judge.] Nino di Gallura de’ Visconti nephew v. 5. Of that chill animal.] The scorpion.

  to Count Ugolino de’ Gherardeschi, and betrayed by him. See Notes to Hell Canto XXXIII.

  v. 14. Our minds.] Compare Hell, Canto XXVI. 7.

  v. 18. A golden-feathered eagle. ] Chaucer, in the house of Fame at the v. 65. Conrad.] Currado Malaspina.

  conclusion of the first book and beginning of the second, represents himself carried up by the “grim pawes” of a golden eagle. Much of his v. 71 My Giovanna.] The daughter of Nino, and wife of Riccardo da description is closely imitated from Dante.

  Cammino of Trevigi.

  v. 50. Lucia.] The enIightening, grace of heaven Hell, Canto II. 97.

  v. 73. Her mother.] Beatrice, marchioness of Este wife of Nino, and after his death married to Galeazzo de’ Visconti of Milan.

  v. 85. The lowest stair.] By the white step is meant the distinctness with which the conscience of the penitent reflects his offences, by the burnt v. 74. The white and wimpled folds.] The weeds of widowhood.

  and cracked one, his contrition on, their account; and by that of porphyry, the fervour with which he resolves on the future pursuit of v. 80. The viper.] The arms of Galeazzo and the ensign of the Milanese.

  piety and virtue. Hence, no doubt, Milton describing “the gate of heaven,” P. L. b. iii. 516. Each stair mysteriously was meant.

  v. 81. Shrill Gallura’s bird.] The cock was the ensign of Gallura, Nino’s province in Sardinia. Hell, Canto XXII. 80. and Notes.

  v. 100. Seven times.] Seven P’s, to denote the seven sins (Peccata) of which he was to be cleansed in his passage through purgatory.

  105

  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory

  Cosi da imo della roccia scogli

  v. 115. One is more precious.] The golden key denotes the divine

  Moven.

  authority by which the priest absolves the sinners the silver expresses the learning and judgment requisite for the due discharge of that office.

  —from the rock’s low base

  v. 127. Harsh was the grating.]

  Thus flinty paths advanc’d.

  On a sudden open fly

  With impetuous recoil and jarring, sound

  In neither place is actual motion intended to be expressed.

  Th’ infernal doors, and on their hinges grate

  v. 52. That from unbidden. office awes mankind.] Seo 2 Sam. G.

  Harsh thunder

  v 58. Preceding.] Ibid. 14, &c.

  Milton, P. L. b. ii 882

  v. 128. The Turpeian.]

  v. 68. Gregory.] St. Gregory’s prayers are said to have delivered Trajan from hell. See Paradise, Canto XX. 40.

  Protinus, abducto patuerunt temple Metello.

  v. 69. Trajan the Emperor. For this story, Landino refers to two writers,

  Tunc rupes Tarpeia sonat: magnoque reclusas

  whom he calls “Heunando,” of France, by whom he means Elinand, a

  Testatur stridore fores: tune conditus imo

  monk and chronicler, in the reign of Philip Augustus, and “Polycrato,”

  Eruitur tempo multis intactus ab annnis

  of England, by whom is meant John of Salisbury, author of the

  Romani census populi, &c.

  Polycraticus de Curialium Nugis, in the twelfth century. The passage in the text I find to be nearly a translation from that work, 1. v. c. 8. The Lucan. Ph. 1. iii. 157.

  original appears to be in Dio Cassius, where it is told of the Emperor Hadrian, lib. I xix. When a woman appeared to him with a suit, as he was on a journey, at first he answered her, ‘I have no leisure,’ but she CANTO X

  crying out to him, ‘then reign no longer’ he turned about, and heard her cause.”

  v. 6. That Wound.] Venturi justly observes, that the Padre d’Aquino has misrepresented the sense of this passage in his translation.

  v. 119. As to support.] Chillingworth, ch.vi. 54. speaks of “those crouching anticks, which seem in great buildings to labour under the

  —dabat ascensum tendentibus ultra

  weight they bear.” And Lord Shaftesbury has a similar illustration in

  Scissa tremensque silex, tenuique erratica motu.

  his Essay on Wit and Humour, p. 4. s. 3.

  The verb “muover”’ is used in the same signification in the Inferno, CANTO XI

  Canto XVIII. 21.

  v. 1. 0 thou Mighty Father.] The first four lines are borrowed by Pulci, 106

  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory Morg. Magg. c. vi. Dante, in his ‘Credo,’ has again versified the Lord’s prayer.

  v. 97. He perhaps is born.] Some imagine, with much probability, that Dante here augurs the greatness of his own poetical reputation. Others have fancied that he prophesies the glory of Petrarch. But Petrarch was v. 58. I was of Latinum.] Omberto, the son of Guglielino Aldobrandeseo, not yet born.

  Count of Santafiore, in the territory of Sienna His arrogance provoked his countrymen to such a pitch of fury against him, that he was murdered v. 136. suitor.] Provenzano salvani humbled himself so far for the sake by them at Campagnatico.

  of one of his friends, who was detained in captivity by Charles I of Sicily, as personally to supplicate the people of Sienna to contribute the sum v. 79. Oderigi.] The illuminator, or miniature painter, a friend of Giotto required by the king for his ransom: and this act of self-abasement and Dante

  atoned for his general ambition and pride.

  v. 83. Bolognian Franco.] Franco of Bologna, who is said to have been v. 140. Thy neighbours soon.] “Thou wilt know in the time of thy a pupil of Oderigi’s.

  banishment, which is near at hand, what it is to solicit favours of others and ‘tremble through every vein,’ lest they should be refused thee.”

  v. 93. Cimabue.] Giovanni Cimabue, the restorer of painting, was born at Florence, of a noble family, in 1240, and died in 1300. The passage CANTO XII

  in the text is an illusion to his epitaph:

  v. 26. The Thymbraen god.] Apollo Si modo, quem perhibes, pater est

  Credidit ut Cimabos picturae castra tenere,

  Thymbraeus Apollo. Virg. Georg. iv. 323.

  Sic tenuit vivens: nunc tenet astra poli.

  v. 37. Mars.]

  v. 95. The cry is Giotto’s.] In Giotto we have a proof at how early a period With such a grace,

  the fine arts were encouraged in Italy. His talents were discovered by Cimabue, while he was tending sheep for his father in the The giants that attempted to scale heaven

  neighbourhood of Florence, and he was afterwards patronized by Pope When they lay dead on the Phlegren plain

  Benedict XI and Robert King of Naples, and enjoyed the society and Mars did appear to Jove.

  friendship of Dante, whose likeness he has transmitted to posterity. He died in 1336, at the age of 60.

  Beaumont and Fletcher, The Prophetess, a. 2. s. 3.

  v. 96. One Guido from the other.] Guido Cavalcanti, the friend of our v. 42. O Rehoboam.] 1 Kings, c. xii. 18.

  Poet, (see Hell, Canto X.
59.) had eclipsed the literary fame of Guido Guinicelli, of a noble family in Bologna, whom we shall meet with in the v. 46. A1cmaeon.] Virg. Aen. l. vi. 445, and Homer, Od. xi. 325.

  twenty-sixth Canto and of whom frequent mention is made by our Poet in his Treatise de Vulg. Eloq. Guinicelli died in 1276. Many of Cavalcanti’s writings, hitherto in MS. are now publishing at Florence”

  v. 48. Sennacherib.] 2 Kings, c. xix. 37.

  Esprit des Journaux, Jan. 1813.

  107

  The Divine Comedy of Dante - Purgatory v. 58. What master of the pencil or the style.]

  v. 101. Sapia.] A lady of Sienna, who, living in exile at Colle, was so overjoyed at a defeat which her countrymen sustained near that place

  —nimitable on earth

  that she declared nothing more was wanting to make her die contented.

  By model, or by shading pencil drawn.

  v. 114. The merlin.] The story of the merlin is that having been induced by a gleam of fine weather in the winter to escape from his master, he Milton, P. L. b. iii. 509.

  was soon oppressed by the rigour of the season.

  v. 94. The chapel stands.] The church of San Miniato in Florence v. 119. The hermit Piero.] Piero Pettinagno, a holy hermit of Florence.

  situated on a height that over looks the Arno, where it is crossed by the bridge Rubaconte, so called from Messer Rubaconte da Mandelia, of Milan chief magistrate of Florence, by whom the bridge was founded in v. 141. That vain multitude.] The Siennese. See Hell, Canto XXIX. 117.

  1237. See G. Villani, 1. vi. c. 27.

  “Their acquisition of Telamone, a seaport on the confines of the Maremma, has led them to conceive hopes of becom ing a naval power: v. 96. The well-guided city] This is said ironically of Florence.