[51]Convito, 1, 10.
[51]Convito, 1, 10.
[52]For now so rarely Poet gathers these,Or Cæsar, winning an immortal praise(Shame unto man's degraded energies),That joy should to the Delphic God ariseWhen haply any one aspires to gainThe high reward of the Peneian prize.—Wright.
[52]
[53]Brunetto Latini's Prophecy,Inf.15.
[53]Brunetto Latini's Prophecy,Inf.15.
[54]See the grand ending ofPurg.27.Tratto t'ho qui con ingegno e con arte;Lo tuo piacere omai prendi per duce:Fuor se' dell'erte vie, fuor se' dell'arte.Vedi il sole che 'n fronte ti riluce.Vede l'erbetta, i fiori, e gli arboscelliChe questa terra sol da sè produce.Mentre che vegnon lieti gli occhi belliChe lagrimando a te venir mi fenno,Seder ti puoi e puoi andar tra elli.Non aspettar mio dir più nè mio cenno;Libero, dritto, sano è tuo arbitrio,E fallo fora non fare a suo senno:Perch'io te sopra te corono e mitrio.
[54]See the grand ending ofPurg.27.
[55]Purg.c. 21.
[55]Purg.c. 21.
[56]Ceased had the voice—when in composed arrayFour mighty shades approaching I survey'd;—Nor joy, nor sorrow did their looks betray.****Assembled thus, was offered to my sightThe school of him, the Prince of poetry,Who, eagle-like, o'er others takes his flight.When they together had conversed awhile,They turned to me with salutation bland,Which from my master drew a friendly smile:And greater glory still they bade me share,Making me join their honourable band—The sixth united to such genius rare.—Wright.
[56]
[57]"Dante che tutto vedea."—Sacchetti, Nov. 114.
[57]"Dante che tutto vedea."—Sacchetti, Nov. 114.
[58]Purg.5.
[58]Purg.5.
[59]La luce in che rideva il mio tesoroCh'io trovai lì, si fe' prima corrusca,Quale a raggio di sole specchio d'oro;Indi rispose: coscienza fuscaO della propria o dell'altrui vergognaPur sentirà la tua parola brusca;Ma nondimen, rimossa ogni menzogna,Tutta tua vision fa manifesta,E lascia pur grattar dov'è la rogna:Che se la voce tua sarà molestaNel primo gusto, vital nutrimentoLascerà poi quando sarà digesta.Questo tuo grido farà come ventoChe le più alte cime più percuote:E ciò non fia d'onor poco argomento.Però ti son mostrate, in queste ruote,Nel monte, e nella valle dolorosa,Pur l'anime che son di fama note.Che l'animo di quel ch'ode non posa,Nè ferma fede, per esemplo ch'ajaLa sua radice incognito e nascosa,Nè per altro argumento che non paja.—Parad.17.
[59]
[60]Non creda Monna Berta e Ser MartinoPer vedere un furare, altro offerere,Vederli dentro al consiglio divino:Chè quel può surger, e quel può cadere.—Ibid.13.
[60]
[61]Inf.6.
[61]Inf.6.
[62]Che in la mente m'è fitta, ed or m'accuora,La cara buona imagine paterna.—Inf.15.
[62]
[63]Charles of Anjou, his Guelf conqueror, is placed above him, in the valley of the kings (Purg.7), "Colui dal maschio naso"—notwithstanding the charges afterwards made against him (Purg.20).
[63]Charles of Anjou, his Guelf conqueror, is placed above him, in the valley of the kings (Purg.7), "Colui dal maschio naso"—notwithstanding the charges afterwards made against him (Purg.20).
[64]See the magnificent picture,Inf.18.
[64]See the magnificent picture,Inf.18.
[65]Ibid.8.
[65]Ibid.8.
[66]Cunizza, Piccarda, Cacciaguida, Roméo. (Parad.9, 3, 15, 6, 10.)——La luce eterna di SigieriChe leggendo nel vico degli StramiSillogizzò invidiosi veri——in company with S. Thomas Aquinas, in the sphere of the Sun. Ozanam gives a few particulars of this forgotten professor of the "Rue du Fouarre," pp. 320-23.
[66]Cunizza, Piccarda, Cacciaguida, Roméo. (Parad.9, 3, 15, 6, 10.)
in company with S. Thomas Aquinas, in the sphere of the Sun. Ozanam gives a few particulars of this forgotten professor of the "Rue du Fouarre," pp. 320-23.
[67]Vincendo me col lume d'un sorriso.—Parad.18.
[67]Vincendo me col lume d'un sorriso.—Parad.18.
[68]For instance, his feeling of distress at gazing at the blind, who were not aware of his presence—A me pareva andando fare oltraggioVedendo altrui, non essendo veduto:—Purg.13.and of shame, at being tempted to listen to a quarrel between two lost spirits:Ad ascoltarli er'io del tutto fisso,Quando 'l Maestro mi disse: or pur mira,Che per poco è, che teco non mi risso.Quando io 'l senti' a me parlar con iraVolsimi verso lui con tal vergogna,Ch'ancor per la memoria mi si gira, &c.—Inf.30.and the burst,O dignitosa coscienza e netta,Come t'è picciol fallo amaro morso.—Purg.3.
[68]For instance, his feeling of distress at gazing at the blind, who were not aware of his presence—
and of shame, at being tempted to listen to a quarrel between two lost spirits:
and the burst,
[69]Parad.5.
[69]Parad.5.
[70]Purg.24.
[70]Purg.24.
[71]Parad.25.
[71]Parad.25.
[72]Convito, Tr. 2, c. 14, 15.
[72]Convito, Tr. 2, c. 14, 15.
[73]In theRemains of Arthur Henry Hallamis a paper, in which he examines and disposes of this theory with a courteous and forbearing irony, which would have deepened probably into something more, on thinking over it a second time.
[73]In theRemains of Arthur Henry Hallamis a paper, in which he examines and disposes of this theory with a courteous and forbearing irony, which would have deepened probably into something more, on thinking over it a second time.
[74]Dino Comp.pp. 89-91.
[74]Dino Comp.pp. 89-91.
[75]His name appears among the White delegates in 1307. Pelli, p. 117.
[75]His name appears among the White delegates in 1307. Pelli, p. 117.
[76]Parad.17.
[76]Parad.17.
[77]Ibid.6.
[77]Ibid.6.
[78]Benvenuto da Imola.
[78]Benvenuto da Imola.
[79]Veggio in Alagna entrar lo fiordaliso,E nel vicario suo Cristo esser catto;Veggiolo un'altra volta esser deriso;Veggio rinnovellar l'aceto e 'l fele,E tra vivi ladroni essere anciso.—Purg.20.G. Villani, viii. 63. Come magnanimo e valente, disse,Dacchè per tradimento, come Gesù Cristo, voglio esser preso e mi conviene morire, almeno voglio morire come Papa; e di presente si fece parare dell'ammanto di S. Piero, e colla corona di Constantino in capo, e colle chiavi e croce in mano, e in su la sedia papale si pose a sedere, e giunto a lui Sciarra e gli altri suoi nimici; con villane parole lo scherniro.
[79]
G. Villani, viii. 63. Come magnanimo e valente, disse,Dacchè per tradimento, come Gesù Cristo, voglio esser preso e mi conviene morire, almeno voglio morire come Papa; e di presente si fece parare dell'ammanto di S. Piero, e colla corona di Constantino in capo, e colle chiavi e croce in mano, e in su la sedia papale si pose a sedere, e giunto a lui Sciarra e gli altri suoi nimici; con villane parole lo scherniro.
[80]Dino Compagni, p. 135.
[80]Dino Compagni, p. 135.
[81]De Monarch.lib. iii. p. 188, Ed. Fraticelli.
[81]De Monarch.lib. iii. p. 188, Ed. Fraticelli.
[82]Parad.c. 6.
[82]Parad.c. 6.
[83]De Monarch.lib. ii. pp. 62, 66, 78, 82, 84, 108-114, 116, 72-76.
[83]De Monarch.lib. ii. pp. 62, 66, 78, 82, 84, 108-114, 116, 72-76.
[84]Literagesta refert, quid credasallegoria,Moralisquid agas, quid speresanagogia.De Witte's note fromButi.
[84]
[85]Ep. adKan Grand.§ 6, 7.
[85]Ep. adKan Grand.§ 6, 7.
[86]Convito, Tr. 2, c. 1.
[86]Convito, Tr. 2, c. 1.
[87]When we had runO'er all the ladder to its topmost round,As there we stood, on me the Mantuan fix'dHis eyes, and thus he spake: "Both fires, my son,The temporal and the eternal, thou hast seen:And art arrived, where of itself my kenNo further reaches. I with skill and art,Thus far have drawn thee. Now thy pleasure takeFor guide. Thou hast o'ercome the steeper way,O'ercome the straiter. Lo! the sun, that dartsHis beam upon thy forehead: lo! the herb,The arborets and flowers, which of itselfThis land pours forth profuse. Till those bright eyesWith gladness come, which, weeping, made me hasteTo succour thee, thou mayest or seat thee down,Or wander where thou wilt. Expect no moreSanction of warning voice or sign from me,Free of thine own arbitrement to choose,Discreet, judicious. To distrust thy senseWere henceforth error. I invest thee thenWith crown and mitre, sovereign o'er thyself."Purg.c. 27—Cary.
[87]
[88]Sempre a quel ver, ch'ha faccia di menzogna,De' l'uom chiuder le labbra, quanto puote,Però che senza colpa fa vergogna.Ma qui tacer nol posso; e per le noteDi questaCommedia, lettor, ti giuroS'elle non sien di lunga grazia vote, &c.—Inf.16.
[88]
[89]Inf.9.
[89]Inf.9.
[90]Convito, Tr. 3, c. 15.
[90]Convito, Tr. 3, c. 15.
[91]"O tu ch'onori ogni scienza ed arte."—Inf.4. "Quel savio gentil che tutto seppe."—Inf.7. "Il mar di tutto 'l senno."—Inf.8.
[91]"O tu ch'onori ogni scienza ed arte."—Inf.4. "Quel savio gentil che tutto seppe."—Inf.7. "Il mar di tutto 'l senno."—Inf.8.
[92]De Monarchia.
[92]De Monarchia.
[93]Newman'sArians.
[93]Newman'sArians.
[94]Trench, Sacred Latin Poetry, 1849.
[94]Trench, Sacred Latin Poetry, 1849.
[95]Hallam'sMiddle Ages, c. ix. vol. iii. p. 563.
[95]Hallam'sMiddle Ages, c. ix. vol. iii. p. 563.
[96]Parad.3, 12, 17.Convit.p. 108. "A piùLatinamentevedere la sentenza letterale."
[96]Parad.3, 12, 17.Convit.p. 108. "A piùLatinamentevedere la sentenza letterale."
[97]Vid.theDe Monarchia.
[97]Vid.theDe Monarchia.
[98]Inf.10, and compare theVit. N.p. 334, ed. Fraticelli.
[98]Inf.10, and compare theVit. N.p. 334, ed. Fraticelli.
[99]Convito, i. 5.
[99]Convito, i. 5.
[100]Ep. ad Kan Grand. §9,—a curious specimen of the learning of the time: "Sciendum est, quodComœdiadicitur aκωμη,villaetωδη, quod estcantus, undeComœdiaquasivillanus cantus. Et estComœdia genus quoddam poeticæ narrationis, ab omnibus aliis differens. Differt ergo a Tragœdia in materia per hoc, quod Tragœdia in principio est admirabilis et quieta, in fine fœtida et horribilis; et dicitur propter hoc aτραγος, i.e.hircus, etωδη, quasicantus hircinus, i.e. fœtidus ad modum hirci, ut patet per Senecam in suis tragœdiis.Comœdiavero inchoat asperitatem alicujus rei, sed ejus materia prospere terminatur, ut patet per Terentium in suisComœdiis.... Similiter differunt in modo loquendi; elate et sublime Tragœdia,Comœdiavero remisse et humiliter sicut vult Horat. in Poët.... Et per hoc patet, quodComœdiadiciter præsens opus. Nam si ad materiam respiciamus, a principio horribilis et fœtida est, quiaInfernus: in fine prospera, desiderabilis et grata, quiaParadisus. Si ad modum loquendi, remissus est modus et humilis, quia locutio Vulgaris, in qua et mulierculæ communicant. Et sic patet quiaComœdiadicitur." Cf. de Vulg. Eloq. 2, 4,Parad.30. He calls the Æneid, "l'alta Tragedia,"Inf.20, 113. Compare also Boccaccio's explanation of his mother's dream of thepeacock. Dante, he says, is like the Peacock, among other reasons, "because the peacock has coarse feet, and a quiet gait;" and "the vulgar language, on which theCommediasupports itself, is coarse in comparison with the high and masterly literary style which every other poet uses, though it be more beautiful than others, being in conformity with modern minds. The quiet gait signifies the humility of the style, which is necessarily required inCommedia, as those know who understand what is meant byCommedia."
[100]Ep. ad Kan Grand. §9,—a curious specimen of the learning of the time: "Sciendum est, quodComœdiadicitur aκωμη,villaetωδη, quod estcantus, undeComœdiaquasivillanus cantus. Et estComœdia genus quoddam poeticæ narrationis, ab omnibus aliis differens. Differt ergo a Tragœdia in materia per hoc, quod Tragœdia in principio est admirabilis et quieta, in fine fœtida et horribilis; et dicitur propter hoc aτραγος, i.e.hircus, etωδη, quasicantus hircinus, i.e. fœtidus ad modum hirci, ut patet per Senecam in suis tragœdiis.Comœdiavero inchoat asperitatem alicujus rei, sed ejus materia prospere terminatur, ut patet per Terentium in suisComœdiis.... Similiter differunt in modo loquendi; elate et sublime Tragœdia,Comœdiavero remisse et humiliter sicut vult Horat. in Poët.... Et per hoc patet, quodComœdiadiciter præsens opus. Nam si ad materiam respiciamus, a principio horribilis et fœtida est, quiaInfernus: in fine prospera, desiderabilis et grata, quiaParadisus. Si ad modum loquendi, remissus est modus et humilis, quia locutio Vulgaris, in qua et mulierculæ communicant. Et sic patet quiaComœdiadicitur." Cf. de Vulg. Eloq. 2, 4,Parad.30. He calls the Æneid, "l'alta Tragedia,"Inf.20, 113. Compare also Boccaccio's explanation of his mother's dream of thepeacock. Dante, he says, is like the Peacock, among other reasons, "because the peacock has coarse feet, and a quiet gait;" and "the vulgar language, on which theCommediasupports itself, is coarse in comparison with the high and masterly literary style which every other poet uses, though it be more beautiful than others, being in conformity with modern minds. The quiet gait signifies the humility of the style, which is necessarily required inCommedia, as those know who understand what is meant byCommedia."
[101]Convito, i. 11.
[101]Convito, i. 11.
[102]Convito, i. 13.
[102]Convito, i. 13.
[103]G. Villani was at Rome in the year of jubilee 1300, and describes the great concourse and order of the pilgrims, whom he reckons at 200,000, in the course of the year. "And I," he proceeds, "finding myself in that blessed pilgrimage in the holy city of Rome, seeing the great and ancient things of the same, and reading the histories of the great deeds of the Romans, written by Virgil, and by Sallust, and Lucan, and Titus Livius, and Valerius, and Paulus Orosius, and other masters of histories, who wrote as well of the smaller matters as of the greater, concerning the exploits and deeds of the Romans; and further, of the strange things of the whole world, for memory and example's sake to those who should come after—I, too, took their style and fashion, albeit that, as their scholar, I be not worthy to execute such a work. But, considering that our city of Florence, the daughter and creation of Rome, was in its rising, and on the eve of achieving great things, as Rome was in its decline, it seemed to me convenient to bring into this volume and new chronicle all the deeds and beginnings of the city of Florence, so far as I have been able to gather and recover them; and for the future, to follow at large the doings of the Florentines, and the other notable things of the world briefly, as long as it may be God's pleasure; under which hope, rather by his grace than by my poor science, I entered on this enterprise: and so, in the year 1300, being returned from Rome, I began to compile this book, in reverence towards God and St. John, and commendation of our city of Florence."—G. Vill.viii. 36.
[103]G. Villani was at Rome in the year of jubilee 1300, and describes the great concourse and order of the pilgrims, whom he reckons at 200,000, in the course of the year. "And I," he proceeds, "finding myself in that blessed pilgrimage in the holy city of Rome, seeing the great and ancient things of the same, and reading the histories of the great deeds of the Romans, written by Virgil, and by Sallust, and Lucan, and Titus Livius, and Valerius, and Paulus Orosius, and other masters of histories, who wrote as well of the smaller matters as of the greater, concerning the exploits and deeds of the Romans; and further, of the strange things of the whole world, for memory and example's sake to those who should come after—I, too, took their style and fashion, albeit that, as their scholar, I be not worthy to execute such a work. But, considering that our city of Florence, the daughter and creation of Rome, was in its rising, and on the eve of achieving great things, as Rome was in its decline, it seemed to me convenient to bring into this volume and new chronicle all the deeds and beginnings of the city of Florence, so far as I have been able to gather and recover them; and for the future, to follow at large the doings of the Florentines, and the other notable things of the world briefly, as long as it may be God's pleasure; under which hope, rather by his grace than by my poor science, I entered on this enterprise: and so, in the year 1300, being returned from Rome, I began to compile this book, in reverence towards God and St. John, and commendation of our city of Florence."—G. Vill.viii. 36.
[104]Sacchetti, Nov. 114.
[104]Sacchetti, Nov. 114.
[105]VideOzanam.
[105]VideOzanam.
[106]"Insensate he, who thinks with mortal kenTo pierce Infinitude, which doth enfoldThree Persons in one Substance. Seek not then,O mortal race, for reasons—but believe,And be contented; for had all been seen,No need there was for Mary to conceive.Men have ye known, who thus desired in vain;And whose desires, that might at rest have been,Now constitute a source of endless pain;Plato, the Stagirite; and many more,I here allude to;"—then his head he bent,Was silent, and a troubled aspect wore.—Wright.
[106]
[107]See an article in theBrit. Critic, No. 65, p. 120.
[107]See an article in theBrit. Critic, No. 65, p. 120.
[108]See the form of benediction of the "Rosa d'oro."Rituum Ecclesiæ Rom. Libri Tres.fol. xxxv. Venet. 1516. Form of giving: "Accipe rosam de manibus nostris ... per quam designatus gaudium utriusque Hierusalem triumphantis scilicet et militantis ecclesiæ per quam omnibus Christi fidelibus manifestatur flos ipse pretiosissimus qui est gaudium et corona sanctorum omnium." He alludes to it in theConvito, iv. 29.O isplendor di Dio, per cu' io vidiL'alto trionfo del regno verace,Dammi virtù a dir com'io lo vidi.Lume è lassù, che visibile faceLo creatore a quella creatura,Che solo in lui vedere ha la sua pace:E si distende in circular figuraIn tanto, che la sua circonferenzaSarebbe al Sol troppo larga cintura.****E come clivo in acqua di suo imoSi specchia quasi per vedersi adorno,Quanto è nel verde e ne' fioretti opimo;Sì soprastando al lume intorno intornoVidi specchiarsi in più di mille soglie,Quanto di noi lassù fatto ha ritorno.E se l'infimo grado in sè raccoglieSì grande lume, quant'è la larghezzaDi questa rosa nell'estreme foglie?****Nel giallo della rosa sempiterna,Che si dilata, rigrada, e redoleOdor di lode al Sol, che sempre verna,Qual'è colui, che tace e dicer vuole,Mi trasse Beatrice, e disse; miraQuanto è 'l convento delle bianche stole!Vedi nostra Città quanto ella gira!Vedi li nostri scanni sì ripieni,Che poca gente omai ci si disira.****In forma dunque di candida rosaMi si mostrava la milizia santa,Che nel suo sangue Cristo fece sposa.—Parad.30, 31.
[108]See the form of benediction of the "Rosa d'oro."Rituum Ecclesiæ Rom. Libri Tres.fol. xxxv. Venet. 1516. Form of giving: "Accipe rosam de manibus nostris ... per quam designatus gaudium utriusque Hierusalem triumphantis scilicet et militantis ecclesiæ per quam omnibus Christi fidelibus manifestatur flos ipse pretiosissimus qui est gaudium et corona sanctorum omnium." He alludes to it in theConvito, iv. 29.
[109]Chi crederebbe giù nel mondo errante,Che Rifèo Trojano[A]in questo tondoFosse la quinta delle luci sante?Ora conosce assai di quel, che 'l mondoVeder non può della divina grazia;Benchè sua vista non discerna il fondo.—Parad.c. 20.
[109]
[A]Rhipeus justissimus unusQui fuit in Teucris, et servantissimus æqui.—Æn.ii.
[A]
[110]Inf.c. 26.
[110]Inf.c. 26.
[111]Parad.7, 1-3.
[111]Parad.7, 1-3.
[112]To describe the pinched face of famine;—Parean l'occhiaje annella senza gemme.Chi nel viso degli uomini legge OMOBen avria quivi conosciuto l'emme(M).—Purg.23.Again,Quella reverenza che s'indonnaDi tutto me, pur per B e per ICE.—Parad.7.Nè O sì tosto mai, nè I si scrisse,Com'ei s'accese ed arse.—Inf.24.
[112]To describe the pinched face of famine;—
Again,
[113]Like to a sapling, lighted at one end,Which at the other hisses with the wind,And drops of sap doth from the outlet send:So from the broken twig, both words and blood flow'd forth.—Wright.
[113]
[114]Like burning paper, when there glides beforeThe advancing flame a brown and dingy shade,Which is not black, and yet is white no more.—Ibid.
[114]
[115]On either hand I saw them haste their meeting,And kiss each one the other—pausing not—Contented to enjoy so short a greeting.Thus do the ants among their dingy band,Face one another—each their neighbour's lotHaply to scan, and how their fortunes stand.—Wright.
[115]
[116]As in a trench, frogs at the water sideSit squatting, with their noses raised on high,The while their feet, and all their bulk they hide—Thus upon either hand the sinners stood.But Barbariccia now approaching nigh,Quick they withdrew beneath the boiling flood.I saw—and still my heart is thrill'd with fear—One spirit linger; as beside a ditch,One frog remains, the others disappear.—Ibid.
[116]
[117]Had I a rhyme so rugged, rough, and hoarseAs would become the sorrowful abyss,O'er which the rocky circles wind their course,Then with a more appropriate form I mightEndow my vast conceptions; wanting this,Not without fear I bring myself to write.For no light enterprise it is, I deem,To represent the lowest depth of all;Nor should a childish tongue attempt the theme.—Wright.
[117]
[118]Ed egli a me: Come 'l mio corpo steaNel mondo sù, nulla scienzia porto.Cotal vantaggio ha questa Tolommea,Che spesse volte l'anima ci cadeInnanzi, ch'Atropòs mossa le dea.E perchè tu più volontier mi radeLe 'nvetriate lagrime dal volto,Sappi, che tosto che l'anima trade,Come fec'io, il corpo suo l'è toltoDa un Dimonio, che poscia il governa,Mentre che 'l tempo suo tutto sia volto.Ella ruina in sì fatta cisterna;E forse pare ancor lo corpo susoDell'ombra, che di qua dietro mi verna.Tu 'l dei saper, se tu vien pur mo giuso:Egli è ser Branca d'Oria, e son più anniPoscia passati, ch'ei fu sì racchiuso.Io credo, diss'io lui, che tu m'inganni,Che Branca d'Oria non morì unquanche,E mangia, e bee, e dorme, e veste panni.Nel fosso sù, diss'ei, di Malebranche,Là dove bolle la tenace pece,Non era giunto ancora Michel Zanche;Che questi lasciò 'l diavolo in sua veceNel corpo suo, e d'un suo prossimano,Che 'l tradimento insieme con lui fece.—Inf.33.
[118]
[119]E'en as the bird that resting in the nestOf her sweet brood, the shelt'ring boughs amongWhile all things are enwrapt in night's dark vest—Now eager to behold the looks she loves,And to find food for her impatient young(Whence labour grateful to a mother proves),Forestalls the time, high perch'd upon the spray,And with impassion'd zeal the sun expecting,Anxiously waiteth the first break of day.—Wright.
[119]
[120]And as birds rising from a stream, whence theyTheir pastures view, as though their joy confessing,Now form a round, and now a long array.—Ibid.
[120]
[121]And as with one accord, at break of day,The rooks bestir themselves, by nature taughtTo chase the dew-drops from their wings away;Some flying off, to reappear no more—Others repairing to their nests again—Some whirling round—then settling as before.—Wright.
[121]
[122]What time the swallow pours her plaintive strain,Saluting the approach of morning gray,Thus haply mindful of her former pain.—Ibid.
[122]
[123]E'en as the lark high soaring pours its throatAwhile, then rests in silence, as though stillIt dwelt enamour'd of its last sweet note.—Ibid.
[123]
[124]As when unto his partner's side, the doveApproaches near—both fondly circling round,And cooing, show the fervour of their love;So these great heirs of immortalityReceive each other; while they joyful soundThe praises of the food they share on high.—Wright.
[124]
[125]And, as a falcon, which first scans its feet,Then turns him to the call, and forward flies,In eagerness to catch the tempting meat.—Ibid.
[125]
[126]Lo, as a falcon, from the hood released,Uplifts his head, and joyous flaps his wings,His beauty and his eagerness increased.—Wright.
[126]
[127]E'en as a falcon, long upheld in air,Not seeing lure or bird upon the wing,So that the falconer utters in despair"Alas, thou stoop'st!" fatigued descends from high;And whirling quickly round in many a ring,Far from his master sits—disdainfully.—Ibid.
[127]
[128]As leaves in autumn, borne before the wind,Drop one by one, until the branch laid bare,Sees all its honours to the earth consign'd:So cast them downward at his summons allThe guilty race of Adam from that strand—Each as a falcon answering to the call.—Wright.
[128]
[129]As doves, by strong affection urged, repairWith firm expanded wings to their sweet nest,Borne by the impulse of their will through air.—Ibid.It is impossible not to be reminded at every step, in spite of the knowledge and taste which Mr. Cary and Mr. Wright have brought to their most difficult task, of the truth which Dante has expressed with his ordinary positiveness.He is saying that he does not wish his Canzoni to be explained in Latin to those who could not read them in Italian: "Che sarebbe sposta la loro sentenzia colà dove ellenon la potessono colla loro bellezza portare. E però sappia ciascuno che nulla cosa per legame musaico (i.e.poetico) armonizzata, si può della sua loquela in altra trasmutare senza rompere tutta la sua dolcezza e armonia. E questa è la ragione per che Omero non si mutò mai di Greco in Latino, come l'altre scritture che avemo da loro."—Convito, i. c. 8, p. 49.Dr. Carlyle has given up the idea of attempting to represent Dante's verse by English verse, and has confined himself to assisting Englishmen to read him in his own language. His prose translation is accurate and forcible. And he has added sensible and useful notes.
[129]
It is impossible not to be reminded at every step, in spite of the knowledge and taste which Mr. Cary and Mr. Wright have brought to their most difficult task, of the truth which Dante has expressed with his ordinary positiveness.
He is saying that he does not wish his Canzoni to be explained in Latin to those who could not read them in Italian: "Che sarebbe sposta la loro sentenzia colà dove ellenon la potessono colla loro bellezza portare. E però sappia ciascuno che nulla cosa per legame musaico (i.e.poetico) armonizzata, si può della sua loquela in altra trasmutare senza rompere tutta la sua dolcezza e armonia. E questa è la ragione per che Omero non si mutò mai di Greco in Latino, come l'altre scritture che avemo da loro."—Convito, i. c. 8, p. 49.
Dr. Carlyle has given up the idea of attempting to represent Dante's verse by English verse, and has confined himself to assisting Englishmen to read him in his own language. His prose translation is accurate and forcible. And he has added sensible and useful notes.