Chapter 21

DANTE ALEGHIERI.

DANTE ALEGHIERI.

A. D.PAGE

A. D.

PAGE

His Descent

1

His Birth

1265.

2

His Mother's Dream

3

Brunetto Latini

4

Story of his early Love for Beatrice

6

Her Death

1290.

7

"Vita Nuova"

7

Uncertain Traditions concerning the early Part of Dante's Life

9

His Marriage with Madonna Gemma

10

The Guelfs and Ghibelines

13

The Battle of Campaldino

1289.

14

Dante serves in the Cavalry

14

Extract from his Inferno, Canto XXII., giving an Account, ofthis Conflict

15

He again takes the Field at the Siege of Caprona

15

Extract from the Inferno, Canto XXI.

15

He is chosen chief Prior of his native City

16

Origin of the Schism between the Bianchi and the Neri

17

The Cerchi and the Donati

18

Banishment of the principal Instigators of the Neri and theBianchi

19

Dante suspected of favouring the Bianchi Party

20

He vindicates himself

20

Entrance of Charles into Florence

20

The Recal of the Neri

20

Six Hundred of the Bianchi driven into Exile

21

Embassy of Dante to Rome

21

Boccaccio accuses him of Self-confidence and Disparagement ofothers

21

Confiscation of Dante's Property

22

His Banishment

22

He joins the Confederates of the Bianchi at Arezzo

23

Their unfortunate Expedition against Florence

23

Pietro Petracco

23

Dante quits the Confederacy

23

His personal Humiliation

24

Extract from his "Purgatorio"

24

Henry of Luxembourg raised to the Throne of Germany

1308.

26

Dante professes himself a Ghibeline

26

Henry of Luxembourg poisoned

1313.

26

Dante dedicates his "De Monarchia"

26

He wanders from one petty Court to another

27

Busone da Gubbio affords him shelter at Arezzo

27

Anecdote of him while at Verona

28

Guido Novello da Polenta, Lord of Ravenna

29

Mental Sufferings of Dante

30

His Letter to a Friend who had obtained Leave for him toreturn to his Country

31

Extracts from his "Paradiso"

32

His Residence at Ravenna

32

His Death

1321.

33

A Copy of his "Divina Commedia" embellished by MichaelAngelo

34

Dante—his Tomb at Ravenna

35

Restoration of his Property to his Family

35

The "De Monarchia" publicly burnt at Rome, by Order of thePope

35

Description of Dante by Boccaccio

36

Musical Talents of Dante

37

Extract from his "Purgatorio"

37

His two Sons the first Commentators

39

Lyrics of Dante

41

Origin of the "Divina Commedia"

43

Observations on the Title of the "Divina Commedia"

44

Extracts from the "Inferno"

46

Strictures on it

51

And on the "Inferno"

53

PETRARCH.

PETRARCH.

His Progenitors1302.61Their Banishment from Florence61Petrarch and his Mother return from Banishment1305.62They remove to Pisa1312.62They proceed to Avignon62They quit this for Carpentras, where Petrarch becomesacquainted with Settimo1315.63He enters the University of Montpellier1319.63His Father destines him for the Law63His Aversion to it64He goes to Bologna1323.64His Recal to France, on the Death of his Father; heabandons the Law64He resides with his Brother at Avignon; he becomes aFavourite with the Nobles65His Person65His Friendship for John of Florence65Giacomo Colonna; his illustrious Descent66His Friendship for Petrarch67Character of Petrarch68(April 6th.) His Acquaintance with Laura1327.68His Devotion to her70His poetic Life commences71His Patriotism72Giacomo Colonna made Bishop of Lombes; Petrarchaccompanies him to his Bishoprick1330.72His Friendship for Lello and Louis72He makes the Tour of France, Flanders, and Brabant1331.73He meets with a Disappointment at Lyons75His Arrival at Rome76(August 6th.) He returns to Avignon76His Excursion to Mont Ventoux76His Letter to Father Dionisio Robertis77His Retirement to the Valley of Vaucluse78A Description of it78Version of one of Petrarch's Canzoni, by Lady Dacre80Criticisms on Petrarch's Italian Poetry81Philip de Cabassoles, Bishop of Cavaillon, becomes the Intimateof Petrarch83Letter of Petrarch to Giacomo Colonna84Petrarch receives Letters from Rome and Paris, inviting himto accept the Crown of Poetry; he accepts the former1340.85His Reception at the Court of King Robert of Naples1341.86(April 17th.) His Coronation86He leaves Rome and arrives at Parma87He meets Azzo Correggio87Death of Giacomo Colonna87Early Death of Thomas of Messina87Petrarch's Grief for the Loss of these Friends88He and Rienzi sent on an Embassy to Rome, on the Accessionof Pope Clement VI.89He meets Laura at Avignon89His Confidants90Death of Robert, King of Naples1343.91He is succeeded by his Daughter Giovanna91Mission of Petrarch to Queen Giovanna92Nicola di Rienzi seizes upon the Government of Rome, andassumes the Name of Tribune1345.92Change produced by him in the State of the Country92Petrarch offered a Bishoprick, which he refuses93He leaves Avignon, and repairs to Parma1347.94Downfal of Rienzi94The Plague in Italy1348.94(January 25th.) An Earthquake94(April 6th.) Death of Laura94Petrarch's Account of it94He visits Rome on Occasion of the Jubilee1350.98Assassination of Giacomo da Carrara, Lord of Padua98Restitution of Petrarch's paternal Property1351.99Arrival of Petrarch at Avignon100His Letter to Pope Clement VI. on the Choice of a Physician100He revisits Vaucluse100Death of Pope Clement VI.1352.100Petrarch visits the Carthusian Convent101His Treatise "On Solitary Life"101He crosses the Alps, and visits Milan1353.101Is invited by Charles, Emperor of Germany, to visit Mantua1354.102He exhorts Charles to deliver Italy102Petrarch at Milan1355.103He is sent on two Missions—one to Venice, the other to Prague103Invasion of France by the English1360.103Petrarch sent to congratulate King John on his Return fromImprisonment103He returns to Italy104His Letter to Settimo104Italy again visited by the Plague1361.105Death of Petrarch's Son105Marriage of Francesco, Daughter of Petrarch106The Poetry of Dante and Petrarch compared106"The Triumph of Death"107Petrarch's Description of Laura's Death107Boccaccio, his Attachment for Petrarch1363.110Leonzio Pilato's Death110Petrarch's Letter to Pope Urban V.1367.110His Reply110Petrarch suffers from Fever1369.110(January.) His Letter to a Friend who had asked him, "howhe was"1372.112His Opinion of the Decameron of Boccaccio1374.113His Death114His Will114

His Progenitors

1302.

61

Their Banishment from Florence

61

Petrarch and his Mother return from Banishment

1305.

62

They remove to Pisa

1312.

62

They proceed to Avignon

62

They quit this for Carpentras, where Petrarch becomesacquainted with Settimo

1315.

63

He enters the University of Montpellier

1319.

63

His Father destines him for the Law

63

His Aversion to it

64

He goes to Bologna

1323.

64

His Recal to France, on the Death of his Father; heabandons the Law

64

He resides with his Brother at Avignon; he becomes aFavourite with the Nobles

65

His Person

65

His Friendship for John of Florence

65

Giacomo Colonna; his illustrious Descent

66

His Friendship for Petrarch

67

Character of Petrarch

68

(April 6th.) His Acquaintance with Laura

1327.

68

His Devotion to her

70

His poetic Life commences

71

His Patriotism

72

Giacomo Colonna made Bishop of Lombes; Petrarchaccompanies him to his Bishoprick

1330.

72

His Friendship for Lello and Louis

72

He makes the Tour of France, Flanders, and Brabant

1331.

73

He meets with a Disappointment at Lyons

75

His Arrival at Rome

76

(August 6th.) He returns to Avignon

76

His Excursion to Mont Ventoux

76

His Letter to Father Dionisio Robertis

77

His Retirement to the Valley of Vaucluse

78

A Description of it

78

Version of one of Petrarch's Canzoni, by Lady Dacre

80

Criticisms on Petrarch's Italian Poetry

81

Philip de Cabassoles, Bishop of Cavaillon, becomes the Intimateof Petrarch

83

Letter of Petrarch to Giacomo Colonna

84

Petrarch receives Letters from Rome and Paris, inviting himto accept the Crown of Poetry; he accepts the former

1340.

85

His Reception at the Court of King Robert of Naples

1341.

86

(April 17th.) His Coronation

86

He leaves Rome and arrives at Parma

87

He meets Azzo Correggio

87

Death of Giacomo Colonna

87

Early Death of Thomas of Messina

87

Petrarch's Grief for the Loss of these Friends

88

He and Rienzi sent on an Embassy to Rome, on the Accessionof Pope Clement VI.

89

He meets Laura at Avignon

89

His Confidants

90

Death of Robert, King of Naples

1343.

91

He is succeeded by his Daughter Giovanna

91

Mission of Petrarch to Queen Giovanna

92

Nicola di Rienzi seizes upon the Government of Rome, andassumes the Name of Tribune

1345.

92

Change produced by him in the State of the Country

92

Petrarch offered a Bishoprick, which he refuses

93

He leaves Avignon, and repairs to Parma

1347.

94

Downfal of Rienzi

94

The Plague in Italy

1348.

94

(January 25th.) An Earthquake

94

(April 6th.) Death of Laura

94

Petrarch's Account of it

94

He visits Rome on Occasion of the Jubilee

1350.

98

Assassination of Giacomo da Carrara, Lord of Padua

98

Restitution of Petrarch's paternal Property

1351.

99

Arrival of Petrarch at Avignon

100

His Letter to Pope Clement VI. on the Choice of a Physician

100

He revisits Vaucluse

100

Death of Pope Clement VI.

1352.

100

Petrarch visits the Carthusian Convent

101

His Treatise "On Solitary Life"

101

He crosses the Alps, and visits Milan

1353.

101

Is invited by Charles, Emperor of Germany, to visit Mantua

1354.

102

He exhorts Charles to deliver Italy

102

Petrarch at Milan

1355.

103

He is sent on two Missions—one to Venice, the other to Prague

103

Invasion of France by the English

1360.

103

Petrarch sent to congratulate King John on his Return fromImprisonment

103

He returns to Italy

104

His Letter to Settimo

104

Italy again visited by the Plague

1361.

105

Death of Petrarch's Son

105

Marriage of Francesco, Daughter of Petrarch

106

The Poetry of Dante and Petrarch compared

106

"The Triumph of Death"

107

Petrarch's Description of Laura's Death

107

Boccaccio, his Attachment for Petrarch

1363.

110

Leonzio Pilato's Death

110

Petrarch's Letter to Pope Urban V.

1367.

110

His Reply

110

Petrarch suffers from Fever

1369.

110

(January.) His Letter to a Friend who had asked him, "howhe was"

1372.

112

His Opinion of the Decameron of Boccaccio

1374.

113

His Death

114

His Will

114

BOCCACCIO.

BOCCACCIO.

Origin of his Family115His Birth1313.116He enters on the Study of the Canonical Law1329.117His Dislike for this Study1333.117He goes to Naples117He visits the Tomb of Virgil1338.118A Description of it118Boccaccio—his Admiration of it119Another Circumstance occurs which confirms his Predilectionfor Literature1341.120Commencement of his Attachment for Lady Mary121Some Account of her121Her Person122His first Book, "Filocopo"123The Story of it123His Style124His Recal to Florence on the Death of his Father1342.125His "Ameto"126He returns to Naples1344.126Death of King Robert126Queen Jane and her Court126"Filostrato," of Boccaccio126His "Amorosa Fiammetta" and "Amorosa Visione"127He writes "The Decameron"1348.127The Preface127Description of the Plague in Florence128Critique on the "Decameron"130Burning of the "Decameron"1497.130The "Ventisettana" and "Delphin" edition of the"Decameron" published1527.130Return of Boccaccio to Florence1350.131His various Embassies131He visits Petrarch at Padua1351.132He is sent to Bohemia to Louis of Bavaria133Again sent on a Mission to Avignon1354.133His violent Party Feelings133His Letter to Petrarch133Petrarch's Answer134Boccaccio—his enthusiastic Love for the Study of the Ancients135His celebrated Copy of Dante136He visits Petrarch at Milan137Moral Change in him137A singular Circumstance occurs which achieves this moral Work1361.139He communicates this Circumstance to Petrarch140Petrarch's Letter in Answer140Power and Influence of Acciajuolo, Seneschal of Naples1363.142He invites Boccaccio to his Palace142His unworthy Treatment of Boccaccio143He removes from his Palace in consequence143He returns to Florence143His Residence at Certaldo144His Work, "De Casibus Virorum et Færainarum Illustrium"145His Embassy to Pope Urban V.1355.145He projects a Visit to Venice145His Letter to Petrarch, whom he missed seeing145His Visit to Niccolo di Montefalcone, Abbot of the CarthusianMonastery of San Stefano, in Calabria1370.147He visits Naples1372.147He returns to his Retreat at Certaldo1373.147His Work on "The Genealogy of the Gods"147The Professorship for the Public Explanation of the "DivinaCommedie" conferred on him148Petrarch's Death1374.149Grief of Boccaccio149(December 21st.) Death of Boccaccio1375.149

Origin of his Family

115

His Birth

1313.

116

He enters on the Study of the Canonical Law

1329.

117

His Dislike for this Study

1333.

117

He goes to Naples

117

He visits the Tomb of Virgil

1338.

118

A Description of it

118

Boccaccio—his Admiration of it

119

Another Circumstance occurs which confirms his Predilectionfor Literature

1341.

120

Commencement of his Attachment for Lady Mary

121

Some Account of her

121

Her Person

122

His first Book, "Filocopo"

123

The Story of it

123

His Style

124

His Recal to Florence on the Death of his Father

1342.

125

His "Ameto"

126

He returns to Naples

1344.

126

Death of King Robert

126

Queen Jane and her Court

126

"Filostrato," of Boccaccio

126

His "Amorosa Fiammetta" and "Amorosa Visione"

127

He writes "The Decameron"

1348.

127

The Preface

127

Description of the Plague in Florence

128

Critique on the "Decameron"

130

Burning of the "Decameron"

1497.

130

The "Ventisettana" and "Delphin" edition of the"Decameron" published

1527.

130

Return of Boccaccio to Florence

1350.

131

His various Embassies

131

He visits Petrarch at Padua

1351.

132

He is sent to Bohemia to Louis of Bavaria

133

Again sent on a Mission to Avignon

1354.

133

His violent Party Feelings

133

His Letter to Petrarch

133

Petrarch's Answer

134

Boccaccio—his enthusiastic Love for the Study of the Ancients

135

His celebrated Copy of Dante

136

He visits Petrarch at Milan

137

Moral Change in him

137

A singular Circumstance occurs which achieves this moral Work

1361.

139

He communicates this Circumstance to Petrarch

140

Petrarch's Letter in Answer

140

Power and Influence of Acciajuolo, Seneschal of Naples

1363.

142

He invites Boccaccio to his Palace

142

His unworthy Treatment of Boccaccio

143

He removes from his Palace in consequence

143

He returns to Florence

143

His Residence at Certaldo

144

His Work, "De Casibus Virorum et Færainarum Illustrium"

145

His Embassy to Pope Urban V.

1355.

145

He projects a Visit to Venice

145

His Letter to Petrarch, whom he missed seeing

145

His Visit to Niccolo di Montefalcone, Abbot of the CarthusianMonastery of San Stefano, in Calabria

1370.

147

He visits Naples

1372.

147

He returns to his Retreat at Certaldo

1373.

147

His Work on "The Genealogy of the Gods"

147

The Professorship for the Public Explanation of the "DivinaCommedie" conferred on him

148

Petrarch's Death

1374.

149

Grief of Boccaccio

149

(December 21st.) Death of Boccaccio

1375.

149


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