tented, he espyed Biondello coming perceived to his cost that he had met towards him, and meeting him by the with the worser bargain, and Ciacco got way, he stept close to him and gave him cheer without any blows; and therefore a cruel blow on the Face, causing his desired a peacefull attonement, each of Nose to fall out a bleeding. ‘Alas, Sir,' | them always after abstaining from floutsaid Biondello, wherefore do you strike ing one another." me? Signior Philippo, catching him by the hair of the head, trampled his Night Cap in the dirt, and his Cloak also, when, laying many violent blows on him, he said, Villanous Traitor as thou art, I'll teach thee what it is to erubinate with Claret, either thy self or any of thy cupping Companions. Am I a Child to be jested withal?'

"Nor was he more furious in words than in stroaks also, beating him about the Face, hardly leaving any hair on his head, and dragging him along in the mire, spoiling all his Garments, and he not able, from the first blow given, to speak a word in defence of himself. In the end Signior Philippo having extreamly beaten him, and many people gathering about them, to succour a man so much misused, the matter was at large related, and manner of the message sending. For which they all did greatly reprehend Biondello, considering he knew what kind of man Philippo was, not any way to be jested withal. Biondello in tears maintained that he never sent any such message for Wine, or intended it in the least degree; so, when the tempest was more mildly calmed, and Biondello, thus cruelly beaten and durtied, had gotten home to his own house, he could then remember that (questionless) this was occasioned by Ciacco.

Ginguené, Hist. Lit. de l'Italie, II. 53, takes Dante severely to task for wasting his pity upon poor Ciacco, but probably the poet had pleasant memories of him at Florentine banquets in the olden time. Nor is it remarkable that he should be mentioned only by his nickname. Mr. Forsyth calls Italy "the land of nicknames.' He says in continuation, Italy, p. 145:

"Italians have suppressed the sur names of their principal artists unde various designations. Many are known only by the names of their birthplace, as Correggio, Bassano, etc. Some by those of their masters, as I Salviati, Sansovino, etc. Some by their father's trade, as Andrea del Sarto, Tintoretto, etc. Some by their bodily defects, as Guercino, Cagnacci, etc. Some by the subjects in which they excelled, as M. Angelo delle battaglie, Agostino delle perspettive. A few (I can recollect only four) are known, each as the prince of his respective school, by their Christian names alone: Michael Angelo, Raphael, Guido, Titian.”

65. The Bianchi are called the Parte selvaggia, because its leaders, the Cerchi, came from the forest lands of Val di Sieve. The other party, the Neri, were led by the Donati.

The following account of these fac tions is from Giovanni Fiorentino, a "After some few days were passed writer of the fourteenth century; Il P over, and the hurts in his face indiffer-corone, Gior. XIII. Nov. i., in Roscoe's ently cured, Biondello beginning to walk Italian Novelists, I. 327. abroad again, chanced to meet with "In the city of Pistoia, at the time of Ciacco, who, laughing heartily at him, its greatest splendour, there flourished said,Tell me, Biondello, how dost a noble family, called the Cancellieri, thou like the erubinating Claret of Signior Philippo?' 'As well,' quoth Biondello, as thou didst the Sturgeon and Lampreys at Messer Corso Donaties.' Why then,' said Ciacco, let these tokens continue familiar between thee and me, when thou wouldest bestow such another dinner on me, then will I erubinate thy Nose with a Bottle the same Claret.' But Biondello

derived from Messer Cancelliere, who
had enriched himself with his commer-
cial transactions. He had numerous
sons by two wives, and they were all
entitled by their wealth to assume the
title of Cavalieri, valiant and worthy
men, and in all their actions magnani
mous and courteous.
the various branches
spread, that in a short

And so fast dia of this family time they num

bered a hundred men at arms, and being superior to every other, both in wealth and power, would have still increased, but that a cruel division arose between them, from some rivalship in the affections of a lovely and enchanting girl, and from angry words they proceeded to more angry blows. Separating into two parties, those descended from the first wife took the title of Cancellieri Bianchi, and the others, who were the offspring of the second marriage, were called Cancellieri Neri.

it happened that the Neri sought refuge in the house of the Frescobaldi, and the Bianchi in that of the Cerchi nel Garbo, owing to the relationship which existed between them. The seeds of the same dissension being thus sown in Florence the whole city became divided, the Cerchi espousing the interests of the Bianchi, and the Donati those of the Neri.

"So rapidly did this pestiferous spirit gain ground in Florence, as frequently to excite the greatest tumult; and from a peaceable and flourishing state, it speedily "Having at last come to action, the became a scene of rapine and devastation. Neri were defeated, and wishing to In this stage Pope Boniface VIII. was adjust the affair as well as they yet could, made acquainted with the state of thi they sent their relation, who had offended ravaged and unhappy city, and sent the the opposite party, to entreat forgiveness Cardinal Acqua Sparta on a mission to on the part of the Neri, expecting that reform and pacify the enraged parties. such submissive conduct would meet But with his utmost efforts he was unable with the compassion it deserved. On to make any impression, and accordarriving in the presence of the Bianchi, ingly, after declaring the place excommuwho conceived themselves the offended nicated, departed. Florence being thus party, the young man, on bended knees, exposed to the greatest perils, and in a appealed to their feelings for forgiveness, continued state of insurrection, Messer observing, that he had placed himself in Corso Donati, with the Spiri, the Pazzi, their power, that so they might inflict the Tosinghi, the Cavicciuli, and the what punishment they judged proper: populace attached to the Neri faction, when several of the younger members applied, with the consent of their leadof the offended party, seizing on him, ers, to Pope Boniface. They entreated dragged him into an adjoining stable, that he would employ his interest with and ordered that his right hand should the court of France to send a force to be severed from his body. In the ut- allay these feuds, and to quell the party most terror the youth, with tears in his of the Bianchi. As soon as this was eyes, besought them to have mercy, and reported in the city, Messer Donati was to take a greater and nobler revenge, by banished, and his property forfeited, and pardoning one whom they had it in their the other heads of the sect were propower thus deeply to injure. But heed-portionally fined and sent into exile. less of his prayers, they bound his hand Messer Donati, arriving at Rome, so far by force upon the manger, and struck it prevailed with his Holiness, that he sent off; a deed which excited the utmost an embassy to Charles de Valois, brotumult throughout Pistoia, and such ther to the king of France, declaring his indignation and reproaches from the wish that he should be made Emperor, injured party of the Neri, as to impli- and King of the Romans; under which cate the whole city in a division of persuasion Charles passed into Italy, renterests between them and the Bian-instating Messer Donati and the Neri hi, which led to many desperate en

Jounters.

"The citizens, fearful lest the faction might cause insurrections throughout the whole territory, in conjunction with the Guelfs, applied to the Florentines in order to reconcile them; on which the Florentines took possession of the place, and sent the partisans on both sides to the confines of Florence, whence

in the city of Florence. From this there only resulted worse evils, inasmuch as all the Bianchi, being the least powerful, were universally oppressed and robbed, and Charles, becoming the enemy of Pope Boniface, conspired his death, because the Pope had not fulfilled his pro. mise of presenting him with an imperial crown. From which events it may be seen that this vile faction was the cause

of discord in the cities of Florence and Pistoia, and of the other states of Tuscany; and no less to the same source was to be attributed the death of Pope Boniface VIII."

69. Charles de Valois, called Senzaterra, or Lackland, brother of Philip the Fair, king of France.

73. The names of these two remain unknown. Probably one of them was Dante's friend Guido Cavalcanti.

80. Of this Arrigo nothing whatever seems to be known, hardly even his name; for some commentators call him Arrigo dei Fisanti, and others Arrigo dei Fifanti. Of these other men of mark who set their hearts on doing good," Farinata is among the Heretics, Canto X.; Tegghiaio and Rusticucci among the Sodomites, Canto XVI.; and Mosca among the Schismatics, Canto XXVIII. 106. The philosophy of Aristotle. The same doctrine is taught by St. Augustine: "Cum fiet resurrectio carnis, et bonorum gaudia et tormenta malorum majora erunt."

"Of deepe ymaginations

And straunge interpretations,
Problemes and demaundes eke
His wisedom was to finde and seke,
Whereof he wolde in sondry wise
Opposen hem, that weren wise;
But none of hem it mighte bere
Upon his word to give answere."

But nearly all agree, I believe, in con struing the strange words into a cry o alarm or warning to Lucifer, that his. realm is invaded by some unusual apparition.

Of all the interpretations given, th most amusing is that of Benvenuto Cellini, in his description of the Court of Justice in Paris, Roscoe's Memoirs of Benvenuto Cellini, Chap. xxii. :—

"I stooped down several times to ob serve what passed: the words which 1 heard the judge utter, upon seeing two gentlemen who wanted to hear the trial, and whom the porter was endeavouring to keep out, were these: Be quiet, be quiet, Satan, get hence, and leave off disturbing us. The terms were, Paix, paix, Satan, allez, paix. As I had by this time thoroughly learnt the French language, upon hearing these words, I recollected what Dante said, when he with his master, Virgil, entered the gates of hell; for Dante and Giotto the painter were together in France, and visited Paris with particular attention, where the court of justice may be considered as hell. Hence it is that Dante, who was likewise perfect master of the French, made The per-use of that expression; and I have often been surprised, that it was never under stood in that sense; so that I cannot help thinking, that the commentators on this author have often made him say things which he never so much as dreamed of."

115, Plutus, the God of Riches, of which Lord Bacon says in his Essays :"I cannot call riches better than the baggage of virtue; the Roman word is better, 'impedimenta'; for as the baggage is to an army, so is riches to virtue; it cannot be spared nor left behind, but it hindereth the march; yea, and the care of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory; of great riches there is no real use, except it be in the distribution; the rest is but conceit. . . . . sonal fruition in any man cannot reach to feel great riches: there is a custody of them; or a power of dole and donative of them; or a fame of them; but no solid use to the owner."

CANTO VII.

Dante himself hardly seems to have understood the meaning of the words though he suggests that Virgil did.

1. In this Canto is described the pun- II. The overthrow of the Rebel Angels. ishment of the Avaricious and the Pro-St. Augustine says, "Idolatria et quælibe: digal, with Plutus as their jailer. His noxia superstitio fornicatio est." outery of alarm is differently interpreted by different commentators, and by none very satisfactorily. The curious student, groping among them for a meaning, is like Gower's young king, of whom he says, in his Confessio Amantis:

24. Must dance the Ridda, a round dance of the olden time. It was a Roundelay, or singing and dancing together. Boccaccio's Monna Belcolore better than any one how to play the

tambourine and lead the Ridla.

knew

Alas! ye wretchedest,

And chide ye at God also? Shall not He
Judge between good and evil righteously?

Ah! had ye knowledge how God evermore,
With agonies of soul and grievous heats,
As on an anvil beats

On them that in this earth hold high estate,-
Ye would choose little rather than much store,
And solitude than spacious palaces;

Such is the sore disease

Of anguish that on all their days doth wait.
Behold if they be not unfortunate,

When oft the father dares not trust the son!
O wealth, with thee is won

A worm to gnaw forever on his soul
Whose abject life is laid in thy control!

"If also ye take note what piteous death
They ofttimes make, whose hoards were
fold,

Who cities had and gold

And multitudes of men beneath their hand;
Then he among you that most angereth
Shall bless me saying, "Lo! I worship thee

That I was not as he

74. This old Rabbinical tradition of the "Regents of the Planets" has been painted by Raphael, in the Capella Chi giana of the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome. See Mrs. Jameson, Sacred and Legendary Art, I. 45. She says: As a perfect example of grand and poetical feeling I may cite the angels as Regents of the Planets' in the Capella Chigiana. The Cupola repre

66

Let

sents in a circle the creation of the solar system, according to the theological (or rather astrological) notions which then prevailed, a hundred years before 'the mani-starry Galileo and his woes.' In the centre is the Creator; around, in eight compartments, we have, first, the angel of the celestial sphere, who seems to be listening to the divine mandate, there be lights in the firmament of heaven'; then follow, in their order, the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The name of each planet is expressed by its mythological a representative; the Sun by Apollo, the Moon by Diana; and over each presides quit,reclining on a portion of the zodiac as on a grand, colossal winged spirit, seated or a throne."

Whose death is thus accurst throughout the

land.'

But now your living souls are held in band
Of avarice, shutting you from the true light
Which shows how sad and slight

Are this world's treasured riches and array

That still change hands a hundred times

day.

"For me, could envy enter in my sphere,
Which of all human taint is clean and
I well might harbour it

When I behold the peasant at his toil.
Guiding his team, untroubled, free from fear,
He leaves his perfect furrow as he goes,
And gives his field repose

From thorns and tares and weeds that vex the

soil:

Thereto he labours, and without turmoil
Entrusts his work to God, content if so
Such guerdon from it grow

That in that year his family shall live:
Nor care nor thought to other things will
give.

But now ye may no more have speech of me,
For this mine office craves continual use:
Ye therefore deeply muse

Upon those things which ye have heard the

while:

Yea, and even yet remember heedfully
How this my wheel a motion hath so fleet,
That in an eyelid's beat

Him whom it raised it maketh low and vile.
None was, nor is, nor shall be of such guile,
Who could, or can, or shall, I say, at length
Prevail against my strength.

But still those men that are my questioners
In bitter torment own their hearts perverse.
"Song, that wast made to carry high intent
Dissembled in the garb of humbleness,--
With fair and open face

To Master Thomas let thy course be bent.
Say that a great thing scarcely may be pent
In little room: yet always pray that he
Commend us, thee and me,

To them that are more apt in lofty speech:
For truly one must learn ere he can teach."

The old tradition may be found in Stehelin, Rabbinical Literature, I. 157. See Purgatorio, XVI. 69.

98. Past midnight.

103. Perse, purple-black. See Canto V., Note 89.

115. "Is not this a cursed vice?" says Chaucer in The Persones Tale, p. 202, speaking of wrath. "Yes, certes. Alas! it benimmeth fro man his witte and his reson, and all his debonaire lif spirituel, that shulde keepe his soule. Certes it benimmeth also Goddes due lordship (and that is mannes soule) and the love of his neighbours; it reveth him the quiet of his herte, and subverteth his soule." And farther on he continues: "After the sinne of wrath, now wolle I speke of the sinne of accidie, or slouth; for envie blindeth the herte of a man, and ire troubleth a man, and accidie maketh him hevy, thoughtful, and wrawe. Envie and ire maken bitternesse in herte, which bitternesse is mother of accidie, and benimmeth him the love of alle goodnesse; than is accidie the anguish of a trouble herte."