passion, that he had nothing to do with ing, when he brought him as much Ghino, but that his resolution was to go bread and wine as before, and in the on, and he would see who dared to stop same manner. And thus he continued him. 'My Lord,' quoth the man, with a during many days, till he found the Ab. great deal of humility, you are now in bot had eaten some dried beans, which a place where all excommunications are he had left purposely in the chamber, kicked out of doors; then please to when he inquired of him, as from oblige my master in this thing; it will Ghino, how he found his stomach? be your best way.' Whilst they were The Abbot replied, I should be well talking together, the place was sur- enough were I out of this man's clutches. rounded with highwaymen, and the There is nothing I want now so much Abbot, seeing himself a prisoner, went as to eat, for his medicines have had with a great deal of ill-will with the such an effect upon me, that I am fit fellow to the castle, followed by his to die with hunger.' Ghino, then, whole retinue, where he dismounted, having furnished a room with the Aband was lodged, by Ghino's appoint- bot's own goods, and provided an ele ment, in a poor, dark little room, whilst gant entertainment, to which many every other person was well accom-people of the town were invited, as modated according to his respective well as the Abbot's own domestics, station, and the carriages and all the went the next morning to him, and horses taken exact care of. This being said, My Lord, now you find yourself done, Ghino went to the Abbot, and recovered, it is time for you to quit said, 'My Lord, Ghino, whose guest you this infirmary.' So he took him by are, requests the favour of you to let him the hand, and led him into the chamknow whither you are going, and upon ber, leaving him there with his own what account?' The Abbot was wise people; and as he went out to give enough to lay all his haughtiness aside orders about the feast, the Abbot was for the present, and satisfied him with giving an account how he had led his regard to both. Ghino went away at life in that place, whilst they declared hearing this, and, resolving to cure him that they had been used by Ghino with without a bath, he ordered a great fire all possible respect. When the time to be kept constantly in his room, came, they sat down and were nobly coming to him no more till next morn- entertained, but still without Ghino's ing, when he brought him two slices of making himself known. But after the toasted bread, in a fine napkin, and a Abbot had continued some days in that large glass of his own rich white wine, manner, Ghino had all the goods and saying to him, My Lord, when Ghino furniture brought into a large room, was young, he studied physic, and he and the horses were likewise led into declares that the very best medicine for a the court-yard which was under it, pain in the stomach is what he has now when he inquired how his Lordship provided for you, of which these things now found himself, or whether he was are to be the beginning. Then take yet able to ride. The Abbot made anthem, and have a good heart.' The swer that he was strong enough, and Abbot, whose hunger was much greater his stomach perfectly well, and that he than was his will to joke, ate the bread, only wanted to quit this man. Ghino though with a great deal of indignation, then brought him into the room where and drank the glass of wine; after all his goods were, showing him also which he began to talk a little arro-to the window, that he might take a gantly, asking many questions, and view of his horses, when he said, My demanding more particularly to see Lord, you must understand it was no this Ghino.. But Ghino passed over evil disposition, but his being driven part of what he said as vain, and the a poor exile from his own house, and rest he answered very courteously, de- persecuted with many enemies, that claring that Ghino meant to make him forced Ghino di Tacco, whom I am, to a visit very soon, and then left him. be a robber upon the highways, and an He saw him no more till next morn- enemy to the court of Rome. You

to do so, if he was such a person as he reported, and, in the mean time, gave letters of safe-conduct for his coming thither. Upon that assurance, Ghino came to court, when the Pope was soon convinced of his worth, and reconciled to him, giving him the priory of an hospital, and creating him a knight. And there he continued as a friend and loyal servant to the Holy Church, and to the Abbot of Cligni, as long as he lived."

party. But as he was an Aretine, and the Aretines were routed in this battle, the other rendering is doubtless the true one.

17. Federigo Novello, son of Ser Guido Novello of Casentino, slain by one of the Bostoli. "A good youth,' says Benvenuto, "and therefore Dante makes mention of him."

seem, however, to be a person of honour; as, therefore, I have cured you of your pain in your stomach, I do not mean to treat you as I would do another person that should fall into my hands, that is, to take what I please, but I would have you consider my necessity, and then give me what you will yourself. Here is all that belongs to you; the horses you may see out of the window: take either part or the whole, just as you are disposed, and go or stay, as is most agreeable to 15. Cione de' Tarlati of Pietramala, you. The Abbot was surprised to hear who, according to the Ottimo, after the a highwayman talk in so courteous a fight at Bibbiena, being pursued by the manner, which did not a little please enemy, endeavoured to ford the Arno, him; so, turning all his former passion and was drowned. Others interpret the and resentment into kindness and good-line differently, making him the pursuing will, he ran with a heart full of friendship to embrace him: I protest solemnly, that to procure the friendship of such an one as I take you to be, I would undergo more than what you have already made me suffer. Cursed be that evil fortune which has thrown you into this way of life!' So, taking only a few of his most necessary things, and also of his horses, and leaving all the rest, he came back to Rome. The Pope had heard of the Abbot's being a prisoner, and though he was much concerned at it, yet, upon seeing him, he inquired what benefit he had received from the baths? The Abbot replied, with a smile, Holy Father, I found a physician much nearer, who has cured me excellently well;' and he told him the manner of it, which made the Pope laugh heartily, when, going on with his story, and moved with a truly generous spirit, he requested of his Holiness one favour. The Pope, imagining he would ask something else, freely consented to grant it. Then said the Abbot, Holy Father, what I mean to require is, that you would bestow a free pardon on Ghino di Tacco, my doctor, because, of all people of worth that I ever met with, he certainly is most to be esteemed, and the damage he does is more the fault of fortune than himself. Change but his condition, and give him something to live upon, according to his rank and station, and I dare say you will have the same opinion of him that I have.' The Pope, being of a noble spirit, and a great encourager of merit, promised

The Pisan who gave occasion to Marzucco to show his fortitude was Marzucco's own son, Farinata degli Scoringiani. He was slain by Beccio da Caproni, or, as Benvenuto asserts, declaring that Boccaccio told him so, by Count Ugolino. His father, Marzucco, who had become a Franciscan friar, showed no resentment at the murder, but went with the other friars to his son's funeral, and in humility kissed the hand of the murderer, extorting from him the exclamation, "Thy patience overcomes my obduracy." This was an example of Christian forgiveness which even that vindictive age applauded.

19. Count Orso was a son of Napoleone d'Acerbaja, and was slain by his brother-in-law (or uncle) Alberto.

22. Pierre de la Brosse was the secretary of Philip le Bel of France, and suffered at his hands a fate similar to that which befell Pier de la Vigna at the court of Frederick the Second. See Inf. XIII. Note 58. Being accused by Marie de Brabant, the wife of Philip, of having written love-letters to her, he was condemned to death by the king in 1276. Benvenuto thinks that during his residence in Paris Dante learned the

cala, Percival Doria, and all the other pleasures of love, concerning whom Genoese and Tuscan poets, who took much is said in the ninth Canto of far greater delight in our Provençal Paradiso. She, being enamoured of tongue, on account of its sweetness, Sordello, had cautiously contrived that than in their own maternal language. he should visit her at night by a back This poet was very studious, and ex- door near the kitchen of her palace at ceeding eager to know all things, and Verona. And as there was in the street as much as any one of his nation ex- a dirty slough in which the swine walcellent in learning as well as in under-lowed, and puddles of filthy water, so standing and in prudence. He wrote that the place would seem in no way several beautiful songs, not indeed of suspicious, he caused himself to be carlove, for not one of that kind is found among his works, but on philosophic subjects. Raymond Belinghieri, the last Count of Provence of that name, in the last days of his life, (the poet being then but fifteen years of age,) on account of the excellence of his poetry and the rare invention shown in his productions, took him into his service, as Pietro di Castelnuovo, himself a Provençal poet, informs us. He also wrote various satires in the same language, and among others one in which he reproves all the Christian princes; and it is composed in the form of a funeral song on the death of Blancasso."

In the Hist. Litt. de la France, XIX. 452, Eméric-David, after discussing the subject at length, says :

66

Who then is this Sordello, haughty and superb, like a lion in repose,-this Sordello, who, in embracing Virgil, gives rise to this sudden explosion of the patriotic sentiments of Dante? Is it a singer of love and gallantry? Impossible. This Sordello is the old Podestà of Mantua, as decided a Ghibelline as Dante himself; and Dante atters before him sentiments which he well knows the zealous Ghibelline will share. And what still more confirms our judgment is, that Sordello embraces the knees of Virgil, exclaiming, 'O glory of the Latians,' &c. In this admiration, in this love of the Latin ongue, we still see the Podestà, the writer of Latin; we do not see the Troubadour."

ried by her servant to the door where Cunizza stood ready to receive him. Ezzelino having heard of this, one evening, disguised as a servant, carried Sordello, and brought him back. Which done, he discovered himself to Sordello, and said, 'Enough; abstain in future from doing so foul a deed in so foul a place.' Sordello, terrified, humbly besought pardon; promising never more to return to his sister. But the accursed Cunizza again enticed him into his former error. Wherefore, fearing Ezzelino, the most formidable man of his time, he left the city. But Ezzelino, as some say, afterwards had him put to death."

He says, moreover, that Dante places Sordello alone and separate from the others, like Saladin in Inf. IV. 129, on account of his superiority, or because he wrote a book entitled "The Treasure of Treasures"; and that Sordello was a Mantuan of the village of Goïto,"beautiful of person, valiant of spirit, gentle of manner."

Finally, Quadrio, Storia d'ogni Poesia, II. 130, easily cuts the knot which no one can untie; but unfortunately he does not give his authorities. He writes :

"Sordello, native of Goïto, (Sordel de Goi,) a village in the Mantuan territory, was born in 1184, and was the son of a poor knight named Elcort." He then repeats the story of Count Saint Boniface, and of Sordello's reception by Count Raymond in Provence, and adds: "Having afterwards returned to Italy he governed Mantua with the title of Regent and Captain-General; and was opposed to the tyrant Ezzelino, being a great lover of justice, as Ag. nelli writes. Finally he died, very old and full of honour, about 1280. He wrote not only in Provençal, but also in our own common Italian tongue and