NOTES. Page 287. (Line 1.) "In this last circle of hell Dante beholds those who have betrayed their native land entombed in everlasting ice. One of them is Count Ugolino della Gherardesca, who by a series of treasons had made himself master of Pisa. The other head is that of Ruggieri degli Ubaldini, Archbishop of that state, who by means no less criminal had effected the ruin of the Count; and having seized him with four of his children or grandchildren, had left them to perish by famine in prison. Dante does not at first recognize them; and shudders when he sees Ugolino gnawing the skull of his murderer. He inquires into the motives of this savage enmity, and with the Count's reply this canto commences.”—Sismondi Ital. Lit. c. ix. But to appreciate fully the beauties of this celebrated canto, a fuller knowledge of the circumstances alluded to is required. In the year 1284, the Guelfs of Tuscany conspired to take advantage of the great loss sustained by the Pisans, after their defeat by the Genoese, and destroy Pisa, the chief hold of the Ghibelline party. To dissolve this confederacy, the Pisans appointed as their Captain General for ten years, Count Ugolino della Gherardesca, a man of no principle, but possessing great talent and address, as well as great influence with both parties. The temptation offered by the situation he held was irresistible, and the intrigues he entered into, to dissolve the league, were directed-not to preserve the independence of his country, but to secure to his own family the dominion of Pisa, by making friends with the neighbouring states. For this purpose several castles, it is said, were betrayed to Lucca and to Florence; and several Ghibelline families banished, who appeared most ready to oppose his ambitious views. With the persecuted Ghibellines, his former friends, sided any Guelfs who viewed his proceedings with disgust; and at the head of the opposition was Nino, Judge of Gallura, a grandson of Ugolino himself. To overcome this opposition, Ugolino entered into alliance with Ruggieri, the Archbishop of the city. The combination succeeded, and the Judge of Gallura fled before their united forces. But Ugolino could not brook an associate; and the claim made by the Archbishop to a share in the government of the city, was haughtily refused. Ruggieri, however, was equally ambitious and crafty with the Count. He dissembled his resentment, and waited for an opportunity of revenge. This dissimulation he maintained on a subsequent occasion, when Ugolino, having established himself in power, stabbed one of Ruggieri's nephews, who came with others to represent to the Count the scarcity of provisions, and reproached him as the cause. The Archbishop waited till he had conciliated Nino, and fully secured the assistance of the Ghibellines. Then having assembled the families of the Gualandi, Sismondi, and Lanfranchi, with their adherents, he suddenly called the people to arms against the tyrant, accused him of betraying his country in surrendering its castles, attacked his palace, and after a long combat, took prisoners the Count Ugolino himself, two of his sons, and two grandsons, threw them into a dungeon, nailed the door, and starved them to death. In the same year that the melancholy catastrophe of Francesca di Rimini took place, observes Ugo Foscolo, Dante heard of Count Ugolino and his children being starved to death in the tower of Pisa. "From that time," says he, "it is certain he meditated upon the stories, probably made sketches, and retouched them afterwards a thousand times; and after many years brought to perfection these two scenes so dissimilar; where neither the eye of the critic can discern the consummate art, nor the fancy of the poet reach it, nor any soul, how cold soever, not feel it; and where all appears simple nature, all ideal grandeur."-Discorso. p. 317. (4.) Thus Virgil. Æn. ii. 3. "Infandum, regina, jubes renovare dolorem." Page 288. (Line 29.) "Count Ugolino is called a wolf, as being at the time a Guelf. The Ghibellines, his pursuers, are described as hounds." (30.) The hill between Lucca and Pisa is Mount Giuliano. (32.) These families were the adherents of the Archbishop. See note, line 1. Page 289, (Line 47.) An erroneous opinion prevails, that the gate of the tower was locked, and the keys thrown into the Arno; but the sound of locking the door was heard every day, and was no novelty. The word "chiavare" means to nail, and in the Paradiso, canto xix. 105, is used to express the nailing our Saviour to the cross. (49.) "Even at this sight my heart is turned to stone." 2nd pt. Henry VI. Act. v. sc. 2. Thus also Spenser, Fairy Queen. b. 1, c. 6, st. 37, "And stony horror all her senses fill'd." Page 290. (Line 66.) " τότε μοι χάνοι ευρεία χθών.”—Il. δ. 182. "Quæ satis ima dehiscat, Terra mihi!"-Æn. x. 675. (70.) "If I stand here, I saw him."-Macbeth. Act. iii. sc. 4. (80.) The land where "Si" is spoken is Italy, where the affirmative" Si," yes, is used. (83.) Capraia and Gorgona are two small islands, not far from the mouth of the Arno, on which Pisa is situated. Page 291. (Line 85.) Pisa is likened to Thebes from the cruelties of which it was the scene. (88.) Brigata and Uguccion are the two children who, besides Anselm and Gaddo, were starved to death with Ugolino. (98.) Thus Shakspeare. Rich. II. Act 2, sc. 2. "For sorrow's eye, glazed with blinding tears Divides one thing entire to many objects." (105.) As winds are caused by the sun, Dante is surprised that in this sunless abyss, any winds should prevail. Page 292. (Line 110.) Virgil and Dante are taken for spirits proceeding to punishment in the nethermost abyss. (118.) One of the family of the Manfredi of Faenza, feigning a wish to be reconciled to some of his brotherhood, the Frati Gaudenti, invited them to a banquet. At the conclusion, he called for the fruit, which was the signal for assassins to rush in and murder his guests. Hence one who had been stabbed was said to have tasted Friar Alberigo's fruit. His fig being repaid with date, line 120, is a proverbial expression-Thus we speak of repaying a man in his own coin. "Dante supposes the souls of these traitors to be precipitated into hell the moment their treachery is committed, and that their bodies are simultaneously possessed by a devil, who inhabits them during the remainder of their natural life."-Poggiali. The idea is in Psalm cix. 6, "Let Satan stand at his right hand," Page 293. (Line 137.) Branca d' Oria was of the celebrated family of the Doria in Genoa. He murdered his fatherin-law, Michael Zanche, mentioned canto xxii. 88, in order to obtain for himself his appointment in Sardinia. (141.) "But 'tis a spirit." "No, wench, it eats and sleeps, and hath such senses as we have, such."-Tempest. Act. i. sc. 2. CANTO XXXIV. ARGUMENT. DESCRIPTION of Lucifer, surrounded with ice in the very centre of the earth, or lowest depth of hell.-Judas Iscariot, Brutus, Cassius, and others who have been guilty of ingratitude, and betrayed their benefactors.-Passing the centre, the poets ascend to the other hemisphere, and again obtain a sight of the stars. "Lo, come the banners of the king of hell !" My master said : "then forward stretch thine And, if thou canst-behold the monarch fell." Like to a windmill, in the distance seen Whirling about, when night enwraps the sky, Transparent shone, like straws in crystal clear. eye, 1 7 |