 |
Questa pagina è ancora da trascrivere o è incompleta. | |
that employment. «E s’ io vado, chi resta?». «And if I go, who stays?», said he. Then stay, answered they. «E s’io sto, chi vaf». «And if I stay, who goes?», replied the poet.
This insolent and contemptuous behaviour soon alienated the affection of his countrymen from him, and, although they acknowledged that his merit was superior to many others, they hated and persecuted him and at last banished him their territories.
Dante was obHged to fly and retire to Ravenna, where he was kindly received and entertained by the counts Polenta’s, lords of that city. There it was that he wrote many things in Latin; but not entirely satisfíed with his performances in that langnage, he undertook to write an epic poe m in his own, which was at that time called in Italy «lingua volgare», «vulgar tongue».
The argument that he chose was well adapted to his own nature and gave him an opportunity of venting ali that rancour and rage that boiled in his bosom and devoured him in his exile. Hell, Purgatory and Paradise were his theme; so he had the conveniency of throwing into the profoundest parts of Hell many of his fello w-citizens, against whom he was enraged, as also many other persons ancient or contemporaries whom he disliked. Emperors, kings, popes, cardinals, noblemen and plebeyans, his vehement pen respected none. Nay, having received some displeasure from the lords Polenta’s, protectors and benefactors, he plunged two of thera as adultererá in the mansion of the damned, and thus cast an indelible blemish on the honour of an illustrious family, to which he had been obliged for his safety and for a quiet and splendid retreat; and what is more remarkable (but for what reason is unknown) he immerged in Hell, and in the most infamous part of it. Brunetto Latini, who had been his preceptor and instructed him in his tender years with more than paterna! affection.
Those who found grace were only confíned in Purgatory-, which, according to our Catholic notions, is a place of redemption, and those that are fortunate enough to be sent there are certain of arriving, soon or late, at celestial glor>’. But it is remarkable
