Love is compared with the summer sun,[206] the generosity of a noble nature resembles “the great planet.”[207] The Emperor Henry VII., from whom Dante expected the regeneration of Italy and the whole Christian world, is likened to the rising sun;[208] the birth of St. Francis is described as “nacque al mondo un sole,”[209] and his birthplace ought rightly to be called not Assisi but Orient.[210] Virgil is addressed as “O Sol che sani ogni vista turbata;”[211] Beatrice is “Il sol degli occhi miei.”[212] Finally the sun is the best symbol of God,[213] and so it is used many times in the _Divine Comedy_: “Il Sol degli angeli,”[214] “Il Sol che raggia tutto nostro stuolo;”[215] a spirit turns to “il Sol che la riempie,”[216] and when Virgil laments that he is shut out of heaven it is in these words: “Ho i’ perduto Di veder l’ alto Sol che tu disiri.”[217] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [206] _De Mon._ II. i. 36-41.; _Canz._ ix. [207] _Canz._ xix. 96-114. [208] _Ep._ v. 10; and vii. 19, 20, 25. [209] “A sun rose upon the world.” _Par._ xi. 50. [210] _Par._ xi. 52-54. [211] “O sun that healest all imperfect vision,” _Inf._ xi. 91. [212] “The sun of my eyes.” _Par._ xxx. 75 (See also _Par._ iii. 1-3). [213] _Conv._ III. xii. 52-63. [214] “The Sun of the angels.” _Par._ x. 53. [215] “That Sun which enlightens all our company.” _Par._ xxv. 54. [216] “The Sun which satisfies it.” _Par._ ix. 8. [217] “I have lost the sight of that high Sun whom thou desirest.” _Purg._ vii. 25, 26. Compare _Par._ xxx. 126; xv. 76; xviii. 105. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ But we may not dwell on those thoughts of the sun as the typical giver of light and life; we must ask what Dante says about his movements, since this was the chief subject-matter of mediæval astronomy. His daily course, “il cammin del Sole,”[218] is often spoken of, and is indicated both by his position in the sky, and the length and direction of shadows. The second _Eclogue_ begins with a description of a breathlessly hot midday, when objects, which are usually shorter than their own shadows, now surpassed them in length. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [218] “The path of the sun.” _Purg._ xii. 74. “Resque refulgentes, solitae superarier umbris, Vincebant umbras.” _Ecl._ ii. 5, 6. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At this time the sun appears most brilliant, and seems to move most slowly, since he is scarcely changing his position with regard to the horizon. “E più corrusco, e con più lenti passi, Teneva il sole il cerchio di merigge.”[219] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [219] “Shining more brightly and with slower steps, the sun had gained the circle of midday.” _Purg._ xxxiii. 103, 104. ------------------------------------------------------------------------