Produced by Irma DANTE HIS TIMES AND HIS WORK THE PURGATORY OF DANTE. Edited, with Translation and Notes, by A. J. BUTLER, M.A. Crown 8vo. 12_s._ 6_d._ THE PARADISE OF DANTE. By the same. Crown 8vo. 12_s._ 6_d._ THE HELL OF DANTE. By the same. Crown 8vo. 12_s._ 6_d._ A COMPANION TO DANTE. By Professor SCARTAZZINI. Translated by A. J. BUTLER, M.A. Crown 8vo. 10_s._ 6_d._ THE PURGATORY OF DANTE. Translated by C. LANCELOT SHADWELL, M.A. Crown 8vo. 10_s._ net. THE EARTHLY PARADISE OF DANTE. Translated by the same. Crown 8vo. 5_s._ net. READINGS ON DANTE. By the Hon. WILLIAM WARREN VERNON, M.A. THE PURGATORIO. With Introduction by Dean CHURCH. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. 24_s._ THE INFERNO. With Introduction by Rev. E. MOORE, D.D. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. 30_s._ THE PARADISO. With Introduction by the Bishop of RIPON. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. 21_s._ DANTE, AND OTHER ESSAYS. By R. W. CHURCH. Globe 8vo. 5_s._ LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., LTD. DANTE HIS TIMES AND HIS WORK BY ARTHUR JOHN BUTLER, M.A. LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE ~London~ MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1902 _All rights reserved_ PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES. PREFACE This little book is mainly compounded of papers which appeared, part in the _Monthly Packet_, and part in the Magazine of the Home Reading Union. It will be seen, therefore, that it is not intended for those whom Italians call “Dantists,” but for students at an early stage of their studies. To the former class there will be nothing in the book that is not already familiar--except where they happen to find mistakes, from which, in so extensive a field for blundering as Dante affords, I cannot hope to have kept it free. In the domain of history alone fresh facts are constantly rewarding the indefatigable research of German and Italian scholars--a research of which only the most highly specialised specialist can possibly keep abreast. Even since the following pages were for the most part in print, we have had Professor Villari’s _Two Centuries of Florentine History_, correcting in many particulars the chroniclers on whom the Dante student has been wont to rely. This book should most emphatically be added to those named in the appendix as essential to the study of our author.