Epic poetry, Italian -- Translations into English; Italian poetry -- To 1400 -- Translations into English
v. 14. Count Ugolino.] “In the year 1288, in the month of July, Pisa
was much divided by competitors for the sovereignty; one party,
composed of certain of the Guelphi, being headed by the Judge Nino di
Gallura de’Visconti; another, consisting of others of the same faction,
by the Count Ugolino de’ Gherardeschi; and the third by the Archbishop
Ruggieri degli Ubaldini, with the Lanfranchi, Sismondi, Gualandi, and
other Ghibelline houses. The Count Ugolino,to effect his purpose,
united with the Archbishop and his party, and having betrayed Nino, his
sister’s son, they contrived that he and his followers should either be
driven out of Pisa, or their persons seized. Nino hearing this, and not
seeing any means of defending himself, retired to Calci, his castle,
and formed an alliance with the Florentines and people of Lucca,
against the Pisans. The Count, before Nino was gone, in order to cover
his treachery, when everything was settled for his expulsion, quitted
Pisa, and repaired to a manor of his called Settimo; whence, as soon as
he was informed of Nino’s departure, he returned to Pisa with great
rejoicing and festivity, and was elevated to the supreme power with
every demonstration of triumph and honour. But his greatness was not of
long continuauce. It pleased the Almighty that a total reverse of
fortune should ensue, as a punishment for his acts of treachery and
guilt: for he was said to have poisoned the Count Anselmo da Capraia,
his sister’s son, on account of the envy and fear excited in his mind
by the high esteem in which the gracious manners of Anselmo were held
by the Pisans. The power of the Guelphi being so much diminished, the
Archbishop devised means to betray the Count Uglino and caused him to
be suddenly attacked in his palace by the fury of the people, whom he
had exasperated, by telling them that Ugolino had betrayed Pisa, and
given up their castles to the citizens of Florence and of Lucca. He was
immediately compelled to surrender; his bastard son and his grandson
fell in the assault; and two of his sons, with their two sons also,
were conveyed to prison.” G. Villani l. vii. c. 120.
“In the following march, the Pisans, who had imprisoned the Count
Uglino, with two of his sons and two of his grandchildren, the
offspring of his son the Count Guelfo, in a tower on the Piazza of the
Anzania, caused the tower to be locked, the key thrown into the Arno,
and all food to be withheld from them. In a few days they died of
hunger; but the Count first with loud cries declared his penitence, and
yet neither priest nor friar was allowed to shrive him. All the five,
when dead, were dragged out of the prison, and meanly interred; and
from thence forward the tower was called the tower of famine, and so
shall ever be.” Ibid. c. 127.
Chancer has briefly told Ugolino’s story. See Monke’s Tale,
Hugeline of Pise.
v. 29. Unto the mountain.] The mountain S. Giuliano, between Pisa and
Lucca.
v. 59. Thou gav’st.]
Tu ne vestisti
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