Epic poetry, Italian -- Translations into English; Italian poetry -- To 1400 -- Translations into English
v. 88. Giovanna.] Either the wife, or kinswoman, of Buonconte.
v. 91. The hermit’s seat.] The hermitage of Camaldoli.
v. 95. Where its name is cancel’d.] That is, between Bibbiena and
Poppi, where the Archiano falls into the Arno.
v. 115. From Pratomagno to the mountain range.] From Pratomagno now
called Prato Vecchio (which divides the Valdarno from Casentino) as far
as to the Apennine.
v. 131. Pia.] She is said to have been a Siennese lady, of the family
of Tolommei, secretly made away with by her husband, Nello della
Pietra, of the same city, in Maremma, where he had some possessions.
CANTO VI
v. 14. Of Arezzo him.] Benincasa of Arezzo, eminent for his skill in
jurisprudence, who, having condemned to death Turrino da Turrita
brother of Ghino di Tacco, for his robberies in Maremma, was murdered
by Ghino, in an apartment of his own house, in the presence of many
witnesses. Ghino was not only suffered to escape in safety, but (as the
commentators inform us) obtained so high a reputation by the liberality
with which he was accustomed to dispense the fruits of his plunder, and
treated those who fell into his hands with so much courtesy, that he
was afterwards invited to Rome, and knighted by Boniface VIII. A story
is told of him by Boccaccio, G. x. N. 2.
v. 15. Him beside.] Ciacco de’ Tariatti of Arezzo. He is said to have
been carried by his horse into the Arno, and there drowned, while he
was in pursuit of certain of his enemies.
v. 17. Frederic Novello.] Son of the Conte Guido da Battifolle, and
slain by one of the family of Bostoli.
v. 18. Of Pisa he.] Farinata de’ Scornigiani of Pisa. His father
Marzuco, who had entered the order of the Frati Minori, so entirely
overcame the feelings of resentment, that he even kissed the hands of
the slayer of his son, and, as he was following the funeral, exhorted
his kinsmen to reconciliation.
v. 20. Count 0rso.] Son of Napoleone da Cerbaia, slain by Alberto da
Mangona, his uncle.
v. 23. Peter de la Brosse.] Secretary of Philip III of France. The
courtiers, envying the high place which he held in the king’s favour,
prevailed on Mary of Brabant to charge him falsely with an attempt upon
her person for which supposed crime he suffered death. So say the
Italian commentators. Henault represents the matter very differently:
“Pierre de la Brosse, formerly barber to St. Louis, afterwards the
favorite of Philip, fearing the too great attachment of the king for
his wife Mary, accuses this princess of having poisoned Louis, eldest
son of Philip, by his first marriage. This calumny is discovered by a
nun of Nivelle in Flanders. La Brosse is hung.” Abrege Chron. t. 275,
&c.
v. 30. In thy text.] He refers to Virgil, Aen. 1, vi. 376.
Desine fata deum flecti sperare precando, 37. The sacred height
Of judgment. Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, a. ii. s. 2.
If he, which is the top of judgment
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