Enough has been said to show the industry, which was Yedaya's most striking characteristic. At a time when a man's mind is perturbed by external influences, involving not only his abilities but even his personal safety, it would seem that intellectual work would be impossible: it was, however, at such a time that the bulk of Yedaya's work was undertaken and executed. Footnotes: [72-1] Cp. Graetz's _Gesch. d. J._, VII, p. 277. [74-1] ‏ החוקים מחשכים—וכלי הנשקים שקים, ‏ הפנינים צנינים—והשושנים קמשונים, ‏ הרהבים להבים—והזהובים זבובים• ‎[75-1] ‏ 1   האביב לא יאנה השקימני—כאובות במכאובות חדשים יבקעני— ‏ 2   הקיץ יקוץ בחיי במצוקות יציקני—יקיצני משנת מנוחה מקטב מרירי— ‏ 3   החורף יחרפני למות יחרף לבבי מהיות שלו בפגעי— ‏ 4   הסתיו יסית צנה וסגריר לבלעני חנם• ‎[76-1] ‏לא האמינו לשמועתו—אורבי מחולות—אוהבי כלילות—חושׁקי יעלות—נושקו אילות—שוחרי ‏עדניו—סוחרי רנניו—חשבוהו כמהתל—ויהי כמצחק בעיני חתניו• [79-1] Cp. Miss Löwy's translation of Graetz's _Gesch. d. J._, IV, p. 42. [79-2] _Gesch. d. J._, VII, p. 269. IX IMMANUEL DI ROMA A THIRTEENTH-CENTURY HEBREW HUMORIST AND A FRIEND OF DANTE In the present essay a short sketch will be given of the life and works of Immanuel di Roma, the Heine of the Middle Ages, as Graetz terms him, commonly called Immanuel ben Shelomoh; and reference will also be made to his literary and friendly relationship to the poet Dante Alighieri. It ought, however, to be stated at the outset that, although Immanuel was the composer of several Italian sonnets, he owes his fame mainly to his Hebrew production entitled _Machberoth_. Apart from its value as an entertaining book it is at the same time the chief source from which information about its author's life is obtainable. But as such the volume is not always entirely reliable, as certain episodes mentioned therein have hitherto not been fully authenticated. Modern writers, however, among whom Graetz and Güdemann may be especially mentioned, have ably utilized the old and new material available, and, thanks to their fruitful labours, a more complete and trustworthy sketch of Immanuel's life and works can now be given. According to Graetz's ingenious combination of dates and circumstances (cp. _Die Geschichte der Juden_, VII, note 3), it would seem that Immanuel was born in the year 1265, which is also the year of Dante's birth. Immanuel's parents, Solomon and Justa by name, belonged to a renowned Jewish family called Ziphroni, and occupied an honourable position in the Jewish community of Rome. They devoted great care to their son's early education. One of his earliest teachers was Benjamin ben Yechiel, a clever physician and a great Hebrew scholar, who made him acquainted with the works of Maimonides. Later on he was taught by a relative, Leone Romano by name, who held the post of Hebrew instructor to Robert, king of Naples,