It is curious to see, not long after Milton—or, perhaps, at the same time—Stillingfleet, in his Origines Sacræ (Book 2nd, ch. 9, sec. 19, and ch. 10, sec. 5) quote Dante as an authority on the truth of Christianity, but he gives the verses in a Latin translation by F. S. (I have not looked to see who F. S. was.) Spenser, too, has imitated Dante, I think. Tradubio, who is turned into a tree and speaks, of Pier delle Vigne. ‘Uomini fummo, ed or siam fatti sterpi.’ ‘But once a man, Tradubio, now a tree.’ Chaucer has often imitated Dante, whom he calls (Wife of Bath’s Tale, v. 6708, in Tyrwhitt’s edit.) ‘the wise poet of Florence—that highte Dante,’ of whom he translated immediately after the lines:— ‘Rade volte discende per li rami,’ &c. ‘Full selde up riseth by his branches small,’ &c.; and in the Monk’s Tale the whole of Ugolino’s Story is translated, and he ends by referring to ‘The grete poete of Itaille— That highte Dante ...’ as its author. And now I end in haste. Yours, &c., &c., A. PANIZZI.” “Kent House, Jan. 25, 1856. “Dear Panizzi, The imitation of Dante in Milton’s verse—‘Therefore eternal silence be their doom’—seems to me doubtful. The quotation of the celebrated passage ‘Ahi Costantin’ does not prove that Milton had read Dante—he might have found this anti-papal citation in some controversial work. I have no doubt that scattered references to particular passages and particular expressions in a writer so sterling, and once too well-known, can be found at all periods. But is there any evidence that Milton’s contemporaries read Dante, and understood and admired him, and were influenced by his poetry in their compositions? Yours, &c., &c., G. C. LEWIS.” “B. M., Jan. 26, 1856. “My dear Sir George, Dante says:— ‘Fama di loro il mondo esser non lassa, Misericordia e Giustizia gli sdegna. Non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda, e passa.’ And Milton:— ‘Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell; * * * * * * Therefore eternal silence be their doom.’ —P. L., 6. 380-5.