An Historical Sketch Illustrative of the Life and Times of Dante Alighieri (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 edition. Excerpt: ...the shame of that man who should rhyme on a subject under a rhetorical figure or colour, and then, on being asked should not he able to strip his words of their clothing, so as to give them a plain signification. My earliest friend and I know those who compose rhymes in this absurd manner., This explicit declaration made by Dante whilst addressing his earliest friend on the subject of allegorical composition, seems to convey clearly and conclusively his own opinions on the subject. We shall later be able to judge from the text of his great work whether he was likely, after time and experience had added _maturity to his thoughts, to depart in his own case from the rule which in the preceding pages he has so strictly laid down. When Dante was apprized of the Death of Bealrice's father he was so much overpoWered by picturing to himself her grief that a serious illness was the consequence. On the ninth day of his indisposition, he collected his thoughts, and with characteristic fervor began to reflect on the past; on the uncertainty of life and on the danger we all of us run of losing the objects of our warmest atfoctions. At this moment the thought of the loss of his beloved struck him with a frenzy of grief. and so strongly aroused the powers of his imagination that L00kil1g' towards the Heavens he saw A vision of Angels, preceded in their upward ascent by a translucent and delicate Cloud. Whilst the words: "Osanna in excelsis" resounded through the regions of space. His rostless imagination, now his torment, brought to him a vision of the death of Beatrice. It seemed to him that he was present at the laying out of her fair and loved remains. And so vivid was his perception of this painful event, that smitten...