Studies in Dante (Volume 3); Third Series Miscellaneous Essays (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... star to star, whereas this ignorant writer says 'de coelo in coelum ' I am sure my readers will agree that it would be waste of time either to quote more of such 'criticism' as this, or to attempt to reply to it seriously. One can imagine how Dante himself would have met it from his language in Conv. IV. xiv. 105: 'risponder si vorrebbe non colle parole ma col coltello a . . .' but, though the words are Dante's and not mine, I would rather not proceed with the quotation. II. ii. The Internal Evidence As It Appears TO bE FAVOURABLE. Thus far we have been occupied almost entirely with objections of opponents based upon ' cose assolutamente non Dantesche' supposed to be detected in the Epistle. I may now venture to adduce some examples of a contrary kind that have occurred to myself, i. e. similarities in thought, expression, and method, as compared with admitted works of Dante. I must premise that I am fully aware of the twoedged nature of such arguments1, but I also contend that the same character attaches to many of those of a converse kind, as we have already seen2. And in any case, if Dante were the author such resemblances must certainly be expected 3. Passing over such general features of similarity as have been indicated already (supra, p. 295), I would draw attention, more in detail, to the following points. II. ii. (a) Resemblances To Other Works Of Dante. (1) ll. 1-5. Giuliani has pointed out the general similarity of the language here applied to Can Grande with that of Par. xvii. 85-90: 'Le sue magnificenze conosciute Saranno ancora sl, che i suoi nimici Non ne potran tener le lingue mute. 1 As I have explained in reference to the Quaestio, in Studies, II. pp. 327, 328. Supra, pp. 30a, 306, 310, and infra, pp. 337, 339, 343. * Again see...