NOTES.

The meaning of Plutus' exclamation (evidently intended to terrify Dante) seems to be," Avaunt! for the Pope who presides over Riches, is Satanic Prince here." The line is thus stopped and explained by Signor Rosetti: "Pap'è Satan, Pap'è Satan, Aleppe." "The Pope is Satan, the Pope is Satan, Prince." That Plutus is the symbol of Avarice is evident from line seven, where he is identified with the Wolf of the first canto. (12.) "Michael and his angels fought against the Dragon, &c." Rev. xii. 7. Milton here follows Dante: "So much the fear of thunder, and the sword of Michael wrought still within them."-Par. Lost. ii. 294; see also line 320.

Page 62. (Line 46.) "Such rapacity might seem incredible in men cut off from the pursuits of life, and the hope of posterity, did we not behold every day the unreasonableness of avarice."-Hallam. Middle Ages, cap. vii. (57.) Cowper seems to have had this passage in view. "There Priests with bulls and briefs, and shaven crowns, and griping fists."-Expostula

tion.

Page 63. (Line 64.) "Neither their silver nor gold shall
be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath."-
Zephaniah i. 18. Dante has here been closely followed by
Boyardo.-Orlando Inamorato. xxi. st. 49.

"E tanto argento ed oro ha in le sue mane
Che altretanto non è sotto la Luna;

Ne richezza maggior al Sol si vede."

(78.) Hence Chaucer. Knight's Tale. 1664. "The destinee, ministre general,

That executeth in the world over al

The purveiance that God hath sen beforne."

amation Avaunt!

ce here."

Rosetti:

= Satan, mbol of ed with

angels n here - sword

94; see

redible

of posness of seems

bulls

stula

shall

th."

ed by

Dante says that the operations of Fortune are not the result
of chance, but conducted with the greatest deliberation. He
calls the angels, or intelligent beings, who direct the heavenly
bodies, "Deities." They are divided by him, in his Convito,
into nine classes, viz. Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Domina-
tions, Virtues, Principalities, Powers, Cherubims, Seraphims.
The heavens also are divided, after Ptolemy, into nine spheres,
each governed by an angel of one of the classes mentioned.
As each of them directs his peculiar sphere, so Fortune is here
said to superintend the distribution of temporal blessings.
See Convito, Trat. ii. c. 5. (79) Thus Horace. Carm.. iii. 29.
"Fortuna sævo læta negotio, et

Ludum insolentem ludere pertinax,
Transmutat incertos honores,

Nunc mihi, nunc alii benigna."

Page 64. (Line 89.) "Te semper anteit sæva Necessitas." 46 Æquâ lege Necessitas sortitur insignes et imos."—Horace. Carm. i. 35, and iii. 1. (91.) Thus Spencer. Fairy Queen :"In vain, said then old Melibee, do men

The heavens of their fortune's fault accuse,

Sith they know best what is the best for them,
For they to each such fortune do diffuse

As they do know each can most aptly use."
(98.) See Canto ii. 1. (105.) "Diverso," here translated rug-
ged," is frequently used by Dante in the sense of cruel,
strange. See Panizzi: Notes to Boiardo, vol. ii. p. 217.

Page 65. (Line 127.) "The Stygian lake is here intended." -Monti. Proposta, in voce “pozza.”

A

1

I

ARGUMENT.

In answer to a signal from a tower in the city of Dis, Flegias, the ferryman of the Stygian lake, conveys the poets across it. Filippo Argenti.-The gates of the city are closed by a band of Demons, and Virgil returns in despair.

Now tell I, as my story I pursue,

That ere we reach'd the lofty castle's base,
Two little flames upon its summit drew
Our eyes in wonder; while another made
Answer, so distant, we could scarcely trace
The flickering glimmer from afar display'd.
Then to the sea of knowledge turn'd,-I said:

"Wherefore this signal? why that answering light?
And who are they by whom these flames are fed ?"
"What now advances o'er the gloomy tide,
Is surely," he exclaim'd, "within thy sight,
Unless indeed the marshy vapours hide."

W

7

W

Flegias, cross it. a band

1

With greater speed did never arrow fly

Forth from the string, and cut the yielding air,
Than, o'er the lake approaching, met mine eye
A little vessel, under the controul

Of but a single boatman; who, aware
Exclaim'd: "Art thou arrived, O felon soul?"
"Flegias, Flegias, the outcry thou dost make

As

For once avails thee not," exclaim'd the sire;
"We stay not with thee but to cross the lake."
one, who of some monstrous fraud hath heard
Practised upon him, gives his soul to ire;

So Flegias stood, to sudden anger stirr❜d.
Into the boat descended then my guide,

And bade me follow close upon his track:
Till I embark'd no burden press'd the tide.
When both were seated, on it went; aud now
To depth unwonted was that river black

13

19

25

Cut by the impress of the ancient prow.
Whilst we were hurrying o'er the stagnant slime,

One rose before me, smear'd with mud, and cried: "Say who art thou who com'st before thy time?" "I come not to remain :-but who," quoth I, "Art thou who hast thyself so brutified?" "Lo! one am I who weeps," was his reply.

31

And I to him: "With weeping and with woe,
Thy fitting company, carst soul, remain ;-

All muddy though thou art, thy face I know."
Then to the boat his hands were thrown anon:

Whereat the master thrust him back again, Exclaiming: "To the other dogs begone." With this, around my neck his arms he flung,

37

43

And kiss'd my cheek: "Indignant soul," said he,
"Blessed the mother from whose womb you sprung.

He, when alive, was arrogant, and proud;

And therefore here his spirit storms aloud.

On earth how many deem themselves great kings,
Who here like swine shall wallow in a sty,
And leave a name that vile remembrance brings !"

"O what delight would it afford my heart

To see him plunged within the pool," said I, "Ere from the filthy waters we depart !" Then he to me: "Thou shalt be satisfied,

Before the infernal shore appear in sight; "Tis meet that such a wish be not denied." Soon after, I beheld the muddy crew

Set on him with such violence and might,

That God I thank for granting me the view.