Read an Excerpt
OTUD1ES, and especially those of speculation, to (which our Dante, as already shewn, entirely surrendered himself, are wont to demand solitude and removal of anxiety, and tranquillity of mind. In the stead of which removal and quiet, almost from the beginning of his life up to the day of his death Dante experienced the most fierce and unbearable passion of love; wife ; family and civic cares; exile, and poverty; (to say naught of other more special cares which these of necessity bring in their train); all which, that their weight may the more fully appear, I judge it meet to unfold severally. In that season wherein the sweetness of heaven reclothes the earth with its adornments, making her all to smile with diversity of flowers mingled amongst green leaves, it was the custom both of men and women in our city, each in his district, to hold festival, gathering together in their several companies; wherefore it chanced that Folco Portinari, amongst the rest, a man in those days much honoured of the citizens, had gathered his neighbours round about, to feast them inhis house on the first day of May. Now amongst them was that Alighieri already spoken of; and thither (even as little lads are wont to go about with their fathers, especially to places of festivity) Dante, whose ninth year was not yet ended, had accompanied him. And here, mingling with the others of his age—for in the festal house were many of them, boys and girls,—the first tables being served, he abandoned himself with the rest to children's sports, so far as the compass of his small years would extend. There was amongst the throng of young ones a little daughter of the aforesaid Folco, whose name was Bice (thoughhe himself always called her by the original of the name, to wit, Beatrice), whose age was some eight years...
