neditated upon the stories, probably made sketches, and
uched them afterwards a thousand times; and after many
's brought to perfection these two scenes so dissimilar;
re neither the eye of the critic can discern the consummate
nor the fancy of the poet reach it, nor any soul, how cold
ver, not feel it; and where all appears simple nature, all
grandeur."-Discorso. p. 317. (4.) Thus Virgil. En. ii.~
Infandum, regina, jubes renovare dolorem."

age 288. (Line 29.) "Count Ugolino is called a wolf, as
ig at the time a Guelf. The Ghibellines, his pursuers, are
cribed as hounds." (30.) The hill between Lucca and Pisa
Iount Giuliano. (32.) These families were the adherents of
Archbishop. See note, line 1.

Page 289. (Line 47.) An erroneous opinion prevails, that gate of the tower was locked, and the keys thrown into the o; but the sound of locking the door was heard every day, was no novelty. The word "chiavare" means to nail, and the Paradiso, canto xix. 105, is used to express the nailing Saviour to the cross. (49.) "Even at this sight my heart urned to stone." 2nd pt. Henry VI. Act. v. sc. 2. Thus also enser, Fairy Queen. b. 1, c. 6, st. 37, "And stony horror all senses fill'd."

Page 290. (Line 66.) " τότε μοί χάνοι ἐυρεῖα χθών.”—Il. δ. 2. "Quæ satis ima dehiscat, Terra mihi!"-En. x. 675. -) "If I stand here, I saw him."-Macbeth. Act. iii. sc. 4. ) The land where "Si" is spoken is Italy, where the affirtive" Si," yes, is used. (83.) Capraia and Gorgona are two all islands, not far from the mouth of the Arno, on which a is situated.

Page 291. (Line 85.) Pisa is likened to Thebes from the elties of which it was the scene. (88.) Brigata and

Uguccion Gaddo, Shakspe

66

(105.) A in this s

Page

spirits

(118.) C

a wish t Gauden called f

in and was sai repaid speak the so momer simulta

the re in Psa

Pag

brated

in-law

to ob

"But

such

Uguccion are the two children who, besides Anselm and Gaddo, were starved to death with Ugolino. (98.) Thus Shakspeare. Rich. II. Act 2, sc. 2.

"For sorrow's eye, glazed with blinding tears

Divides one thing entire to many objects."

(105.) As winds are caused by the sun, Dante is surprised that in this sunless abyss, any winds should prevail.

Page 292. (Line 110.) Virgil and Dante are taken for spirits proceeding to punishment in the nethermost abyss. (118.) One of the family of the Manfredi of Faenza, feigning a wish to be reconciled to some of his brotherhood, the Frati Gaudenti, invited them to a banquet. At the conclusion, he called for the fruit, which was the signal for assassins to rush in and murder his guests. Hence one who had been stabbed was said to have tasted Friar Alberigo's fruit. His fig being repaid with date, line 120, is a proverbial expression—Thus we speak of repaying a man in his own coin. "Dante supposes the souls of these traitors to be precipitated into hell the moment their treachery is committed, and that their bodies are simultaneously possessed by a devil, who inhabits them during the remainder of their natural life."-Poggiali. The idea is in Psalm cix. 6, "Let Satan stand at his right hand."

Page 293. (Line 137.) Branca d' Oria was of the celebrated family of the Doria in Genoa. He murdered his fatherin-law, Michael Zanche, mentioned canto xxii. 88, in order to obtain for himself his appointment in Sardinia. (141.) “But 'tis a spirit." "No, wench, it eats and sleeps, and hath such senses as we have, such.”—Tempest. Act. i. sc. 2.

"N

A

ARGUMENT.

ESCRIPTION of Lucifer, surrounded with ice in the very centre
of the earth, or lowest depth of hell.-Judas Iscariot,
Brutus, Cassius, and others who have been guilty of ingra-
citude, and betrayed their benefactors.-Passing the centre,
the poets ascend to the other hemisphere, and again obtain a
=ight of the stars.

o, come the banners of the king of hell!"

My master said: "then forward stretch thine eye,
And, if thou canst-behold the monarch fell."
xe to a windmill, in the distance seen
Whirling about, when night enwraps the sky,
Or dense and murky vapours intervene ;—
ch was the structure I now seem'd to view :
Whereat to shun the blast, behind my guide
For want of other shelter I withdrew.
w came we-and I pen the verse with fear-
Where all the shades beneath the frozen tide

Transparent shone, like straws in crystal clear.

How

De

Fo

Another's figure like a bow was curved.
When we had made such progress on our way,
That to my kind instructor it seem'd meet,
The Creature, once so beauteous, to display ;-
Standing aside, he made me halt,—and cried :
"Now Dis behold!-be thine, in this dread spot
A heart of firmest courage to provide."
How hoarse and icy cold I then became-
Demand not, reader, since I write it not;
For all description would be weak and tame.

I died not ;-nor was life within me left;
Imagine then, if fancy thou possess,
What I became, of either state bereft.
Above the ice uprear'd his bust on high

The Monarch of that region of distress;
And nearer to a giant's height am I,
Than to his arms are giants :-now compute,

How vast in magnitude the whole must be,
Which to a portion so immense could suit.
If he were beauteous once, as now debased,-
Yet in his pride transgress'd his Sire's decree,
Well may all evil unto him be traced.

13

19

25

31

And at the crest all three a junction made.
mewhat 'twixt white and yellow was the right;
The left, to look at, was like those who dwell
Where Nile descends from Ethiopia's height.
vo mighty wings extended under each,
Which to a bird so monstrous suited well;
Nor e'er beheld I sails such distance reach.
umes had they none; but in their texture they
Were like a bat's; which, flexible and thin,
Produced three winds by their incessant play,
ad froze Cocytus' lowest depth profound.
The six eyes wept; and o'er his triple chin

Compared with what he suffer'd from the claws,

Which from his back oft tore the skin away.

"That
"Is

His

Of the

Bru

See