Heroes of Modern Europe | Page 6

Alice Birkhead

Rome had the renown of past splendour and the purple of imperial
pride. Venice was the depôt of the world's trade, and sent fleets east
and west laden with precious cargoes, which gave her a unique position
among the five Republics. Bologna drew students from every capital in
Europe to her ancient Universities. Milan had been a centre of learning
even in the days of Roman rule, and the Emperor Maximilian had made
it the capital of Northern Italy. Florence, somewhat overshadowed by
such fame, could yet boast the most ancient origin. Was not Faesulae,
lying close to her, the first city built when the Flood had washed away
the abodes of men and left the earth quite desolate? Fia sola--"Let her
be alone"--the words re-echoed through the whole neighbourhood and
were the pride of Florence, which lay in a smiling fertile plain where all
things flourished. The Florentines were coming to their own as the
Middle Ages {21} passed; they were people of cunning hand and brain,
always eager to make money and spend it to procure the luxury and
beauty their natures craved. The "florin" owed its popularity to the
soundness of trade within the very streets where the bell, known as "the
great cow," rang so lustily to summon the citizens to combat. The
golden coins carried the repute of the fair Italian town to other lands,
and changed owners so often that her prosperity was obvious.
Florence looked very fair when Durante Alighieri came into the world,
for he was born on a May morning, and the Florentines were making
holiday. There was mirth and jesting within the tall grey houses round
the little church of San Martino. The Alighieri dwelt in that quarter, but
more humbly than their fine neighbours, the Portinari, the Donati, and
the Cerci.
The Portinari celebrated May royally in 1275, inviting all their friends
to a blithe gathering. At this festa Dante Alighieri met Beatrice, the
little daughter of his host, and the long dream of his life began, for he

idealized her loveliness from that first youthful meeting.
"Her dress on that day was of a most noble colour, a subdued and
goodly crimson, girdled and adorned in such sort as best suited with her
very tender age. At that moment I say most truly that the spirit of life,
which hath its dwelling in the secretest chamber of the heart, began to
tremble so violently that the least pulses of my body shook therewith;
and in trembling it said these words--'Ecce Deus fortior me, qui veniens
dominabitur mihi.' From that time Love ruled my soul. . . ."
Henceforth, Dante watched for the vision of Beatrice, weaving about
her all the poetic fancies of his youth. He must have seen her many
times, but no words passed {22} between them till nine years had sped
and he chanced to come upon her in all the radiance of her womanhood.
She was "between two gentle ladies who were older than she; and
passing by in the street, she turned her eyes towards that place where I
stood very timidly, and in her ineffable courtesy saluted me so
graciously that I seemed then to see the heights of all blessedness. And
because this was the first time her words came to my ears, it was so
sweet to me that, like one intoxicated, I left all my companions, and
retiring to the solitary refuge of my chamber I set myself to think of
that most courteous one, and thinking of her, there fell upon me a sweet
sleep, in which a marvellous vision appeared to me." The poet
described the vision in verse--it was Love carrying a sleeping lady in
one arm and in the other the burning heart of Dante. He wished that the
sonnet he wrote should be answered by "all the faithful followers of
love," and was gratified by the prompt reply of Guido Cavalcanti, who
had won renown as a knight and minstrel.
Dante became the friend of this elder poet, and was encouraged to
pursue his visionary history of the earlier years of his life and his
fantastic adoration for Beatrice Portinari. The Vita Nuova was read by
the poet's circle, who had a sympathetic interest in the details of the
drama. The young lover did not confess his love to "the youngest of the
angels," but he continued to worship her long after she had married
Simone de Bardi.
[Illustration: Dante in the Streets of Florence (Evelyn Paul)]

Yet Dante entered into the ruder life of Florence, and took up arms for
the Guelf faction, to which his family belonged. He fought in 1289 at
the battle of Campaldino against the city of Arezzo and the Ghibellines
who had taken possession of that city. Florence had been
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