Still'd, like to oars that, dashing through the brine,-133 If rest be needed, or if risk arise, Are all suspended at the steerer's sign. NOTES. Page 234. (Line 1.) "Even in the presence of Beatrice and St. Peter, he thus unbosoms the long cherished hope; conscious of high desert, as well as grievous injustice, which he would nevertheless most fervently forgive, could restoration to his country be obtained on terms consistent with the fame and honour of Dante."-James Montgomery. Life of Dante. Lardner's Cab. Cyclop. No. 63. (5.) The fair sheepfold is Florence, Dante's birth-place. He contrasts his own peaceful disposition with the violence of his countrymen; and the scornful voices that banished him, with the acclamations he anticipated on his return as a Poet. After fifteen years exile, overtures were made to Dante to return to Florence upon conditions which he could not accept. His answer is extant in a letter, of modern discovery, preserved in the Laurentian library. No, my father, this is not the way of returning to my country. Yet if you or any one else can find another which shall not compromise the fame and honour of Dante, I will not be slow to take it. But if by such an one, I may not return to Florence-Florence I will never enter. What then! may not I every where behold the sun and the stars? Can I not every where under heaven meditate on the most delightful truths, without first rendering myself inglorious, aye infamous, before the people and city of Florence-and this for fear I should want bread?" (7.)" These verses unite the pagan ceremony of crowning with the laurel, to that of baptism, and the images of Virgil to the expressions of St. Paul, Ipse caput tonsæ foliis ornatus olivæ,' Georg. iii. 10. If a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.' 2 Tim. ii. 5.."—Ugo Foscolo. Discorso p. 89. "Certainly his object would have been obtained, if Fortune had ever destined his return to Florence, where in the font of St. John he received his first name, and would fain have received a second by means of a coronation."-Boccaceio. Life of Dante. Page 235. (Line 13.) From out the band of the Apostles, whence St. Peter the first vicar of Christ came to Dante in the last canto, now came St. James. (18.) When his sepulchre was discovered at Compostella in Galicia, numbers flocked to it from all parts of the world. (19.) The affection of Doves, here representing that of St. Peter and St. James, has before furnished Dante with a beautiful simile. Inf. v, 82. "As Doves by strong affection urged, repair With firm expanded wings to their sweet nest, Borne by the impulse of their will through air." (29.) This is addressed to St. James, who in his Epistles shows the riches of God: "If any of you lack wisdom," &c.; and again, "Every good and perfect gift," &c. 1. v. 17. (31.) "St. James is requested to make the name of Hope for once heard in this high region, where, since every desire is satisfied, this virtue has no place. The poet assumes that as often as Christ admitted to the manifestations of his Divinity these three disciples only, the three theological virtues, Faith, Hope, and Charity, were represented by St. Peter, St. James, and St. John, respectively.”—Lombardi. (34.) St. James speaks. Page 236. (Line 44.) i.e. The hope that hath God for its object. (49.) His own praises Dante puts into the mouth of Beatrice, "that pitying one." (56.) By reason of his hope Dante is allowed "a passage from Egypt to Jerusalem,” i.e. " from earth to Paradise,” ere the term of his earthly warfare is ended. pre Page 237. (Line 67.) Dante does not here mean that works possess merit according to the Romish doctrine. The " ceding merit," means that the disposition to receive grace is meritorious. Thus Canto xxix. 66, "Tis counted merit when we grace receive." See also Purg. i. 68. The third question asked, line 47, is next answered. (70.) "The sacred writers are called "Stars," in allusion to Daniel, cap. xii. 66 They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever." "—Lombardi, (73.) The Psalm alluded to is the ninth. "They that know thy name will put their trust in Thee." (76.) To St. James himself he was indebted, whose Epistle, he says, teems with the language of David. (80.) "Living"-because within that fire was concealed the spirit of the holy Apostle St. James; and it quivered, to signify applause at the answer that was made."-Lombardi. Page 238. (Line 91.) "In their land they shall possess the double everlasting joy shall be unto them."...." : "He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, and covered me with the robe of righteousness." Isaiah lxi. 7, 10. (94.) The text alluded to is from St. John, the " brother" of St James. Rev. vii. 9. (98.) The exclamation of the Saints on hearing the mention of the white robes-i.e. of the glorified bodies, which they eagerly desire. (101.) The spirit of St. John-whose light was like that of the Sun.-" If a luminary like that which now appeared were to shine throughout the month following the winter solstice, during which the constellation Cancer appears in the east at the setting of the Sun, there would be no interruption to the light, but the whole month would be as a single day."-Cary. (103.) St. John is described as doing honour to Beatrice, (who is represented as a Bride,) by accompanying St. Peter and St. James both in the dance, and in the words and notes of their song. Page 239. (Line 113.) Our Saviour is emphatically called "Our Pelican," because he continually feeds us with his own blood. Hence Drummond of Hawthornden, who had studied Dante, used the same metaphor in his hymn on the Passion. He who lay on our Saviour's bosom is St. John, to whose care Jesus gave his mother. St. John xix. 37. (117.) Beatrice knew St. John was there in spirit only. Dante, on the contrary, views St. John with great doubt, owing to the saying of our Saviour with regard to him: " If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" St. John xxi. 22. This the Evangelist proceeds to solve. (127.) Lombardi explains the "garments" to beone a glorification of the soul, the other of the body; which the elect will receive after the resurrection, but with which our Saviour and the Virgin are already invested;-the two lights now dwelling "in the blest cloister," i.e. in the empyrean or highest heaven. CANTO XXVI. ARGUMENT. ST. JOHN examines Dante concerning Charity, or the Love of God. Interview with Adam. WHILE I with dazzled eyes, in doubt remain'd, For know-and let this confidence be thine- Which Ananias' hand of old possess'd." 1 7 |