Saviour's birth, and proceeds to mention the various places visited by Cæsar. (58.) By the rivers, Dante comprehends all the countries acquired by Cæsar, under the standard of the Eagle, during five years."-Ottimo Commento. Page 52. (Line 62.) i.e. After passing the Rubicon, his victories were too rapid to describe. (65.) Durazzo, now Dyracchium, is a town in Illyricum,—From Pharsalia, after his defeat, Pompey fled to Larissa, and was slain in Egypt by Ptolemy, with whom he sought refuge, as alluded to by the mention of the Nile. (67.) Antandros is a city in Phrygia, whence Æneas set sail för Italy, and hence the Eagle is said to go back. Of Cæsar's supposed visit to Troy, as he pursued Pompey into Egypt across the Hellespont, see Lucan, Phars. ix, 964. He took Egypt. from Ptolemy and gave it to Cleopatra :- defeated Juba, King of Mauritania, who favoured Pompey's sons, and pursued them into the west, i.e. to Spain, where they had re-collected their forces. (73.) Augustus Cæsar.-To escape him, Brutus and Cassius, slew themselves, (75.) Near Modona, in Lombardy, Augustus defeated Anthony's troops. At Perugia, he took prisoner his brother Lucius, (79.) After the death of Anthony he occupied the whole of Egypt as far as the Red Sea. (84.) i.e. "The whole earth, in opposition to the immortal kingdom of heaven."-Lombardi. Dante derives glory to the Eagle, that the government of the world should have been entrusted to it at such a time as the crucifixion of our Saviour, and that in the hands of Tiberius it should have thus been an instrument of our redemption. Page 53. (Line 90.) As the crucifixion avenged, or redeemed the sin of Adam, so was the crucifixion-i.e. the death of an innocent victim-avenged by the punishment of the Jews in the destruction of Jerusalem under Titus. See next canto, line 20. (94.) From Titus to Charlemagne is a wide leap. The latter is represented as an instrument in the hands of Providence to defend the Church, and as acting under the protection of the Eagle. He conquered Desiderius, King of the Lombards, who had possessed Italy above 200 years. (97.) i.e. The Guelfs and Ghibellines, mentioned before, line 31, the former supported by France in the person of Charles II. King of Apulia, under whose fleur de lis they arrayed themselves ;— the latter by the Emperor, whose influence they endeavoured to turn to their private interests. Dante has been accused of being a violent Ghibelline; but he here shows his impartiality by inveighing equally against both factions. (100.) He calls the standard of the Emperor a "public one," i.e.-that he reigns for the public good, and must not be expected to favour any party views whatever. (106.) Charles II. King of Naples. "Let him remember, he says, that the Eagle has abased more formidable foes-that, as his father was an usurper, so he may pay the penalty; and that God will not for his sake reverse the immutable decrees of Justice, and prostrate the Eagle before the Lily, i.e. will not transfer the empire of the world from Rome to France." Page 54. (Line 112.) From this and the following stanza, it appears that Justinian and those with him had been debarred from ascending to a higher sphere, because they limited their aim in a great measure to the acquirement of earthly reputation. (121.) See canto iii. line 70. The following simile signifies that the perfect harmony of heaven will not be interrupted by the variety of its mansions. (128.) Romeo was a poor man who, returning from a pilgrimage to St. James of Gallicia, was received into the house of Count Raymond Berenger, in Provence; and, being found a man of ability, was raised to places of trust. He refused to tell his name, or that of his country, and was hence called "Romeo," signifying a Pilgrim. Page 55. (Line 133.) Romeo increased the revenue of his patron by a most judicious management of his affairs, and enabled the Count to marry his four daughters to four Kings, viz. Louis IX. of France; Henry III. of England; Richard, Henry's brother, King of the Romans; and Charles, King of Naples, brother to Louis. The influence Romeo obtained excited the jealousy of the Provençal Barons, who succeeded in rendering his master suspicious. An account of his administration was required of him, which he rendered with the greatest punctuality, and showed the extent of his services. It is said that he refused the Count's solicitation to remain: and taking his mule, his staff, and his scrip, parted as poor as he came, and submitted to obtain a livelihood by mendicancy. His story excited the indignation of Dante, whose heart revolted at the sufferings of so faithful a servant, through the foolish credulity of his master. By the side of this short sketch of Romeo may be set the similar one Dante gives of himself in canto xvii. : "Tu lascerai ogni cosa diletta," &c. CANTO VII. ARGUMENT. THE words of Justinian, in the last canto, having excited some doubts in Dante's mind respecting our redemption, they are solved by Beatrice. "HAIL, God of Hosts, enthroned in regions bright, 1 Who o'er the Spirits of thy kingdom blest Sheddest the abundance of thy glorious light!" From that pure substance such high rapture came, Unto its own resplendent sphere address'd, The others danced, as it the measure led; And, like to sparks that burn and disappear, 7 But with that reverential awe imbued, Which all the letters of her name inspire, I bow'd to earth, like one by sleep subdued. This is the subject of thy anxious thought, 13 19 How vengeance just could meet just punishment. But soon thy troublous doubts will I remove; And with such clearness shall my words be fraught, As may the mighty truth distinctly prove.Adam, submitting not that God should place A salutary curb upon his will, Condemn'd himself, and with him all his race; Who thence, infirm and weak, e'en from their birth, For ages lay in error grovelling, till The Word of God descended upon earth. 'Gainst the Creator, in His person join'd 25 31 |