Rhodope, Phyllis ;-Iole's lover, Hercules. (107.) The reading" affetto" is adopted in preference to that of "effetto.' See Cesari. Bellezze di Dante. Page 88. (Line 118.) Of Rahab, see Joshua, cap. ii. and Hebrews, ix. 31. "Though all the inhabitants of Jericho were alarmed at the approach of Joshua, this woman alone turned her sense of its imminent danger to any good account; she believed what had been told her as to the former history of the Israelites; and she reasoned sensibly, and acted promptly upon her belief."-Scripture History. By the Hon. and very Rev. Henry E. J. Howard, D.D., Dean of Lichfield. (119) According to Ptolemy, the shadow of the earth ends in the planet Venus. The triumph of Christ is that achieved over Satan when he visited the spirits in Limbo. See Inf. iv. 53, and note. (126.) i. e. The Pope forgets it is in the hands of the Saracens. Florence is called the "plant" of Satan ;-and Envy was most rife there. See Inf. xv. 68. (130.) The floren was the gold coin in use at Florence, which the Pope so coveted that he became a very wolf. Page 89. (Line 134.) The Decretals were books of ecclesiastical law, in which Boniface was well versed, and their margins well worn. (139.) The liberation looked forward to is supposed by Landino to allude to the death of Boniface,by Venturi, to the arrival of Henry of Luxemburg,-by Lombardi, to the removal of the Holy See to Avignon. (141.) "St. Peter's faithful host," means the blessed army of martyrs. (142.) Boniface is so called from his simoniacal practices. See Inf. xix. 53, and note. CANTO X. ARGUMENT. ASCENT to the Sun, or fourth heaven. Dante is encompassed by a wreath of spirits. Thomas Aquinas, one of these, declares the names of the rest. VIEWING his offspring with that fervent Love 1 The First Great Cause of all below-above- And then become enamour'd of the art Of the Great Master, who admires it so- His eyes, delighted, never thence depart. 7 CANTO IV. ARGUMENT. BEATRICE explains Dante's doubts as to the reason why so lov a place is assigned to the Saints he finds in the Moon ;-via that they had not strictly adhered to their vows. BETWEEN two viands equidistant placed, I spake not-but my face a wish portray'd; And een as Daniel did of old, when he See how the Zodiac is extended thence, Whereon are borne the planets, that they may Greatly defective would that order be Which reigns below, and in the realms on high. Nature's great Minister, (whose ray sublime Imprints the world below with heav'n's own might, In which each day he advances more and more: 13 19 25 31 |