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Dante Alighieri was born at Florence； in May； 1266； and died at Ravenna in September； 1321。 He had an eventful and pathetic life。 He was much in public affairs。 He was banished from his native city in 1302； and died in exile。 His literary work is represented chiefly by the following titles： 〃Vita Nuova； The New Life〃； 〃Convito； The Banquet〃； 〃De Monarchia； A Treatise on Monarchy〃； 〃De Vulgari Eloquio； A Treatise on the Vulgar Tongue〃； and 〃Divina Commedia〃； his masterpiece and the master…work of the Middle Ages。
FROM THE VITA NUOVA。
The 〃Vita Nuova〃 is a work of Dante's youth； a record of his early life and love。 The title may be translated either Early Life or The New Life。 From the nature of the work we may infer that the latter translation conveys the poet's thought。 It implies that after his first sight of Beatrice he began a new existence。 He saw her first when he was nine years old。 Nine years later she greeted him for the first time。 Inspired by this greeting he began the 〃Vita Nuova〃。＇1＇ It is written in prose interspersed with sonnets and canzoni。 We select for reproduction some of the sonnets from Rossetti's translation。
＇1＇ When Dante first saw Beatrice she was eight years old。 From that hour he says he loved her。 She was the inspiration of his early poem； and afterward； in the Divine Comedy； she became the embodiment of his conception of divine wisdom。 She was married quite young to Simon di Bardi； a citizen of Florence。 She died in 1290； when only twenty…four years old。
I。 Sonnets telling to other ladies the praise of Beatrice。
Ladies that have intelligence in love Of mine own lady I would speak with you； Not that I hope to count her praises through； But telling what I may to ease my mind。 And I declare that when I speak thereof Love sheds such perfect sweetness over me That if my courage failed not； certainly To him my listeners must be all resign'd。 Wherefore I will not speak in such large kind That mine own speech should foil me； which were base； But only will discourse of her high grace In these poor words； the best that I can find； With you alone dear dames and damozels： 'Twere ill to speak thereof with any else。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 My lady is desired in the high Heaven； WHEREFORE； it now behoveth me to tell； saying： Let any maid that would be well Esteemed； keep with her； for as she goes by； Into foul hearts a deadly chill is driven By Love； that makes ill thoughts to perish there； While any who endures to gaze on her Must either be ennobled； or else die。 When one deserving to be raised so high Is found； It is then her power attains its proof； Making his heart strong for his soul's behoof With the full strength of meek humility。 Also this virtue owns she； by God's will： Who speaks with her can never come to ill。
II。 On the death of Beatrice。
When mine eyes had wept for some while until they were so weary with weeping that I could no longer through them give ease to my sorrow； I bethought me that a few mournful words might stand me instead of tears。 And therefore I proposed to make a poem； that weeping I might speak therein of her for whom so much sorrow had destroyed my spirit； and I then began：
The eyes that weep for pity of the heart Have wept so long that their grief languisheth； And they have no more tears to weep withal： And now if I would ease me of a part Of what； little by little； leads to death； It must be done by speech； or not at all； And because often； thinking I recall How it was pleasant ere she went afar； To talk of her with you； kind damozels； I talk with no one else； But only with such hearts as women's are。 And I will say；still sobbing as speech fails； That she hath gone to Heaven suddenly； And hath left Love below； to mourn with me。
III。
〃Dante once prepared to paint an angel。〃 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 〃You and I would rather see that angel Painted by the tenderness of Dante； Would we not？than read a fresh Inferno。〃
Browning's 〃One Word More〃。
On that day which fulfilled the year since my lady had been made of the citizens of eternal life； remembering me of her as I sat alone； I betook myself to draw the resemblance of an angel upon certain tablets。 And while I did thus； chancing to turn my head； I perceived that some were standing beside me to whom I should have given courteous welcome； and that they were observing what I did； also I learned afterwards that they had been there a while before I perceived them。 Perceiving whom； I arose for salutation and said： 〃Another was with me。〃
Afterwards； when they had left me； I set myself again to mine occupation； to wit； to the drawing figures of angels； in doing which； I conceived to write of this matter in rhyme； as for her anniversary； and to address my rhymes unto those who had just left me。 It was then that I wrote the sonnet which saith 〃That Lady〃：
That lady of all gentle memories Had lighted on my soul； whose new abode Lies now； as it was well ordained of God； Among the poor in heart where Mary is。 Love； knowing that dear image to be his； Woke up within the sick heart sorrow…bowed； Unto the sighs which are its weary load； Saying； 〃Go forth。〃 And they went forth； I wis Forth went they from my breast that throbbed and ached； With such a pang as oftentimes will bathe Mine eyes with tears when I am left alone。 And still those sighs which drew the heaviest breath Came whispering thus： 〃O noble intellect！ It is a year to…day that thou art gone。〃
IV。 The Close of the Vita Nuova。
Beyond the sphere which spreads to widest space Now soars the sigh that my heart sends above； A new perception born of grieving Love Guideth it upward the untrodden ways。 When it hath reached unto the end and stays； It sees a lady round whom splendors move In homage； till； by the great light thereof Abashed； the pilgrim spirit stands at gaze。 It sees her such； that when it tells me this Which it hath seen； I understand it not； It hath a speech so subtile and so fine And yet I know its voice within my thought Often remembereth me of Beatrice： So that I understand it； ladies mine。
After writing this sonnet； it was given unto me to behold a very wonderful vision；＇1＇ wherein I saw things which determined me that I would say nothing further of this most blessed one； until such time as I could discourse more worthily of her。 And to this end I labor all I can； as she well knoweth。 Wherefore if it be His pleasure through whom is the life of all things； that my life continue with me a few years； it is my hope that I shall yet write concerning her what hath not before been written of any woman。 After the which may it seem good unto Him who is the Master of Grace； that my spirit should go hence to behold the glory of its lady： to wit； the blessed Beatrice； who now gazeth continually on His countenanc；e qui est per omnia soecula benedictus。 Laus Deo。＇2＇
＇1＇ This we may believe to be the vision of Hell； Purgatory； and Paradise； the vision which gave him the argument of the Divine Comedy。
＇2＇ Who is blessed throughout all ages。 Praise to God。
FROM THE DIVINE COMEDY。＇1＇
＇1＇ Dante called his poem a comedy； he says； for two reasons： bec