telling him, it was said in the city that he did nothing but drink, he desired him to answer, that he was always thirsty.”— Venturi.

Page 220. (Line 38.) The murmur came from the parched throat of" him of Lucca," i.e. the above mentioned Buonagiunta, who was most anxious to notice Dante.-" Gentucca was a noble and beautiful maiden of Lucca, of whom Dante during his exile at that place, was enamoured. This happened two years after the supposed date of the poem, 1300, and is therefore alluded to here in a prophetic manner."Lombardi. Dante's curiosity is excited, and he endeavours to prevail upon Buonagiunta to gratify it; but he is content to inform him shortly, verse 43, that a lady-this Gentucca-is born, who, though not yet grown up, shall endear to him the city of Lucca, however infamous for its peculators. Inf. xxi. 41. (51.) "Donne, ch'avete intelletto d'amore." This is the first verse of a canzone composed by Dante, in praise of Beatrice, in his Vita Nuova. He is asked if he is the author, and answers, "One am I who indite

When love inspires, and as he speaks within,
So, in accordance with his bidding, write."

Whence Milton, Sonnet to the Nightingale.

"Whether the Muse or Love call thee his mate,
Both them I serve, and of their train am I."

And again, Par. Lost, ix. 21, he speaks

"Of my celestial Patroness, who deigns

Her nightly visitation unimplored,

And dictates to me slumbering, or inspires

Easy my unpremeditated verse."

"Dante refrains from mentioning his name; but, whilst he describes himself in such a manner as to give an exalted

opinion of his genius, ascribes the merit to love, by whom he was inspired."-Ugo Foscolo. Edinburgh Review, vol. 30. (55.) i.e. by adopting an artificial style.

Page 221. (Line 64.) Dante often mentions Cranes. See Inf. v. 46; Purg. xxvi 43; Par. xviii. 73. (67.) They had slackened their pace to observe Dante; and now, when Forese, one of their party, seemed to have finished his speech, they renew their haste in order to complete their purification. Forese, however, lags behind to enquire when he should again see his friend. Dante answers, he knows not when he shall die, but that Florence is so lost to goodness, he cannot quit life and return again too quickly. Allusion is made to Corso Donati, chief of the Neri or Guelphs, and the supporter of the mob against the ancient families. He was brother to Dante's wife, and at the same time his political enemy. Hence he is never mentioned by name. He was suspected of aiming at sovereign power. "Called upon to answer the charge, he defended himself with arms, till being abandoned and endeavouring to escape out of Florence, he fell, near one of the gates of the city-was trodden upon by a horse, and killed by the incensed populace."-Ugo Foscolo. Disc. p. 137.

Page 223. (Line 121.) The Centaurs, invited by Pirithous to his wedding, intoxicated themselves, and endeavoured to carry off the bride, but were prevented by Theseus. They are mentioned as instances of gluttony, as well as the Hebrews.

Page 224. (Line 150.) "Ambrosiæque comæ divinum virtice odorem Spiravere.”—Virgil. Æn. i. 403.

CANTO XXV.

ARGUMENT.

DANTE starts a question, how the shades, which require no food, can become emaciated. Statius to explain this, enters into a history of the first formation of the soul; and shows how, after it leaves the body, it is impressed by the same passions which influenced it when in the body. In the seventh and last circle incontinence is punished. Instances of Chastity.

THE hour enjoin'd us both to mount the height;

For unto Taurus the meridian now

The sun had left, and to the Scorpion night.
Wherefore like one who stays not in his speed,
But onward strains, whate'er confront his brow,
If stimulated by the spur of need;

So through that narrow track we entrance made,
One first, the other following up the stair,
Whose narrowness to walk abreast forbade.
As the young stork now elevates the wing,
Eager for flight,-now drops it in despair,
To leave the nest not yet adventuring;

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So I, in whom the wish and fear to enquire
Held sway within my breast alternately,
Was now like one in act to speak :-my sire,
Permitting not our rapid pace to bar

Discourse, said: "Let the tardy arrow fly,
Since thou hast drawn the bow of speech so far."
Then open'd I my lips-all fear subdued-

And thus began: "How can it be that they
Can e'er

grow thin who have no need of food?"

"If thou hadst Meleager's fate recall'd,

Who wasted with the wasting torch away,

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This doubt," he said, "had not thy mind enthrall'd : And hadst thou thought how in a mirror seen,

Thine image doth thy every turn obey,
What now seems difficult, had easy been.
But that thy mind may fully rest assured,
See Statius here, whom I entreat and pray,
That by his succour may thy wounds be cured."
"If in thy presence," Statius made reply,

"The eternal prospects I to him unroll,
Bear with the excuse- -I cannot thee deny."
He then began: "My son, if thou aright
Receive my words in thy attentive soul,

They to the doubt proposed shall furnish light.

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Pure blood, required not by the thirsty veins,

But which, like remnant of superfluous food
Upon a table overcharged, remains,

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Within the deep recesses of the heart

With an informing virtue is endued,

Like that which life doth to the frame impart.

Perfected more, below it is convey'd,

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And thence impell'd, until at last it flows
Into the place for its reception made.
The one receives the other-one inclined
To act—the other passive-as dispose
The heart's recesses, where it is refined.
Then meeting, it begins to operate,
Coagulating first;-gives life anon

To that it brought to a consistent state.
Become an active faculty, the soul,

Like to a plant, (different in this alone
That one still travels—one hath reach'd its goal)
Continues working, moves and feels, as though

Sea sponge it were, and thence acquires the art
To organize the powers that from it flow.
Now through each part, my son, doth wide expand
The virtue issuing from the parent's heart,

Where all the limbs are form'd by nature's hand.

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