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description is closely imitated from Dante。
v。 50。 Lucia。＇ The enIightening； grace of heaven Hell； Canto II。 97。
v。 85。 The lowest stair。＇ By the white step is meant the distinctness
with which the conscience of the penitent reflects his offences； by the
burnt and cracked one； his contrition on； their account； and by that of
porphyry； the fervour with which he resolves on the future pursuit of piety
and virtue。 Hence； no doubt； Milton describing 〃the gate of heaven；〃 P。 L。
b。 iii。 516。
Each stair mysteriously was meant。
v。 100。 Seven times。＇ Seven P's； to denote the seven sins （Peccata） of
which he was to be cleansed in his passage through purgatory。
v。 115。 One is more precious。＇ The golden key denotes the divine
authority by which the priest absolves the sinners the silver expresses the
learning and judgment requisite for the due discharge of that office。
v。 127。 Harsh was the grating。＇ On a sudden open fly With impetuous
recoil and jarring； sound Th' infernal doors； and on their hinges grate
Harsh thunder Milton； P。 L。 b。 ii 882
v。 128。 The Turpeian。＇ Protinus； abducto patuerunt temple Metello。
Tunc rupes Tarpeia sonat： magnoque reclusas Testatur stridore fores：
tune conditus imo Eruitur tempo multis intactus ab annnis Romani census
populi； &c。 Lucan。 Ph。 1。 iii。 157。
Canto X
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v。 6。 That Wound。＇ Venturi justly observes； that the Padre d'Aquino
has misrepresented the sense of this passage in his translation。
dabat ascensum tendentibus ultra Scissa tremensque silex； tenuique
erratica motu。
The verb 〃muover〃' is used in the same signification in the Inferno；
Canto XVIII。 21。
Cosi da imo della roccia scogli Moven。
from the rock's low base Thus flinty paths advanc'd。
In neither place is actual motion intended to be expressed。
v。 52。 That from unbidden。 office awes mankind。＇ Seo 2 Sam。 G。
v 58。 Preceding。＇ Ibid。 14； &c。
v。 68。 Gregory。＇ St。 Gregory's prayers are said to have delivered
Trajan from hell。 See Paradise； Canto XX。 40。
v。 69。 Trajan the Emperor。 For this story； Landino refers to two
writers； whom he calls 〃Heunando；〃 of France； by whom he means
Elinand； a monk and chronicler； in the reign of Philip Augustus； and
〃Polycrato；〃 of England； by whom is meant John of Salisbury； author of
the Polycraticus de Curialium Nugis； in the twelfth century。 The passage in
the text I find to be nearly a translation from that work； 1。 v。 c。 8。 The
original appears to be in Dio Cassius； where it is told of the Emperor
Hadrian； lib。 I xix。 ＇GREEK HERE＇ When a woman appeared to him with
a suit； as he was on a journey； at first he answered her； 'I have no leisure；'
but she crying out to him； 'then reign no longer' he turned about； and heard
her cause。〃
v。 119。 As to support。＇ Chillingworth； ch。vi。 54。 speaks of 〃those
crouching anticks； which seem in great buildings to labour under the
weight they bear。〃 And Lord Shaftesbury has a similar illustration in his
Essay on Wit and Humour； p。 4。 s。 3。
Canto XI
v。 1。 0 thou Mighty Father。＇ The first four lines are borrowed by
Pulci； Morg。 Magg。 c。 vi。 Dante； in his 'Credo；' has again versified the
Lord's prayer。
v。 58。 I was of Latinum。＇ Omberto； the son of Guglielino
Aldobrandeseo； Count of Santafiore； in the territory of Sienna His
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arrogance provoked his countrymen to such a pitch of fury against him；
that he was murdered by them at Campagnatico。
v。 79。 Oderigi。＇ The illuminator； or miniature painter； a friend of
Giotto and Dante
v。 83。 Bolognian Franco。＇ Franco of Bologna； who is said to have
been a pupil of Oderigi's。
v。 93。 Cimabue。＇ Giovanni Cimabue； the restorer of painting； was
born at Florence； of a noble family； in 1240； and died in 1300。 The passage
in the text is an illusion to his epitaph：
Credidit ut Cimabos picturae castra tenere； Sic tenuit vivens： nunc
tenet astra poli。
v。 95。 The cry is Giotto's。＇ In Giotto we have a proof at how early a
period the fine arts were encouraged in Italy。 His talents were discovered
by Cimabue； while he was tending sheep for his father in the
neighbourhood of Florence； and he was afterwards patronized by Pope
Benedict XI and Robert King of Naples； and enjoyed the society and
friendship of Dante； whose likeness he has transmitted to posterity。 He
died in 1336； at the age of 60。
v。 96。 One Guido from the other。＇ Guido Cavalcanti； the friend of
our Poet； （see Hell； Canto X。 59。） had eclipsed the literary fame of Guido
Guinicelli； of a noble family in Bologna； whom we shall meet with in the
twenty…sixth Canto and of whom frequent mention is made by our Poet in
his Treatise de Vulg。 Eloq。 Guinicelli died in 1276。 Many of Cavalcanti's
writings； hitherto in MS。 are now publishing at Florence〃 Esprit des
Journaux； Jan。 1813。
v。 97。 He perhaps is born。＇ Some imagine； with much probability；
that Dante here augurs the greatness of his own poetical reputation。
Others have fancied that he prophesies the glory of Petrarch。 But
Petrarch was not yet born。
v。 136。 suitor。＇ Provenzano salvani humbled himself so far for the
sake of one of his friends； who was detained in captivity by Charles I of
Sicily； as personally to supplicate the people of Sienna to contribute the
sum required by the king for his ransom： and this act of self…abasement
atoned for his general ambition and pride。
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v。 140。 Thy neighbours soon。＇ 〃Thou wilt know in the time of thy
banishment； which is near at hand； what it is to solicit favours of others
and 'tremble through every vein；' lest they should be refused thee。〃
Canto XII
v。 26。 The Thymbraen god。＇ Apol