CHAPTER V. GUIDO CAVALCANTI AND MANDETTA, AMATORY poetry was transmitted from the Provençals to the Italians and Sicilians, among whom the language of the Troubadours had long been cultivated, and their songs imitated, but in style yet more affected and recherché. Few of the Italian poets who preceded Dante, are interesting even in a mere literary point of view: of these only one or two have shed a reflected splendour round the object of their adoration. Guido Cavalcanti, the Florentine, was the early and favourite friend of Dante: being engaged in the factions of his native city, he was forced on some emergency to quit it; and to escape the vengeance of the prevailing party, he undertook a pilgrimage to Sant Jago. Passing through Tolosa, he fell in love with a beautiful Spanish girl, whom he has celebrated under the name of Mandetta: In un boschetto trovai pastorella Più che la stella bella al mio parere, Capegli avea biondetti e ricciutelli. Some of his songs and ballads have considerable grace and nature; but they were considered by himself as mere trifles. His grand work on which his fame long rested, is a "Canzone sopra l'Amore," in which the subject is so profoundly and so philosophically treated, that seven voluminous commentaries in Latin and Italian have not yet enabled the world to understand it. The following Sonnet is deservedly celebrated for the consummate beauty of the picture it resents, and will give a fair idea of the platonic extravagance of the time. Chi è questa che vien ch' ogni uom la mira! Che fa tremar di caritate l' a're? E mena seco amor, sì che parlare Null' uom ne puote; ma ciascun sospira? Dicalo Amor, ch' io nol saprei contare; Cotanto d' umiltà donna mi pare Che ciascun' altra inver di lei chiam' ira. Non si porria contar la sua piacenza ; Che a lei s'inchina ogni gentil virtute, E la beltate per sua Dea la mostra. E non s'è posta in noi tanta salute Che propriamente n'abbian conoscenza! LITERAL TRANSLATION. "Who is this, on whom all men gaze as she approacheth!— who causeth the very air to tremble around her with tenderness?-who leadeth Love by her side-in whose presence men are dumb; and can only sigh? Ah! Heaven! what power in every glance of those eyes! Love alone can tell; for I have neither words nor skill! She alone is the Lady of gentleness-beside her, all others seem ungracious and unkind. Who can describe her sweetness, her loveliness? to her every virtue bows, and beauty points to her as her own divinity. The mind of man cannot soar so high, nor is it sufficiently purified by divine grace to understand and appreciate all her perfections!" The vagueness of this portrait is a part of its beauty:—it is like a lovely dream-and probably never had any existence, but in the fancy of the Poet. Cino da Pistoia enjoyed the double reputation of being the greatest doctor and teacher of the civil law, and most famous poet of his time. He was also remarkable for his personal accomplishments and his love of pleasure. There is a sonnet which Dante addressed to Cino, reproaching him with being inconstant and volatile in love.* Apparently, this was after the death of the beautiful Ricciarda dei Selvaggi; or, as he calls her, his Selvaggia: she was of a noble family of Pistoia, her father having been gonfaliere, and leader of the faction of the Bianchi; and she was also celebrated for her poetical talents. It appears from a little madrigal of hers, which has been preserved, that though she tenderly returned the affection of her lover, it was without the knowledge of her haughty family. It is not distinguished for poetic power, but has at least the charm of perfect frankness and simplicity, and a kind of abandon that is quite bewitching. * Chi s' innamora, siccome voi fate Ed ad ogni piacer si lega e scioglie Mostra ch' amor leggermente il saetti.-SON. 44. 66 A MESSER ČINO DA PISTOJA. Gentil mio sir, lo parlare amoroso Di voi sì in allegranza mi mantene, Fuor del vostro piacere ; Tutt' hora fate la vostra voglienza : Haggiate previdenza Voi, di celar la nostra desienza. "My gentle love and lord! those tender words Of thine so fill my conscious heart with joy, -Watch thou-and hide our mutual hope from all!" Meantime the parents of Ricciarda were exiled from Pistoia, by the faction of the Neri. They took refuge from their enemies in a little fortress among the Appenines, whither Cino followed them, and was received as a comforter amid their distresses. Probably the days passed in this dreary abode, among the wild and solitary hills, |