The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-22 00:00:00

The Dante Festival,

(FROM TIIE TIMES' CORRESPONDENT.)
FLORENCE, May 16.
The Dante Festival of May, 1865, has a trip's
character. It is at once political, poetical, and po-
pular. For men of letters, poets, and archwologists
there are academical assemblies, with readings and
lectures, Della Cruscan sittings, declamations, by
such celebrated artists as Ristori and Salvini, of
passages from Dante's works, exhibitions of relies of
the poet (scarcely any exist that can properly so be
called), and of objects having reference to him and
his works. These intellectual entertainments being
caviare to the multitude, measures had to be taken
to afford to it, and especially to its younger portion
and its lower orders, reasons for remembering the
three days and connecting with them pleasant asso-
ciations. So it was provided that there should be
horsemanship and regattas, illuminations and music.
in the streets, a great public ball al fresco, and the
Florentine Jockey Club was induced to postpone its
usual races for a month in order that they might
coincide with the Festival. Thus was the pleasure
of the publio provided for, and the needy have not
been forgotten, for this evening a meeting of artisan
associations and mutual aid societies is to be held
for the allotment and partition of subsidies. Be!
the real important character of this Festival, and
that which you will already have observed is chiefly
sought to be given to it and earnestly dwelt upon
by public men and by the press, is the political one.
Dante is proclaimed the great advocate and prophet
of Italian unity and nationality, and in his glorious
name all Italians are conjured to love one another
like brethren and to harmonize their efforts and
sacrifices for the attainment of one common end.
Although got up by the poet's native city, the Fes-
tival is national, not municipal. The 700 banners
which on Sunday waved and rustled through the
streets of Florence were borne by as many deputations
from every part of Italy. The recent revival of the
memory of the ancient feuds of Guelfs and Ghi-
bellines and of countless conflicts between the
various provinces of a land long torn by civil,
strife takes place in presence of a united Italy, and
may fitly serve as an admonition that it is time to
bury in oblivion any lingering remains of munici-
pal jealousies and antipathies. The predomi-
nant feeling in the breast of every thinking and
patriotic Italian who contemplated that concourse °',
delegates from Sicily and Piedmont, from Lombardi
and Calabria, from Tuscany and the Romagna, and
even from Venetia and Rome, must have been one
of joy and
waf-gratulation to see so many brought
together in harmony and mutual goodwill who for'
merly met but for conflict. The King is known to
have remarked to one who stood near him on Sell:
day that, had a similar assemblage taken place I°l
the days of Dante, the square of Santa Croce 'Wet
quickly have been converted into a bloody battlefield.
It is certain that numbers of the flags which there
lovingly blended never met in former days but to be
reared against each other in fierce encounter. It
not sufficient that there now is no prospect of a re-
newal of such fratricidal strife—all Italians are
bound to forget every provincial distinction au',
every irritating record. Most justly did Coolly
Cambray Digsy, in the speech of which I yesterday
sent you a translation, insist on union as the indis-
pensable condition of Italian independence. If I°ll
is to be great her children must learn to think of her
only as a whole, and to put away that steeple
patriotism," as it is here called, which makes a wall
postpone the interests of the common fatherland to
that of his own nook of earth. The goodwill slur°
to the delegates from Piedmont on Sunday was
welcome sign of right feeling, and I hope that other:
besides myself will tell the Turinese, in 'angelic
more familiar to them than English, how kindly
and regretfully Florentines may be heard to speak
of the merits and sufferings of the late capital of
Italy. It is a severe blow and a sad flitting,
and none can witness the exodus now going Of
the departure of. thousands who leave most unveil
linglg, the rending asunder of old ties, the separa-
tion of near relations and ancient friends who had
thought never to part in this world, without un-
feigned emotion and cordial sympathy. It is doe
to the King to say that none suffer more than
himself by the change, and this seems to be felt
here and to excite kindly feelings towards him. It
was once reported in Turin thut he had been ill-re-
ceived here when he came down in February, but
that was certainly not the case, and, moreover, 1_
perceive a disposition among the Florentines t°
speak and think the best they can of him. His re-
ception everywhere on Sunday seems to have bee"
excellent. To-day's Nazione publishes the speech
made by Professor Giuliani at the inauguration.
is eloquent and enthusiastic, but too long to trans
late. The Nazione expresses its gratification at bong
able to give the exact words which the King, aft......er
listening to the discourse, addressed to the orator.
'
"His Majesty warmly congratulated him on his love
Dante and for Italy. The professor replied with ero°'ifor
that his affection for Italy filled him with gratitude 11'A
admiration for all that the King had done for the uatieoici ,
cause. His Majesty answered, have done what Ilu
ich
and am ready to do what remains to be done.' To wor
the Professor responded, ' Majesty, may God bless 3ci
sword!' The King immediately replied, ' I have pie dg
it in the cause of justice and in the cause of Italy." t°lt is said that the above passage was submittea
the
the King before publication, and that he declared
words there attributed to him to be exactly those he
had spoken. -
You will have remarked that the city of Raven:ll3,a
received, as Dante's refuge and the place of his dea.
•
special honour in the festival. Its municlPalities,
figured, with that of Florence, alone in the Pr°eTed
sion, and its banner was one of the four which ova
above all others in the four corners of the_aro
of Santa Croce. More than a month ago the Go d
faloniero of Florence addressed a courteous an
113-
almost an affectionate letter to the Syndic 0f or
venna, expressing, on behalf of the committee. the
the festival, the desire that the municipality 01
latter city should have the first honours of thatn
tional solemnity, honours which the committee
g'
upon it as a sacred duty to award to them, 0 Herin he
at the same time, to the syndic and members 01:1,
municipality " a hospitality which can never be 5.110,110
ciently fraternal and loving to requite that which
greatest of Italian citizens found, in his day of pis
fortune, at that ancient seat of glorious meniorie°,:ii
The letter, and the equally cordial one in which tia
ne
syndic accepted the invitation, suggest curious e;ci
trasts with the days when the Italian republics
siog
Tuscan factions lived in a state of almost ances 4.11
warfare among themselves. After Dante's deTio
Florence and Ravenna were near fighting for jo
remains, which the former obstinately claimed• had
deep repentance at the cruel ingratitude ehe,_Tee,
shown to her glorious son, suffering him to be a-l'of the
into exile and his dwelling to become the prey ,
incendiary, the Tuscan city alternately cleles'a dovAs
implored, and even hinted threats, but Ravennaaria
as stubborn as Florence was persistent. v vied
many generations the Republic frequentlYl;lleibe one
its entreaties that the ashes of the great Gl,s,.neived
might be restored to the city of his birth. Ivi7restn.
as if the Florentine thought that only by sue'
ration could they be freed from their still ram.
paroxysms of remorse. the
The literary and musical meeting fixed .tfici ;rest
second day of the Dante Festival went off wl,eces of
spirit. A number of sonnets and other piead ;
poetry, composed for the occasion, were nistori
hymn to Beatrice was sung, and Maclaineroiere
read a letter from Victor Hugo to the Golf: tote-
of Florence, which is in substance a eulogy %ocher
A speech, in the name of France, by Count Sol-
de Gareil, in which he referred to Magenta
_a,,d job'
ferino, declared that the banners of France. neces-
should never be sundered, and proclaimed 'ird from
sit y that Italy should soon be free and en.t.i`fratitic
the Alps to the Adriatic, was received wi.els. Tele-
applause and " vivats" for the two eountr
ere
to
grams from various parts of Europe, ad ere then
the Committee of the Dante Festival, w. Evg-
t°
read, one of which proposed that an address__„.iiesti
ng
land should be drawn up for signature, Pit,tidere°
that the ashes of Ugo Foscolo might be 011' ro-
ral aPP 0
to Italy. The proposition met with geo.e paglian
bation. Last night, at the vast but ugly i'aer
Theatre, which the Florentines tell
the San Carlo at Naples, took place
.tn
coor
sic w s did
in honour of Dante. Much of the mu
an
morati°ll7 a
posed on purpose for this cornrae me is
.laor.,_optellearilt.