New-York tribune., 1905-02-26

His pages are admirably clear. They havs a
tality and charm. Even In those rather -
fortunate chapters with which the autho- fn,s-
rupts his biographical narrative Mr. Vvicks4.a.
does not allow his own interest to flag. but ~.
sists in being as readable as BOccaccio viii an
him to be. No doubt the latter was a. r,,,s
himself In his digressions "On Poesy" Or =,
1.-The Difference that Obtains Between Pos-
and Theology" as when he set out 70 write -
Dante's personality. We follow him. therein
in his excursions. as respectfully as when h
sticks to his text But there is no denyfng tia.
we are far more grateful when he confines bf,,
self to those things in the history Of Dante ca
to which he kept seenly silence concerning him
self, to wit the nobleness Of his origin his m.
his studies and his character" He tells Us litrls
enough. it is true. but that little is precious.
The chapter on the poets meeting with Ba,-
trice in the house OF FOlco POrtinari. his gra.
over her death. his marriage, and the probab.
causes of his failure to find peace in dounesti,
life might have been enriched TO our profit with
much gossip, but somehow We prefer his in,
sinuating reticence. With all his nearness IA
the master in point of time he ought to have
been able to bequeath to pOsterity more anec-
dotes like that well remembered one of Dante in
the apothecary's shop at Siena. or Like that other
superstitious words about him as he walked
abroad in Verona But at least he left for the
ediication OF generations a few invaluable frar-
uents OF portraiture like the following
This or poat then was Of middle height ~.
when he had reached maturity he went s0EnewSsF
bowed. his gait grave and gentle and ever eIsf
in most seemly apparel, in such garb as begttsT
his ripe years. His face was long his nose aq1iH-e
and his eyes rather large than small MS avs
big and the under hip protruding beyond he u
la4F7
thick. black. and CURING and his expression Ess
ever melancholy and thoughtful
= In his private and public manners he was vo--
drous orderly and composed. and in all things
In food and drink he was most moderate. both IN
taking them at the appointed hours and in negs-
gong beyohd the unit OF necessity. nor did hs
ever shew any nicely in one thing rather thaa
another Delicate viands he cOTnplinentsd and "a
the most part fed on plain ones. blaming bey0s1
measure such beStOW great part OF their stu7T
with EXTREMIST diligence: declaring thar The HEss
of these do not eat 10 live, but rttber live 70 ~
studies or in any such other concern as nigh q
sail him; insomueh that many @ time bon rs
note Of il Seidom did he soeak zave when ~ 91es
toned and that deliberately and with voice sli.af
TO the matter OF discourse not but what wh41
occasion rose. he was most eloquent and copiouS
and with excellent and ready delivery
In his youth he took the greatest del s1t music
clans of those times he was in Friendship and
familiarity; and many a poem was ne drawn
by this delight TO compose. which he then caused
70 o. clothed IN pleasing and COumaC--lg melody
by these his friends.
Because modern scholarship has so few facts
in its possession Illustrating the intimate life Of
Dante, it necessarily deplores Boccaccio's sub
stitution Of lofty discourse on the literary side Of
his subject for the personaIia which without he
roic labor, he might doubtless have supplied. Ye;
if ever there was book to be read as q whole
it is this curious compound OF biographical zeal
and poetic enthusiasm Taken with all It's
tedious passages on its head, it has. nevertha-
less. the value OF q fairly compact work Of CON-
position The authors devotion TO Dante lends
unity TO his nOminauy unbalanced production
Rich or poor as q source OF information. it IS
one of the worlds most cherished eLesies in