Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-19

and Beatrice took place when both
were about nine years old. In the villa
OF Folco Portinuri. at = party attend /
ed by the Poet and his father.
Boccaccio relates that among the
crowd OF youngsters gathered was the
daughter OF F'olco. whose name was
Bicc graceful like her childhood and
In her demeanor very gentle and
pleasing, with habits and words much
gravcr and shy than we're becoming
to her age" She had full face whose
features were admirably disposed. Her
beauty was Of such lovellness that she
was considered by many "a little angeli
This girl--continucs Boccaccio-'justl
as depict her or perhaps prettier. APP
pearcd In this party to Dante, who,
although boyish. received her charm
ing image in his heart with such affcc-
ton. that from that day on. while he
lived, he never ASSOCIATED that inn
preston"
| Dante himself In his book Vita
Nvova." says about this meeting:
"Thenceforth love ruled over my soul
:" and adds that many a time while
adolescent he tried to see this very
youthful angel who appeared to him
80 lovely. noble and pure above all
girls. that he likened her as the daugh-
ter mot OF mortal man but OF God
He was so much stirred by this senti-
mcnt of love that thenceforth he
dared not reveal It for fear that its
intensity and his extreme youth might
expose him TO ridicule. He, therefore,
Ia silent about these events to lead us
in his story when he was eighteen
years old. viz. nine years after the
first meeting. when the nine years
were up" he says, latter the appari-
ton of this most amiable creature
This astonishing lady appeared TO me
doomed in immaculate white dress be-
tween two polite ladies who We're in
age her senior, and passing through
, n street turned her eyes toward where
; was very timidly stationed. and
she greeted me virtuously. 1t seemed
!, to me that / had touched the boun-
| daries of happiness, and since that was
: the first time that her words reached
my ears l felt such n pleasantness
that like an inebrtate, i parted ways
from society, and ] went to solitar,
place of my room to think about this
most courteous lauy.
II was then that he saw a vision o.
his master love who having snatcheC
from his bosom his burning heart gave
: It to Madonna Beatrice who chewed 1
\ rather frightened and reluctantly. Thi
. vision was the theme of the first some
that Dante published against tn
criticisms OF the poets and gained 70
: him the friendship of Guido Cavalcant
who replied with another sonnet. tn
beginning OF cordial relations between
the two rhymsters.
In Dante's time 1t was Gus omary 10
savants, who contested among them
u selves, to glorify in elegant dictior
= the woman OF their Lowell Now, al
: though Boccaccio assures us tina
= Dante regretted having written in hi
- youth this work 90 precious to us
i, ;f we set aside for a moment the Di
y vine Comedy--we behold the highes
eulogy. the most radiant cxhaltatiol
: OF this young woman. about whom
Dante praises her soul. Her virtu'
and her loveliness. No one before hin
: had enobled womanhood &c such
: pitch and described the purifyin,
power OF love.
This love was not made for earth
;. Too elevated and tinid. Il was OF
>. substance too fragile and delicate {
> resist the COLLISION OF reality. fror
which the loving poet in vain nigh
have attempted 10 defend :l.
Dante himself tells us that whe
:. Beatrice was in his presence. he los
~ all control OF himself. Thereupon
80 cultured lady. inquired OF him ho'
= could he love woman whose presenc
" no could not bear because I'll
poet jestingly-"the aim OF this lov
ID need be very new
And new, in sooth. was this love {
- Dante on account OF its extraordinar
n elevation. Who was really riiis woma
III Beatrice? We do not know much abol
al her. but. doubtless, II she had such
g. spell. while living. over him, and the
SO served him as inspiration In a con
r position such as the Divine Coined
r This most amiable lady" Of Dan'
e must have been creature OF extrs
II ordinary purity and goodness. Cel
a. tainly the girl was pious and humid
40 devoted to her father whom ST
p nourned for long time, very obediei
and submissive If she accepted. again
lser will, the unknown Sinone d
Bardi
We believe, like Mazzini. that al
also loved the pleasant poet, otherwi.