Trucchi's commentary on this poem
argues that it weas written to Simone dall' Antella's friend Gregorio di Arezzo and that its subject is
Arrigo VII, the Emperor Henry VII, Count of Luxembourg, in whom Dante and the Ghibellines had placed
their hopes for the settlement of affairs in Italy in the early trecento. Two years after his coronation as
emperor (in 1308) Henry crossed into Italy with the intention of bringing peace and unity—and for Danate, a
return from exile. But his plans were frustrated and he died near Siena in 1813.
The narrative of frustrated hopes would be taken up and pursued by DGR as a
psychomachia rather than as a political struggle.
DGR's source was the text in
Trucchi (II. 21). The
commentary on the original canzone should also be consulted.
This collection contains 10 texts and images, including:
The Early Italian Poets text
Scholarly Commentary
Introduction
Trucchi's commentary on this poem argues that it weas written to Simone dall' Antella's friend Gregorio di Arezzo and that its subject is Arrigo VII, the Emperor Henry VII, Count of Luxembourg, in whom Dante and the Ghibellines had placed their hopes for the settlement of affairs in Italy in the early trecento. Two years after his coronation as emperor (in 1308) Henry crossed into Italy with the intention of bringing peace and unity—and for Danate, a return from exile. But his plans were frustrated and he died near Siena in 1813.
The narrative of frustrated hopes would be taken up and pursued by DGR as a psychomachia rather than as a political struggle.
DGR's source was the text in Trucchi (II. 21). The commentary on the original canzone should also be consulted.
Textual History: Composition
Probably an early translation, late 1840s.
Printing History
The translation was first published in 1861 in The Early Italian Poets; it was reprinted in 1874 in Dante and his Circle.