L ' I N F E R N O

GUIDO DA MONTEFELTRO 1223 - 1298 AGE : 75
PLACE./.LANGUAGE ETC
MONTEFELTRO, ROMAGNA.
DESCRIPTION
MUSE ERATO. GUIDO’S VOICE.
GUIDO DA MONTEFELTRO (1223-1298): LORD OF URBINO & ONE OF THE GREAT GHIBELLINE CAPTAINS. HE BECAME A
FRANCISCAN FRIAR IN 1296. BONIFACE VIII SUMMONED HIM FROM HIS RETREAT IN 1297 TO CONSULT WITH HIM ABOUT THE
RAZING OF PALESTRINA (PENESTRINO) 25 MILES EAST OF ROME, HELD BY THE COLONNA FAMILY, WHO WERE IN REBELLION
AGAINST THE CHURCH. GUIDO, FINDING IT IMPREGNABLE, ADVISED BONIFACE TO MAKE A PROMISE OF IMMUNITY & THEN
BREAK IT. THE COLONNA SURRENDERED (SEPTEMBER 1298) AND THEIR FORTRESS WAS RAZED. DANTE REGARDED GUIDO
HIGHLY FOR ENTERING THE FRANCISCAN ORDER (SEE HIS CONVIVIO 4 28).
GUIDO FLAME VOICE & ERATO:
INF C27 64-66 / DANTE INF C27 64-66 / KLINE
ma però che già mai di questo fondo but since, if what I hear is true, no one
non tornò vivo alcun, s'i' odo il vero, ever returned, alive, from this deep, I reply,
sanza tema d'infamia ti rispondo. without fear of defamation.
VIRGIL WANDERS AWAY.
185
GUIDO FLAME VOICE & ERATO:
INF C27 67-69 / DANTE INF C27 67-69 / KLINE
Io fui uom d'arme, e poi fui cordigliero, I, Guido da Montefeltro, was a man of arms:
credendomi, sì cinto, fare ammenda; and then became a Cordelier of Saint Francis,
hoping
e certo il creder mio venìa intero, to make amends, so habited: and indeed my hopes
would have been realised in full,
INF C27 70-72 / DANTE INF C27 70-72 / KLINE
se non fosse il gran prete, a cui mal prenda!, but for the Great Priest, Boniface, evil to him,
che mi rimise ne le prime colpe; who drew me back to my first sins:
e come e quare, voglio che m'intenda. and how and why, I want you to hear from me.
DANTE notes:
INF C27 72 / DANTE INF C27 72 / KLINE
e come e quare, voglio che m'intenda. and how and why, I want you to hear from me.
GUIDO FLAME VOICE & ERATO:
INF C27 73-75 / DANTE INF C27 73-75 / KLINE
Mentre ch'io forma fui d'ossa e di polpe While I was in the form of bones and pulp,
che la madre mi diè, l'opere mie that my mother gave me, my actions were
non furon leonine, ma di volpe. not those of the lion, but of the fox.
INF C27 76-78 / DANTE
Li accorgimenti e le coperte vie I knew all the tricks and coverts, and employed
io seppi tutte, e sì menai lor arte, the art of them so well, that the noise
ch'al fine de la terra il suono uscie. went out to the ends of the earth.
INF C27 79-81 / DANTE
Quando mi vidi giunto in quella parte When I found myself arrived at that point of life,
di mia etade ove ciascun dovrebbe when everyone should furl their sails,
calar le vele e raccoglier le sarte, and gather in the ropes,
INF C27 82-84 / DANTE
ciò che pria mi piacëa, allor m'increbbe, what had pleased me before, now grieved me, and
e pentuto e confesso mi rendei; with repentance and confession, I turned monk.
ahi miser lasso! e giovato sarebbe. Ah misery! Alas, it would have served me well.
INF C27 85-87 / DANTE
Lo principe d'i novi Farisei, But the Prince of the Pharisees;
avendo guerra presso a Laterano, that Pope waging war near the Lateran,
e non con Saracin né con Giudei, and not with Saracens or Jews,