Heroes of Modern Europe

								

usual life of audiences and journeys must have been grateful to the
tired ambassador.  He began to muse on the poetic aims of his first
youth and the work which was to make Beatrice's name immortal.  Some
lines of the new poem were written in the Latin tongue, then held the
finest language for expressing a great subject.  The poet had to
abandon his scheme for {25} a time at least, when he was made one of
the Priors, or supreme rulers, of Florence in June 1300.
There was some attempt during Dante's brief term of office to settle
the vexed question of the rival parties.  Both deserved punishment,
without doubt, and received it in the form of banishment for the heads
of the factions.  "Dante applied all his genius and every act and
thought to bring back unity to the republic, demonstrating to the wiser
citizens how even the great are destroyed by discord, while the small
grow and increase infinitely when at peace. . . ."
Apparently Dante was not always successful in his attempts to unite his
fellow-citizens.  He talked of resignation sometimes and retirement
into private life, a proposal which was opposed by his friends in
office.  When the losing side decided to ask Pope Boniface for an
arbitrator to settle their disputes, all Dante's spirit rose against
their lack of patriotism.  He went willingly on an embassy to desire
that Charles, the brother or cousin of King Philip of France, who had
been selected to regulate the state of Florence, should come with a
friendly feeling to his party, if his arrival could not be averted.  He
remained at Rome with other ambassadors for some unknown cause, while
his party at Florence was defeated and sentence of banishment was
passed on him as on the other leaders.
Dante loved the city of his birth and was determined to return from
exile.  He joined the band of fuor-usciti, or "turned-out," who were
at that time plotting to reverse their fortunes.  He cared not whether
they were Guelf or Ghibelline in his passionate eagerness to win them
to decisive action that would restore him to his rights as a Florentine
citizen.  He had no scruples in seeking foreign aid against the unjust
Florentines.  An {26} armed attempt was made against Florence through
his fierce endeavours, but it failed, as also a second conspiracy
within three years, and by 1304 the poet had been seized with disgust
of his companions outside the gates.  He turned from them and went to
the University of Bologna.
Dante's wife had remained in Florence, escaping from dangers, perhaps,
because she belonged to the powerful family of Donati.  Now she sent
her eldest son, Pietro, to his father, with the idea that he should
begin his studies at the ancient seat of learning.
After two years of a quiet life, spent in writing his Essay on
Eloquence and reading philosophy, the exile was driven away from
Bologna and had to take refuge with a noble of the Malespina family.