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the year 1265； his early education devolved upon his mother； his
father having died while the boy was very young。 His mother's
friend； Brunetto Latini； famous as statesman and scholarly poet；
was of great assistance in directing his tastes and studies。 As a
mere youth he wrote sonnets； such as Sordello the Troubadour would
not disdain to own。 He delights； as a boy； in those inquiries
which gave fame to Bonaventura。 He has an intuitive contempt for
all quacks and pretenders。 At Paris he maintains fourteen
different theses； propounded by learned men； on different subjects；
and gains universal admiration。 He is early selected by his native
city for important offices； which he fills with honor。 In wit he
encounters no superiors。 He scorches courts by sarcasms which he
can not restrain。 He offends the great by a superiority which he
does not attempt to veil。 He affects no humility； for his nature
is doubtless proud； he is even offensively conscious and arrogant。
When Florence is deliberating about the choice of an ambassador to
Rome； he playfully； yet still arrogantly； exclaims： 〃If I remain
behind； who goes？ and if I go； who remains behind？〃 His
countenance； so austere and thoughtful； impresses all beholders
with a sort of inborn greatness； his lip； in Giotto's portrait； is
curled disdainfully； as if he lived among fools or knaves。 He is
given to no youthful excesses； he lives simply and frugally。 He
rarely speaks unless spoken to； he is absorbed apparently in
thought。 Without a commanding physical person； he is a marked man
to everybody； even when he deems himself a stranger。 Women gaze at
him with wonder and admiration； though he disdains their praises
and avoids their flatteries。 Men make way for him as he passes
them； unconsciously。 〃Behold；〃 said a group of ladies； as he
walked slowly by them； 〃there is a man who has visited hell！〃 To
the close of his life he was a great devourer of books； and
digested their contents。 His studies were as various as they were
profound。 He was familiar with the ancient poets and historians
and philosophers； he was still better acquainted with the abstruse
speculations of the schoolmen。 He delighted in universities and
scholastic retreats； from the cares and duties of public life he
would retire to solitary labors； and dignify his retirement by
improving studies。 He did not live in a cell； like Jerome； or a
cave； like Mohammed； but no man was ever more indebted to solitude
and meditation than he for that insight and inspiration which
communion with God and great ideas alone can give。
And yet； though recluse and student； he had great experiences with
life。 He was born among the higher ranks of society。 He inherited
an ample patrimony。 He did not shrink from public affairs。 He was
intensely patriotic； like Michael Angelo； he gave himself up to the
good of his country； like Savonarola。 Florence was small； but it
was important； it was already a capital； and a centre of industry。
He represented its interests in various courts。 He lived with
princes and nobles。 He took an active part in all public matters
and disputations； he was even familiar with the intrigues of
parties； he was a politician as well as scholar。 He entered into
the contests between Popes and Emperors respecting the independence
of Italy。 He was not conversant with art； for the great sculptors
and painters had not then arisen。 The age was still dark； the
mariner's compass had not been invented； chimneys had not been
introduced； the comforts of life were few。 Dames of highest rank
still spent their days over the distaff or in combing flax。 There
were no grand structures but cathedral churches。 Life was
laborious； dismal； and turbulent。 Law and order did not reign in
cities or villages。 The poor were oppressed by nobles。 Commerce
was small and manufactures scarce。 Men lived in dreary houses；
without luxuries； on coarse bread and fruit and vegetables。 The
crusades had not come to an end。 It was the age of quarrelsome
popes and cruel nobles； and lazy monks and haughty bishops； and
ignorant people； steeped in gloomy superstitions； two hundred years
before America was discovered； and two hundred and fifty years
before Michael Angelo erected the dome of St。 Peter's。
But there was faith in the world； and rough virtues； sincerity； and
earnestness of character； though life was dismal。 Men believed in
immortality and in expiation for sin。 The rising universities had
gifted scholars whose abstruse speculations have never been
rivalled for acuteness and severity of logic。 There were bards and
minstrels； and chivalric knights and tournaments and tilts； and
village fetes and hospitable convents and gentle ladies；gentle
and lovely even in all states of civilization； winning by their
graces and inspiring men to deeds of heroism and gallantry。
In one of those domestic revolutions which were so common in Italy
Dante was banished； and his property was confiscated； and he at the
age of thirty…five； about the year 1300； when Giotto was painting
portraits； was sent forth a wanderer and an exile； now poor and
unimportant； to eat the bread of strangers and climb other people's
stairs； and so obnoxious was he to the dominant party in his native
city for his bitter spirit； that he was destined never to return to
his home and friends。 His ancestors； boasting of Roman descent；
belonged to the patriotic party；the Guelphs； who had the
ascendency in his early years；that party which defended the
claims of the Popes against the Emperors of Germany。 But this
party had its divisions and rival families；those that sided with
the old feudal nobles who had once ruled the city； and the new
mercantile families that surpassed them in wealth and popular
favor。 So； expelled by a fraction of his own party that had gained
power； Dante went over to the Ghibellines； and became an adherent
of imperial authority until he died。
It was in his wanderings from court to court and castle to castle
and convent to convent and university to university； that he
acquired that profound experience with men and the world which
fitted him for his great task。 〃Not as victorious knight on the
field of Campaldino； not as leader of the Guelph aristocracy at
Florence； not as prior； not as ambassador；〃 but as a wanderer did
he acquire his moral wisdom。 He was a striking example of the
severe experiences to which nearly all great benefactors have been
subjected；Abraham the exile； in the wilderness； in Egypt； among
Philistines； among robbers and barbaric chieftains； the Prince
Siddartha； who founded Buddhism； in his wanderings among the
various Indian nations who bowed down to Brahma； and； still
greater； the Apostle Paul； in his protracted martyrdom among Pagan
idolaters and boastful philosophers； in Asia and in Europe。 These
and others may be cited； who led a life of self…denial and reproach
in order to spread the truths which s