Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 3.djvu/127

 FRA DOLCINO. ni have been inflamed by apocalyptic visions ere he could have em- barked in an enterprise in which the means were so wholly inade- quate to the end — ere he could have endeavored single-handed to overthrow the whole majestic structure of the theocratic church and organized feudalism. Dante recognized the greatness of Dolcino when he represents him as the only living man to whom Mahomet from the depths of hell deigns to send a message, as to a kindred spirit. The good Spiritual Franciscans, who endured endless per- secution without resistance, could only explain his career by a revelation made to a servant of God beyond the seas, that he was possessed by a malignant angel named Furcio.* The paternity of Dolcino is variously attributed to Giulio, a priest of Trontano in the Yal d'Ossola, and to Giulio, a hermit of Prato in the Yalsesia, near Novara. Brought as a child to Ver- celli, he was bred in the church of St. Agnes by a priest named Agosto, who had him carefully trained. Gifted with a brilliant intellect, he soon became an excellent scholar, and, though small of stature, he was pleasant to look upon and won the affection of all. In after-times it was said that his eloquence and persuasive- ness were such that no one who once listened to him could ever throw off the spell. His connection with Yercelli came to a sud- den end. The priest lost a sum of money and suspected his ser- vant Patras. The man took the boy and by torturing him forced him to confess the theft — rightly or wrongly. The priest inter- fered to prevent the matter from becoming public, but shame and terror caused Dolcino to depart in secret, and we lose sight of him until we hear of him in Trent, at the head of a band of Apostles. He had joined the sect in 1291 ; he must early have taken a promi- nent position in it, for he admitted in his final confession that he had thrice been in the hands of the Inquisition, and had thrice ab- jured. This he could do without forfeiting his position, for it was one of the principles of the sect, which greatly angered the in- quisitors, that deceit was lawful when before the Inquisition ; that Or di a Frit Dolcin dunque che s' armi, Tu che forse vedrai il sole in breve, S' egli non vuol qui tosto seguitarmi ; Si di vivanda, che stretta di neve Non rechi la vittoria al Noarese, Ch' altrimenti acquistar non saria lieve. — Inferno, xxviii.
 * Hist. Tribulat. (ubi sup.).