Page:A translation of the Latin works of Dante Alighieri.djvu/391

372 to enable us to interpret the cipher with considerable security.

Perhaps a paraphrase will be the best form in which to present a general commentary.

Dante and his friend or assistant, Ser Dino Perini of Florence were engaged in some humble sort of academic pursuit (perhaps connected with the teaching of the art of Italian poetry which Boccaccio informs us Dante practised at Ravenna), when Del Virgilio's letter arrived. Perini was full of curiosity as to its contents and Dante, after attempting to put him off, explained to him that it dealt with matters far above the range of his (Perini's) literary flights, which only extended to the study and teaching of the vernacular, whereas Del Virgilio's missive was full of the ripest and loftiest university culture; but Perini (as though another Syrophœnician woman) pleaded that if Dante would expound these high matters to him, not only might he comprehend something of their merit himself, but might even convey some portion of it to the humble students of Italian literature, to whom, as Dante's subordinate, he ministered. Then Dante replied that Del Virgilio, most disinterested of students, by his single efforts kept the service of the Muses alive in the university of Bologna, else wholly given up to the lucrative study of law; and that he now invited him (Dante) to receive the laurel crown at his hands.

Perini.Surely you will accept?

Dante.Such a function would doubtless make