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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 save mankind。 We naturally
call their lot hard； even though they chose it； but it is the
school of greatness。 It was sad to see the wisest and best man of
his day；a man of family； of culture； of wealth； of learning；
loving leisure； attached to his home and country； accustomed to
honor and independence；doomed to exile； poverty； neglect； and
hatred； without those compensations which men of genius in our time
secure。 But I would not attempt to excite pity for an outward
condition which developed the higher virtues；for a thorny path
which led to the regions of eternal light。 Dante may have walked
in bitter tears to Paradise； but after the fashion of saints and
martyrs in all ages of our world。 He need but cast his eyes on
that emblem which was erected on every pinnacle of Mediaeval
churches to symbolize passing suffering with salvation infinite；
the great and august creed of the age in which he lived； though now
buried amid the triumphs of an imposing material civilization whose
end is the adoration of the majesty of man rather than the majesty
of God； the wonders of creation rather than the greatness of the
Creator。
But something more was required in order to write an immortal poem
than even native genius； great learning； and profound experience。
The soul must be stimulated to the work by an absorbing and
ennobling passion。 This passion Dante had； and it is as memorable
as the mortal loves of Abelard and Heloise； and infinitely more
exalting； since it was spiritual and immortal；even the adoration
of his lamented and departed Beatrice。
I wish to dwell for a moment； perhaps longer than to some may seem
dignified； on this ideal or sentimental love。 It may seem trivial
and unimportant to the eye of youth； or a man of the world； or a
woman of sensual nature； or to unthinking fools and butterflies；
but it is invested with dignity to one who meditates on the
mysteries of the soul； the wonders of our higher nature；one of
the things which arrest the attention of philosophers。
It is recorded and attested； even by Dante himself； that at the
early age of nine he fell in love with Beatrice；a little girl of
one of his neighbors；and that he wrote to her sonnets as the
mistress of his devotion。 How could he have written sonnets
without an inspiration； unless he felt sentiments higher than we
associate with either boys or girls？ The boy was father of the
man。 〃She appeared to me；〃 says the poet； 〃at a festival； dressed
in that most noble and honorable color； scarlet；girded and
ornamented in a manner suitable to her age； and from that moment
love ruled my soul。 And after many days had passed； it happened
that； passing through the street； she turned her eyes to the spot
where I stood； and with ineffable courtesy she greeted me； and this
had such an effect on me that it seemed I had reached the furthest
limit of blessedness。 I took refuge in the solitude of my chamber；
and； thinking over what had happened to me； I proposed to write a
sonnet； since I had already acquired the art of putting words into
rhyme。〃 This； from his 〃Vita Nuova；〃 his first work； relating to
the 〃new life〃 which this love awoke in his young soul。
Thus； according to Dante's own statement； was the seed of a never…
ending passion planted in his soul；the small beginning； so
insignificant to cynical eyes； that it would almost seem
preposterous to allude to it； as if this fancy for a little girl in
scarlet； and in a boy but nine years of age； could ripen into
anything worthy to be soberly mentioned by a grave and earnest
poet； in the full maturity of his genius；worthy to give direction
to his lofty intellect； worthy to be the occasion of the greatest
poem the world has seen from Homer to modern times。 Absurd！
ridiculous！ Great rivers cannot rise from such a spring； tall
trees cannot grow from such a little acorn。 Thus reasons the man
who does not take cognizance of the mighty mysteries of human life。
If anything tempted the boy to write sonnets to a little girl； it
must have been the chivalric element in society at that period；
when even boys were required to choose objects of devotion； and to
whom they were to be loyal； and whose honor they were bound to
defend。 But the grave poet； in the decline of his life； makes this
simple confession； as the beginning of that sentiment which never
afterwards departed from him； and which inspired him to his
grandest efforts。
But this youthful attachment was unfortunate。 Beatrice did not
return his passion； and had no conception of its force； and perhaps
was not even worthy to call it forth。 She may have been beautiful；
she may have been gifted； she may have been commonplace。 It
matters little whether she was intellectual or not； beautiful or
not。 It was not the flesh and blood he saw； but the image of
beauty and loveliness which his own mind created。 He idealized the
girl； she was to him all that he fancied。 But she never encouraged
him； she denied his greetings； and even avoided his society。 At
last she died； when he was twenty…seven； and left himto use his
own expression〃to ruminate on death； and envy whomsoever dies。〃
To console himself； he read Boethius； and religious philosophy was
ever afterwards his favorite study。 Nor did serenity come； so deep
were his sentiments； so powerful was his imagination； until he had
formed an exalted purpose to write a poem in her honor； and worthy
of his love。 〃If it please Him through whom all things come；〃 said
Dante； 〃that my life be spared； I hope to tell such things of her
as never before have been seen by any one。〃
Now what inspired so strange a purpose？ Was it a Platonic
sentiment； like the love of Petrarch for Laura； or something that
we cannot explain； and yet real；a mystery of the soul in its
deepest cravings and aspirations？ And is love； among mortals
generally； based on such a foundation？ Is it flesh and blood we
love； is it the intellect； is it the character； is it the soul； is
it what is inherently interesting in woman； and which everybody can
see；the real virtues of the heart and charms of physical beauty？
Or is it what we fancy in the object of our adoration； what exists
already in our own minds；the archetypes of eternal ideas of
beauty and grace？ And do all men worship these forms of beauty
which the imagination creates？ Can any woman； or any man； seen
exactly as they are； incite a love which is kindred to worship？
And is any love worthy to be called love； if it does not inspire
emotions which prompt to self…sacrifice； labor； and lofty ends？
Can a woman's smiles incite to Herculean energies； and drive the
willing worshipper to Aonian heights； unless under these smiles are
seen the light of life and the blessedness of supernatural fervor？
Is there； and can there be； a perpetuity in mortal charms without
the recognition or the supposition of a moral beauty connected with
them； which alone is pure and imperishable； and which alone creates
the sacred ecstasy that revels in the enjoyment of what is divine；
or what is supposed to be divine； not in man； but in the
conceptions of man；the ever…blazing glories of goodness or of
truth which the excited soul doth see in the eyes and expression of
the adored image？ It is these archetypes of divinity； real or
fancied； which give to love all that is enduring。 Destroy these；
take away the real or fancied glories of the soul and mind； and the
holy flame soon burns out。 No mortal love can last； no mortal love
is beautiful； unless the visions which the mind creates are not
more or less realized in the object of it； or when a person； either
man or woman； is not capable of seeing ideal perfections。 The
loves of savages are the loves of brutes。 The more exalted the
character and the soul； the greater is the capacity of l