Boccaccio indeed
says that he did not return to Italy till 1311. Wegele (Dante's
"Leben und Werke," p. 85) puts the date of his journey between 1292
and 1297. Ozanam, with a pathos comically touching to the academic
soul, laments that poverty compelled him to leave the university
without the degree he had so justly earned. He consoles himself with
the thought that "there remained to him an incontestable erudition
and the love of serious studies." (Dante et la philosophic
catholique, p. 112.) It _is_ sad that we cannot write _Dantes
Alighierius, S. T. D._! Dante seems to imply that he began to devote
himself to Philosophy and Theology shortly after Beatrice's death.
(Convito, Tr. II. c. 13.) He compares himself to one who, "seeking
silver, should, without meaning it, find gold, which an occult cause
presents to him, not perhaps without the divine command." Here again
apparently is an allusion to his having found Wisdom while he sought
Learning. He had thought to find God in the beauty of his works, he
learned to seek all things in God.
[184] In a more general view, matter, the domain of the senses, no
doubt with a recollection of Aristotle's [Greek: hylae].
[185] As we have seen, even a sigh becomes _He_.
Pages:
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181