front [ Enlarged color version ] LONDON ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & CO. LTD. 1906 SECOND EDITION CAREFULLY REVISED...

The Editor is responsible for the selection of the passages translated, and for the Introduction . He has also compared the translation with the original text, has satisfied himself of its general accuracy, and has made numerous suggestions. The Translator is responsible for the fidelity of the translation in detail, and for its general tone and style. She has also drawn up the Indexes , and seen the work through the press. For the selection of marginal references to the works of Dante the Edito

This book of selections is not intended as a contribution to the study of Villani, but as an aid to the study of Dante. The text of Villani is well known to be in a very unsatisfactory condition, and no attempt at a critical treatment of it has been made. The Florence edition of 1823, in eight volumes, has been almost invariably followed. Here and there the Editor has silently adopted an emendation that obviously gives the sense intended, and on p. 277 has inserted in brackets an acute suggestio

The marginal references are to the divisions and lines of Moore's "Oxford Dante." * * * * indicates a passage omitted in the translation; . . . indicates a hiatus in the Italian text. Villani makes the year begin on March 25th. Thus 1300 is still running till March 25th, 1301. For instance, Bk. VII. , § 9 , gives the last day of February, 1265, as the date of the Battle of Benevento. By our reckoning this is the February of 1266. So too the Reconciliation of the Florentines by the Cardinal Latin

This book is called the New Chronicle, in which many past things are treated of, and especially the root and origins of the city of Florence; then all the changes through which it has passed and shall pass in the course of time: begun to be compiled in the year of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, 1300. Here begins the preface and the First Book. § 1.—Forasmuch as among our Florentine ancestors, few and ill-arranged memorials are to be found of the past doings of our city of Florence, either by t

Here begins the Second Book: how the city of Florence was destroyed by Totila, the scourge of God, king of the Goths and Vandals. 440 a.d. § 1.—In the year of Christ 440, in the time of S. Leo the Pope, and of Theodosius and Valentinian emperors, in the northern parts there was a king of the Vandals and of the Goths, which was called Bela, and surnamed Totila. This man was a barbarian and had no religion, and was cruel in customs and in all things, born of the province of Gothland and Sweden, an

Goes back somewhat to tell how the city of Florence was rebuilt by the power of Charles the Great and the Romans. § 1.—It came to pass, as it pleased God, that in the time of the good Charles the Great, Emperor of Rome and king of France, of whom above we have made a long record, after that he had beaten down the tyrannical pride of the Lombards and Saracens, and of the infidels against Holy Church, and had established Rome and the Empire in good state and in its liberty, as afore we have made m

§ 1.— 955 a.d. How the election to the Empire of Rome fell to the Germans, and how Otho I. of Saxony was consecrated Emperor. § 2.— Of the Emperor Otho III., and the Marquis Hugh, which built the Badia at Florence. After the death of Otho II., his son, Otho III., was elected Emperor, and crowned by Pope Gregory V., in the year of Christ 979, and this Otho reigned twenty-four years. After that he was crowned, he went into Apulia on pilgrimage to Mount S. Angelo, and afterwards returned by way of

Here begins the Fifth Book: How Frederick I. of Staufen of Suabia was Emperor of Rome, and of his descendants, and concerning the doings of Florence which were in their times, and of all Italy. § 1.—After the death of Conrad of Saxony, king of the Romans, 1154 a.d. Epist. vi. (5) 135, 136. Purg. xviii. 119, 120. Cf. Par. iii. 119. Frederick Barbarossa was elected Emperor, called Frederick the Great, or the First, of the house of Suabia, and surnamed of Staufen. This Frederick, when he had receiv

How Frederick II. was consecrated and made Emperor, and the great things which came to pass. § 1.— 1220 a.d. Inf. x. 119; xiii. 59, 68, 75; xxiii. 66. Purg. xvi. 117. Par. iii. 120. Convivio iv. Canzone, ver. 21; also cap. 3: 37-44; 10: 6-12. De Vulg. El. i. 12: 20-35. Epist. vi. (5) 126-135. Par. iii. 118-120. In the year of Christ 1220, on the day of St. Cecilia in November, there was crowned and consecrated Emperor at Rome Frederick II., king of Sicily, son of the Emperor Henry of Suabia, and

Here begins the Seventh Book, which treats of the coming of King Charles, and of many changes and events which followed thereupon. § 1.—Charles was the second son of Louis le Debonnaire, king of 1264 a.d. Inf. xix. 99. Purg. vii. 113, 124, 128, 129; xi. 137; xx. 67-69. France, and grandson of the good King Philip, the blear-eyed, his grandfather, whereof we before made mention, and brother of the good King Louis of France, and of Robert, count of Artois, and of Alfonso, count of Poitou; all thes

Here begins the Eighth Book. It tells how the second Popolo arose in the city of Florence, and of many great changes which by reason thereof came afterwards to pass in Florence, following on with the other events of those times. § 1.—In the year of Christ 1292, on the 1st day of February, the city 1292 a.d. of Florence being in great and powerful state, and prosperous in all things, and the citizens thereof waxing fat and rich, and by reason of excessive tranquillity, which naturally engenders p

Here begins the Ninth Book. How Henry, count of Luxemburg, was made Emperor. § 1.—Henry, count of Luxemburg, reigned four years and seven months 1310 a.d. and eighteen days from his first coronation to his end. He was wise and just and gracious, valiant and firm in arms, virtuous and catholic; and albeit of low estate according to his lineage, he was great-hearted, feared and redoubted; and if he had lived longer he would have done the greatest things. This man was elected emperor Par. xvii. 82,