Historical Background of Dante 89
soul of clay, as to submit himself to be paraded like a
prisoner, as some infamous wretches have done! . . . No!
this is not the way for me to return to my country. If
another can be found which does not derogate from the
fame and honor of Dante, that will I take with no lagging
steps. But if by no such way Florence may be entered, then
will I reenter Florence never.”
Thus ended the episode of Henry VII and thus ended
Dante’s hopes of return to Florence. The mainstay and
support of Dante during his years of exile had been the
various nobles of the Ghibelline party scattered throughout
northern Italy, and it is with two of these that Dante spent
the remaining years of his life. For a year or two Dante
lived at Verona with his friend Can Grande della Scala, the
greatest soldier of his time, and with whom Dante was on
terms of close intimacy. The last three-or three and a half
years of his life Dante spent in peace and happiness at
Ravenna, protected and comfortably supported by the lord
of that city, Guido Novella da Polenta. Here he was joined
by his sons Pietro and Jacopo and his daughter Beatrice.
Here he lived amid congenial company, and put the finish-
ing touches to the “Divine Comedy,” his work upon which
“had made him lean for many years.” The publication of
the “Inferno” and “Purgatorio” had already made Dante
famous, and he now was invited to receive the laurel crown
at Bologna. This honor, however, he declined, saying that
he wished to receive it from Florence or not at all. Early
in 1321 he took part in an embassy from Ravenna to Venice.
The party was compelled to return by land along the ma-
larious seaboard. During this journey Dante is supposed
to have contracted a fever, as a result of which he died at
Ravenna soon after his return. He was buried with great
honor in that city, and there, in spite of all efforts on the