Dante

In one respect Dante stands unrivaled by any man, as he, we might almost say, created the language, which he elevated at once to its high est perfection. Before him very little was writ ten in Italian, Latin being the literary lan guage; but no one attempted to use the lingua volgare for the purposes of dignified composi tion. The poet, indeed, thought it necessary to excuse himself for having written in Italian after having attempted to compose his poem in Latin. Thus he is to be regarded as the founder of Italian literature. One of the strangest productions .of Dante is his He labors in this work to prove that the emperor ought to have universal authority, and draws his arguments from the sacred Scriptures and from profane writers, which in this book appear very often with equal authority. The dialectics of the schoolmen are here exhibited in a most characteristic way. The (De Monarchia> is valuable as a source of information respecting the great struggle of the Guelfs and Ghibellines and its influence upon the Christian world at that time. This struggle was a part of the great convulsion attending the separation of the civil power from the ecclesiastical, with which in the earliest ages it is always united. On the whole, Dante's works are important chiefly in three respects — as the productions of one of the greatest men that ever lived, as one of the keys to the history of his time, and as exhibiting the state of learning, theology and politics in that age. To understand Dante it is necessary to be acquainted with the history and spirit of his time, particularly with the struggle of the Guelfs and Ghibellines, the state of the north of Italy, and the excitement caused by the begin ning of the study of the ancients; also to have studied the Catholic theology and the history of the court of Rome, and to keep always in mind that Dante was an exile, deprived of home and happiness. The personal appearance and char acter of the man are thus described by Boccac cio: "Our poet was of middle height ; his face was long, his nose aquiline, his jaw large, and his under lip protruding somewhat beyond the upper. His eyes rather large than small; his hair and beard thick, crisp, and black, and his countenance sad and pensive. His gait was grave and gentlemanlike, and his bearing, in public or private, wonderfully composed and polished. In meat and drink he was most tem perate. Seldom did he speak unless spoken to, though he was most eloquent. In his youth he delighted in music and singing, and was intimate with all the musicians and singers of the day. He was of marvelous capacity and the most tenacious memory; inclined to solitude and fond of study when he had time for it." See VITA NUOVA ; DIVINA COM MEDIA.

Bibliography. — Balbo, (1889) ; Scartazzini,

DANTON, Georges Jacques, French revolutionist : b. Arcis-sur-Aube, 26 Oct. 1759; d. Paris, 5 April 1794. He played a very important part during the first years of the French Revolution, of which he was an active and zealous promoter. His external appearance was striking, his stature was colossal, his frame athletic, his features harsh, large and dis agreeable; his voice shook the dome of the chamber of the assembly, his eloquence was vehement and his imagination was as gigantic as his person. These qualities contributed

to extend his influence and he became one of the founders of the club of the Cor deliers. After the capture of Louis XVI at Varennes he took the lead in the meeting of the Champ-de-Mars which demanded the dethronement of the king. He is said to have had a share in organizing and conducting the attack on the Tuileries (10 Aug. 1792) ; a few days afterward he was appointed Minister of Justice. He also became a member of the pro visional executive council and usurped the ap pointment of officers 'in the army and depart ments. Money flowed from all sides into the hands of the minister, and was as profusely squandered on his tools and partisans. He endeavored by the terrors of proscription to annihilate all hope of resistance on the part of the Royalists. The invasion of Champagne by the Prussians 2 September spread consternation through the capital. The ministers, the most distinguished deputies and even Robespierre himself now relied upon Danton, and never was his splendid courage and audacity more stnk ingly manifested. He assumed the administration of the state and prepared measures of defense, called on all Frenchmen capable of bearing arms to march against the enemy, and prevented the removal of the assembly beyond the Loire. The dose of his celebrated speech has been often quoted, tocsin qu'on va sonner un signal d'alarme, c'est la charge sur les ennemis de la patrie. Pour les vaincre, it nous faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace, et la France est sauvee I° From this time forward he was hated by Robespierre, who could never pardon the superiority which Danton had shown on that occasion. He voted for capital punishment being inflicted on all re turning Royalists and undertook the defense of religious worship. The contest between the Girondists and the Mountain daily assumed a more serious aspect, and Danton, while he feared the consequences of these dissensions, allowed matters to drift. He wished to over throw the despotism of Robespierre, and the crafty Robespierre endeavored to undermine him in order to get rid of a dangerous rival. St. Just denounced him to the Committee of Public Safety and Danton was arrested on the night of 31 March 1794, together with those who were called his accomplices. Being thrown into prison in the Luxembourg he maintained the appearance of serenity. When transferred into the Conciergerie his countenance became dark and he appeared mortified at having been the dupe of Robespierre. All his discourses were a strange mixture of sorrow and pride. At his trial, on the formal question as to his name and residence being put, he answered, with perfect composure, al am Danton, suffi ciently known in the Revolution; I shall soon pass to nothingness, but my name will live in the Pantheon of history.° So powerful and defiant were his speeches in reply to his accusers that St. Just got a resolution passed by the revo lutionary tribunal that the mouths of men who had ((insulted justice° should be shut, and on 5 April he mounted the fatal car with courage, his head elevated, his look commanding and full of pride. Before ascending the scaffold he was for a moment softened. aOh my wife, my dear wife! shall I never see you again ?° he ex claimed, but checked himself hastily and by call ing out aDanton, no weakness V' ascended the scaffold. Consult Robinet, Wanton, Memoire stir la vie privie) (1865) ; Bougeart, (1861) ; Dubost, Wanton et la politique con temporaine) (1880) ; Gronlund, 'Ca ira! or Danton in the French Revolution> (1882) ; Beesley, 'Life of Danton) (1889) ; Morse Stephens, (1899).