DANTE'S TREATISE OX GOVERNMENT. 



By Rev. Sydney R. Welch, D.D., Ph.D. 



One excellent method of testing- the validity of our political 

 and social theories and dogmas is to place ourselves momentarily 

 in those ages or amongst those philosophers whose views were 

 very different from our own. For every generation of men gives 

 its allegiance to some political views only because they persist- 

 ently clamour for allegiance ; and many a theory appears true 

 enough simply because it has no fashionable rival. Fashion has 

 its votaries to-day as ever amongst the politicians as amongst the 

 scientists. It is a little difficult to resist the tyranny of fashion in 

 any sphere ; but it Is well to try. 



I propose, therefore, to look at some mediaeval theories which 

 are considerably out of fashion. In the Middle Ages there was a 

 good deal of diversity of opinion on the subject of politics. But 

 we may safely take Dante Alighieri as one of the great repre- 

 .sentative minds or the age in which he lived. His works reflect 

 in a very vivid way the many-sided life of Italy at a time when 

 Italy was the centre of European civilisation. He was t?ie master 

 mind that gave the Italians a language which was to soar above 

 all their dialects " come aquila vola,'^ an epic poem which in the 

 opinion of many has had no superior in any clime or age. The 

 Divina Commedia has been compared to a fine Gothic Cathedral 

 for its perfect symbolism of all that is most divine and super- 

 iiatural in terms of the most perfect human art ; and on the other 

 hand it has been called with equal truth " the diarv and auto- 

 biography of the thirteenth century and of the Italian people," 

 because it mirrors so minutely the thoughts and ideals of the 

 people of that age. 



The political views of such a man as the author of the Divina 

 Commedia will always be worthy of attention. But in Dante's case 

 there is a further reason for our respectful attention. His opinions 

 were hammered into shape on the anvil of a long and bitter 

 experience of active political life. He had passed through all the 

 vicissitudes of political fortune ; at one time having the highest 

 office in the gift of his own Florentine republic, and dying an exile 

 from his own land though in the honourable employment of a 

 neighbouring prince. Out of the experiences of a life so varied 

 and stored with the wisdom of antiquity, we have a right to expect 

 some worthy lessons. 



But in his great poem we look in vain for any clear or conse- 

 cutive expressions of his political views. Hints of these views 

 there are in abundance, but in that marvellous work of genius 

 everything is subordinate to the chief aim which he never lost 

 sight of, viz. : 



" To make it also a handbook to Heaven, a treasure of religious senti- 

 ments, and of aids to the pe fection of the spiritual life." * 



* Acton: "Dante and His Commentators." 



