PETRARCH THE MAN 



replied: * You would not marvel in the least, if you but 

 knew that similarity in manners and character breeds 

 friendship/ " "On another occasion when he was at 

 a banquet, the host, hilarious because of the wine he 

 had drunk, and stuffed with food, was sweating pro- 

 fusely and talking a great deal of nonsense. Dante 

 listened indignant, without saying a word. All were 

 astonished at his silence. Then the speaker, whose 

 eloquence the others applauded, seized Dante with his 

 moist hands and said: ^ Don't you agree that he who 

 speaks truly works hard ? ' And Dante answered: 

 ^ I was wondering why you perspired so.' " In his 

 letter to Boccaccio, Petrarch says further: '^ I venture 

 to add that, if Dante had been permitted to live until 

 this time, he would have found few friends more 

 devoted to him than myself, provided, of course, that 

 I had found his character as attractive as his genius." 

 To this restriction we should not give too much weight. 

 It is quite conceivable that one might have admired 

 Dante's works and character, and yet have found him 

 very hard to get along with. And as to Dante's be- 

 havior (assuming that the anecdotes are true) at Can 

 Grande's court, while Petrarch could hardly have 

 behaved thus, being more supple, more of a courtier, 

 I am rather inclined to beheve that he sympathized 

 with Dante, enjoyed the sharp rebuke to Can Grande 

 and the snub to the damp and garrulous bore. 



Finally, as regards the matter of jealousy, I beheve 

 that he was rather jealous. But is there anything, after 



56 



