SCOT AGAIN AT COURT 



HE return of Michael Scot from Spain to the Im- 

 3rial Court was doubtless a striking moment, not 

 ilj in the life of the philosopher himself, but in 

 e history of letters. He then appeared fresh from a 

 eat enterprise, and bringing with him the proofs of 

 success in the form of the Latin Averroes. We 

 .nnot doubt that his reception was worthy of the 

 sion and of one who had served his master so 

 thfully. 



Frederick was now returned to his dominions in 

 e south. He had established his imperial rights 

 Germany at the cost of a campaign in which the 

 tensions of Otho were successfully overcome, 

 d, on his return homeward in 1220, he had 

 ived the crown once more in Rome at the hands 

 the supreme ecclesiastical authority. His pro- 

 :ss was indeed a continual scene of triumph, 

 ived at Palermo, the court gave itself up to 

 ing and gaiety of every kind. 

 Two ancient romantic authorities 1 choose with 

 imatic instinct this moment, and these gay and 

 uptuous surroundings, as the mise en scene amid 

 ich they show us Scot again appearing to resume 



Xamely the novel called H Paradise degli Alberti (Bologna, 

 sseloffsky, 1867, vol. ii. pp. 180-217), and No. xx. of the Cento 



'die Antiche (Testo Borghiniano). 





