STUDY OF ROMANCE MEDIEVAL LITERATURE 457 



Portugal ! For reasons we know, the history of our literature has had 

 to undergo less change; but look at the work of Bartoli, unfortunately 

 too soon broken off; consider that of Gaspary; imagine an under- 

 taking of this kind accomplished by D' Ancona and Carducci, who 

 have carried so many stones to the building, and a vast contrast 

 with the past will always show itself. 



We have seen strangers and natives attend the exhumation of the 

 Romance Middle Ages. A post of honor is due to Germany. Little 

 by little other nations followed. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Russia, 

 even tiny Finland (not to mention Roumania, Romance herself) 

 have rendered distinguished services to Romance philology. It is 

 singular that, outside of Dante studies, England has kept apart, 

 notwithstanding the manifold appeals of her own literature, of her 

 language, of her history. But what the mother failed to do, the 

 daughter did instead. Amongst you Romance philology has attained 

 a truly conspicuous place. And the uncertainty of the first steps is 

 followed by a surer gait, pledge of a precious cooperation in the 

 fulfillment of a task which can hardly be considered half finished. 

 And the mother country is rivaled in what concerns Dante, the 

 true sun of medieval literature, just as the literature of France is its 

 star-studded sky. Your most famous poet, Longfellow, lovingly 

 undertook to render the Divine Comedy into his own tongue. Nor 

 has the fear of comparison deterred other valiant souls from renew- 

 ing the attempt. A Dante Society exists, and is usefully active here. 

 The richest Dante collection gathered until now is found in this your 

 American land. A greeting, therefore, to you from the country of 

 Dante, from his own native city! 



