v. 111.  The ladies, &c.] These two lines express the true spirit of chivalry.  “Agi” is understood by the commentators whom I have consulted,to mean “the ease procured for others by the exertions of knight-errantry.”  But surely it signifies the alternation of ease with labour.

v. 114.  O Brettinoro.] A beautifully situated castle in Romagna, the hospitable residence of Guido del Duca, who is here speaking.

v. 118.  Baynacavallo.] A castle between Imola and Ravenna

v. 118.  Castracaro ill And Conio worse.] Both in Romagna.

v. 121.  Pagani.] The Pagani were lords of Faenza and Imola.  One of them Machinardo, was named the Demon, from his treachery.  See Hell, Canto xxvii. 47, and Note.

v. 124.  Hugolin.] Ugolino Ubaldini, a noble and virtuous person in Faenza, who, on account of his age probably, was not likely to leave any offspring behind him.  He is enumerated among the poets by Crescimbeni, and Tiraboschi.  Mr. Matthias’s edit. vol. i. 143

v. 136.  Whosoever finds Will slay me.] The words of Cain, Gen. e. iv. 14.

v. 142.  Aglauros.] Ovid, Met.  I, ii. fate. 12.

v. 145.  There was the galling bit.] Referring to what had been before said, Canto xiii. 35.

CANTO XV

v. 1.  As much.] It wanted three hours of sunset.

v. 16.  As when the ray.] Compare Virg.  Aen. 1.viii. 22, and Apol.  Rhod. 1. iii. 755.

v. 19.  Ascending at a glance.] Lucretius, 1. iv. 215.

v. 20.  Differs from the stone.] The motion of light being quicker than that of a stone through an equal space.

v. 38.  Blessed the merciful.  Matt. c. v. 7.

v. 43.  Romagna’s spirit.] Guido del Duea, of Brettinoro whom we have seen in the preceding Canto.

v. 87.  A dame.] Luke, c. ii. 18

v. 101.  How shall we those requite.] The answer of Pisistratus the tyrant to his wife, when she urged him to inflict the punishment of death on a young man, who, inflamed with love for his daughter, had snatched from her a kiss in public.  The story is told by Valerius Maximus, 1.v. 1.

v. 105.  A stripling youth.] The protomartyr Stephen.

CANTO XVI

v. 94.  As thou.] “If thou wert still living.”

v. 46.  I was of Lombardy, and Marco call’d.] A Venetian gentleman.  “Lombardo” both was his surname and denoted the country to which he belonged.  G. Villani, 1. vii. c. 120, terms him “a wise and worthy courtier.”

v. 58.  Elsewhere.] He refers to what Guido del Duca had said in the thirteenth Canto, concerning the degeneracy of his countrymen.

v. 70.  If this were so.] Mr. Crowe in his Lewesdon Hill has expressed similar sentiments with much energy.

Of this be sure,
Where freedom is not, there no virtue is, &c.