Dante by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Farinata degli Uberti was a notable Florentine nobleman and military leader who passed away in 1264. In Inferno Canto X, Dante depicts him in a fiery tomb alongside the heretics. What makes this scene memorable is how Farinata emerges from the flames with complete composure and disdain — even in Hell, he behaves as if he owns it. Longfellow portrays him as a representation of the powerful nature of Dante's ideas: they burst forth from his soul just as Farinata bursts from his tomb, fierce and unstoppable.

'Relume' means to relight or make something shine again. Longfellow is illustrating stars that were obscured by clouds and are now brightening as those clouds clear. Even in Longfellow's era, it's a somewhat old-fashioned term, selected for its rhythmic quality and for the way it conveys the notion of something gentle reemerging — much like Dante's compassion stands out against the dark setting of Hell.

Yes, this is a Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet — it consists of fourteen lines divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), following the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA CDECDE. The choice of this form is significant: Longfellow uses the Italian sonnet structure to reflect on an Italian poet. The octave introduces Dante’s strength and sensitivity, while the sestet focuses on a specific, tranquil moment. The turn, or volta, occurs at 'Methinks I see thee stand' — marking the transition from a broad depiction to a personal glimpse.

Fra Hilario was a monk at the monastery of Santa Croce del Corvo, close to Lerici in northern Italy. A medieval record tells us that Dante came to the monastery during his years in exile and was asked by a monk what he was searching for. Dante is said to have replied, "Peace." Longfellow adapted this anecdote into the emotional high point of his sonnet. The historical accuracy of the story is less important than what it represented for Longfellow: it gave Dante a relatable and vulnerable persona.

Calling Dante 'Tuscan' grounds him in his specific place and culture — Florence, in the Tuscany region of Italy. It also establishes a subtle distance, as if Longfellow is speaking to a figure from a different time and place. The term carries a formal, respectful tone, akin to referring to someone by their homeland instead of their first name. It also introduces the theme of exile: Dante was banished from the very Tuscany he’s associated with, adding a layer of quiet irony to the word.

The 'trump of doom' refers to the trumpet blast that, in Christian tradition, marks the Last Judgment — the moment when God holds all souls accountable. Longfellow uses this phrase to suggest that Dante's Divine Comedy bears the same significance of ultimate moral judgment. The poem goes beyond merely describing Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven; it evaluates every soul it encounters. Referring to it as a 'trump of doom' is a profound acknowledgment of its moral weight.

That contrast is essential. Longfellow spends the octave presenting Dante as a figure of almost overwhelming power—fiery tombs, the trumpet of Judgment Day. Then he pulls all of that away in the final lines to reveal the weary, exiled human beneath. The whispered 'Peace' resonates deeply because of everything that precedes it. It's a reminder that the man who crafted the most ambitious poem in Western literature just longed for rest.

Longfellow's connection to Dante was both intellectual and deeply personal. He translated the entire Divine Comedy into English, a project he dedicated years to and approached with renewed fervor after his wife passed away in 1861. Dante's journey through Hell, accompanied by the spirit of his deceased beloved Beatrice, clearly struck a chord with Longfellow's own sorrow. Writing about Dante was, in part, a means of exploring themes of loss, survival, and the quest for peace — which is precisely what this sonnet reflects.