NOTES
Cino da Pistoia (page 108). Born at Pistoia; educated at Bologna, where he met Selvaggia, daughter (probably) of Filippo Vergiolesi. Shared the exile of the parte Nera in 1301. Returned to Pistoia when the Blacks regained power and held office in the city. Legal adviser to Louis of Savoy in Rome 1310; Laureate of the University of Bologna 1314. Lectured in Siena, Florence, and Perugia, and went to Naples on the invitation of King Robert; died at Pistoia. An intimate friend of Dante. He wrote many legal works; his poems were nearly all written in his youth. [Rime di Messer Cino da Pistoia, S. Ciampi (Pistoia, 1826); Vita e opere giuridiche di C. da P., Chiappelli (Pistoia, 1881).]
61. Avvegna che... ii. 10. come avea l'angel... The reference is to Dante's Donne che avete intelletto d'amore.
62. Io fui. 8. conte, fair.
Francesco Petrarca (page 114). Born at Arezzo. His father, Ser Petracco, was exiled from Florence with the White Guelfs in 1302. Passed the first seven years of his life at Incisa in Valdarno; was at Pisa during 1310 and went to Avignon in 1311. Studied at Carpentras, Montpellier, and Bologna. Returned to Avignon in 1325 and took the lesser orders. Studied assiduously. Saw Laura for the first time in the church of St. Clara, April 1327. Her identity is still doubtful; probably she was the wife of Hugo de Sade. In the years that followed this meeting Petrarch travelled in Belgium and Switzerland. Entered the service of Cardinal Giovanni Colonna c. 1331; travelled in France, Germany, and Italy; was in Rome in 1337. In the same year he retired from Avignon to Vaucluse. In 1340 was offered the laureate's crown of the University of Paris and the Roman senate; accepted the latter, and was crowned on the Capitol, Easter Day, 1341. Visited Pisa and Parma; went to Naples in 1343 to guard the interests of the Church for Clement VI; met
