| Show dante famous poet was soldier and a statesman dante italis greatest poet and one of the greatest poets of all times was bom in florence italy in 1265 little is known of his youth but the poet seems to have been well educated studying not only in florence but in paris and perhaps england as well one I 1 incident in his youth made an indelible impression on the soul of of the poet at the age of nine relates leslie hartley in the washing ton star dante met and fell in love lov e with beatrice narl the eight year old daughter ot of a rich citizen his devotion was not returned but dante never forgot beatrice who inspired many of his noble works A soldier and a statesman as well as a poet dante held a high office in florence for a time his political success proved to be his downfall however tor for the faction with which he was soon ousted and he became a wanderer in exile in dantes immortal divine comedy his best known work the poet depicts a dream in which he is conducted by virgil through hell and purgatory and then by beatrice and finally by st bernard through the several heavens where he be holds the triune god shortly after the poets death the republic of florence set apart an annual sum for public lectures to explain the divine comedy |
