Beatrice (pronounced Bay-ah-treech-ey) in Italian. Originally from the Latin name Beatrix.
Although the details surrounding the life of Beatrice Portinari (1266-1290) are subject to much dispute, there is little doubt she was a major influence in Dante Alighieri's life, influencing particularly his works of La Vita Nuova and La Divina Commedia.
Her Relationship With Dante Alighieri
Dante first met Beatrice in Florence, his home city, when he was nine years old and she was eight. This meeting occurred roughly around 1274. She was dressed in a soft crimson cloth, and wore a girdle about her waist. Dante instantly fell in love with her, thinking of her as angelic with divine and noble qualities. Yet this was to be one of only two times that Dante and Beatrice came into close contact.
Following their first meeting, Dante was so enthralled by Beatrice that he later wrote in La Vita Nuova: "Here is a deity stronger than I; who coming, shall rule over me." Indeed, she did and Dante frequented parts of Florence, his home city, where he thought he might catch even a glimpse of her. As he did so, he made great efforts to ensure his thoughts of Beatrice remained private, even writing poetry for another lady, so as to use her as a "screen for the truth".
Dante's "stalking" of Beatrice continued for nine years, before the pair finally met again. This meeting occurred in a street of Florence, which she walked along dressed in white and flanked by two older women (as pictured). She turned and greeted him. Her greeting filled him with such joy that he retreated to his room, to think about her. In doing so, he fell asleep, and had a dream which would become the subject of the first sonnet in La Vita Nuova.
In this dream, a mighty figure appeared before him, and spoke to him. Although he could not make out all the figure said, he managed to hear "Ego dominus tuus", which means "I am your Lord." In the figure's arms was Beatrice, sleeping and covered by a crimson cloth. The figure awoke Beatrice, and made her eat Dante's burning heart. An English translation of this event, as described in La Vita Nuova, appears below:
- ...And betaking me to the loneliness of mine own room, I fell to thinking of this most courteous lady, thinking of whom I was overtaken by a pleasant slumber, wherein a marvellous vision was presented to me: for there appeared to be in my room a mist of the colour of fire, within the which I discerned the figure of a Lord of terrible aspect to such as should gaze upon him, but who seemed there-withal to rejoice inwardly that it was a marvel to see. Speaking he said many things, among the which I could understand but few; and of these, this: "I am thy Lord." In his arms it seemed to me that a person was sleeping, covered only with a crimson cloth; upon whom looking very attentively, I knew that it was the Lady of the Salutation, who had deigned the day before to salute me. And he who held her held also in his hand a thing that was burning in flames, and he said to me, "Behold thy heart." But when he had remained with me a little while, I thought that he set himself to awaken her that slept; after the which he made her to eat that thing which flamed in his hand; and she ate as one fearing.
This was the last encounter between the pair, since Beatrice died eight years later at the young age of twenty-five in 1290. Dante, although in love with Beatrice, took a wife (Gemma Donati). Likewise, Beatrice was married to a man called Simon de'Bardi.
Dante knew relatively little about Beatrice, although there is no question that he was in a deep state of love with her.
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