Again, IV 7, he attributes the Florentine dissensions to both the abovementioned causes. ↩

Villani, IV 31, tells the story of certain columns of porphyry given by the Pisans to the Florentines for guarding their city while the Pisan army had gone to the conquest of Majorca. The columns were cracked by fire, but being covered with crimson cloth, the Florentines did not perceive it. Boccaccio repeats the story with variations, but does not think it a sufficient reason for calling the Florentines blind, and confesses that he does not know what reason there can be for so calling them. ↩

The “other text” is the prediction of his banishment. Canto X 81, and the Lady is Beatrice. ↩