↩

“The filthiness of some passages,” exclaims Landor, Pentameron , p. 15, “would disgrace the drunkenest horse-dealer; and the names of such criminals are recorded by the poet, as would be forgotten by the hangman in six months.” ↩

The Third Bolgia is devoted to the Simoniacs, so called from Simon Magus, the Sorcerer mentioned in Acts 8:9, 18. See note 2050 .

Brunetto Latini touches lightly upon them in the Tesoretto , XXI 259, on the account of their high ecclesiastical dignity. His pupil is less reverential in the particular.