“The eighth book of the Tesoro of Brunetto Latini is headed,

Qui comincia la Rettorica che c’ insegna a ben parlare, e di governare città e popoli

. In this art Dante was duly instructed by his loving master, and became the most able orator of his era in Italy. Giov. Villani speaks of him as

retorico perfetto tanto in dittare e versificare come in aringhiera parlare