Commentary Inf X 27

Against the more usual understanding, that Farinata's 'forse' (perhaps) reveals regret at his harshness against his fellow citizens at the battle of Montaperti, consider the judgment of Cassell (Cass.1984.1, p. 19): Farinata displays 'the false modesty of gloating understatement.' See Kleinhenz (Klei.1990.2) for a possible source of Farinata's statement in a prophet in the Old Testament, see Micah 6:3: 'Popule meus, quid feci tibi? Aut quid molestus fui tibi?' (O my people, what have I done to thee? and wherein have I wearied thee?). But for a still earlier discussion of this source by A. Ronconi (Ronc.1964.1), p. 28, see Fosca (DDP Fosca.Inf.X.22-27).