Commentary Inf X 62-63

One of the most debated passages in the poem. For a recent review, with bibliography, see Hollander (Holl.1992.2), pp. 204-06, 222-23. Following the lead of I. Del Lungo (Dell.1889.1) and G. Gorni (Gorn.1981.1), pp. 134-39, Hollander argues for the shaping influence of a sonnet by Cino da Pistoia ('Qua' son le cose vostre ch'io vi tolgo,' written in answer to a [lost] rather nasty sonnet by Guido attacking him) on the key words in this passage, disdegno and ingegno, words found in Cino's sonnet implying exactly these qualities to Guido in unflattering ways (and now see Pinto [Pint.2001.1], pp. 57-59). If this hypothesis is correct, then those in the debate over the reference of the pronoun cui who believe it refers to Beatrice are strongly supported. (For this opinion see Cherchi [Cher.1970.1], a judgment reiterated in Cher.2001.1, pp. 42-43: 'ad eam quae... non ritenne Guido degno di essere chiamato.') Others believe it refers to Virgil (and still others, a much smaller number, believe it refers to God). It should be noted that our translation is interpretive; the Italian can mean either what we have said it does or else 'whom perhaps your Guido held in scorn,' in which case it would refer to Virgil. The text thus either indicates that Guido at a certain point perhaps scorned the work of Virgil or else withdrew his approval of Dante's love of Beatrice, to whom perhaps Dante is being led, as Virgil has promised him ([Inf I 122-123]).

For an inconclusive but interesting discussion of the force of the past definite of the verb ebbe here, see Singleton (Sing.1962.1).