Commentary Purg VII 95-96

Rudolph, had he served as he ought, might have spared Italy the divisions that occurred before 1291, culminating in the battle of Campaldino (1289), when Guelph supremacy solidified papal influence in Italian politics for a long time to come.  The 'wounds that have brought Italy to death' are most probably the ensuing disasters wrought by Boniface's (and then Clement's) political activities.  Is Italy no longer capable of resuscitation?  Will another leader's efforts be too late or might they come in the nick of time?  The text is again problematic (see C.Purg.VI.100-102), first as to whether or not Henry VII is referred to, second as to the precise meaning of tardi, which can mean, in this context, either 'at the last moment' or 'too late to succeed.'  If, as many believe, this passage (1) was written in 1308-9 (along with [Purg VI 97-102]), (2) refers to Henry VII, (3) uses tardi to mean 'at the last moment,' everything falls into place: Dante, not yet convinced that Henry will be the vigorous Italophile that he becomes in 1310, only dubiously puts forward the notion that Henry's election will have positive result.  One proposing such an interpretation must admit that Dante, with only minor touches, could have revised both these passages in order to accommodate his post-1310 view of Henry.  On the other hand, both at least allow the possibility of a more positive reading, and thus did not absolutely require such revision.  And Dante's enthusiasm would only last for a short while, in any case.  By September 1313, in the wake of the death of Henry, the disheartened reading, found in Benvenuto's commentary to these passages in Purgatorio VI and VII and in [Par XXX 133-138], would have become appropriate.