Commentary Purg XXIV 49-51

Having recognized Dante earlier ([Purg XXIV 35-36]), Bonagiunta now presses him about the nature of his poetry.  Is he the poet who drew forth from within himself the new poems that began with the canzone 'Ladies that have intelligence of love'?  This is the first long poem of the three that help to give structure to the Vita nuova, announcing the beginning of its second stage, in which Dante chooses to give over the style of 'complaint,' borrowed from Cavalcanti, in order to turn to the style of praise, with its debt to Guinizzelli.  Dante composed this poem around 1289.  From this remark, we learn at least one important thing.  Whatever the determining features of Dante's new poetry, it was different -- at least according to him, using Bonagiunta as his mouthpiece -- from all poetry written before it, including Dante's own.  This precision evades many who discuss the problem, who continue to allow poems written by Dante and by other poets before Donne ch'avete to share its status.  It seems clear that Dante's absolute and precise purpose is to rewrite the history of Italian lyric, including that of his own poems, so that it fits his current program.