Commentary Par XX 13-15

The poet apostrophizes the love emanating from these spirits, wreathed in 'smiles': How ardent did this love appear in those 'pipes' (or in those 'flames' [there is much debate in the commentaries over this choice]) that were so full of holy thoughts!  As Bosco/Reggio (DDP Bosco.Par.XX.14) point out, the word flaillo is an absolute hapax, meaning that this is its unique appearance, not only in the Commedia, not only in all the works of Dante, but in the history of the Italian language.  In their opinion, there is no way to decide between the two possible meanings, 'flute' (see French flavel) or 'flame' (from O Fr. flael), since both find resonance in the surrounding context.  However, Benvenuto states unambiguously that the reference is to sound.  And his opinion is given further weight by the musical reference of the simile in [Par XX 22-27].  For an English response in this vein, see Tozer (DDP Tozer.Par.XX.13-14): 'flailli: "flutes," i.e. melodious voices.  This word, which is not found elsewhere, is derived from Lat. flare, flatus, through the Low Lat. flauta, 'flute,' from which came the diminutives flautol, flaujol in Provençal, and flajol in O. Fr., to which flaillo closely approximates; O. Fr. flajol, flageolet is a further diminutive.'  Others (notably, according to Petrocchi [Petr.1967.2, p. 328], Pagliaro [Pagl.1967.1], p. 579]) argue for a derivation, through O. Fr., from Lat. flacellum, 'torch.'  Forced to chose (and one is), this reader has opted for the former, since it seems clear that song is the pre-eminent element here.  However, for an attempt to undermine the view of Parodi (Paro.1957.1), pp. 273, 394, who opts for OF flavel (flute), see Paratore (Para.1968.2), pp. 691-92n.  And, for a more recent opposing argument, see Camerino (Came.1995.1), pp. 50-51.

Aversano (Aver.2000.2), p. 89, because the flute is not a 'noble' instrument, as is plain from its association with Marsyas (but see C.Par.I.20-21), denies that the word is likely to be flailli, preferring flavilli (from the Latin flavus, which means, he says, 'piece of gold'); however, this is a variant reading unknown in the textual history of the verse.