Toynbee "Argenti, Filippo"
one of the Cavicciuli branch of the Adimari family of Florence, placed by D. among the Wrathful in Circle V of Hell, [Inf. viii. 61]; un pien di fango, [Inf. viii. 32]; persona orgogliosa, [Inf. viii. 46]; il fiorentino spirito bizzarro, [Inf. viii. 62]. [Iracondi.] As D. and Virgil are being ferried across the marsh of Styx, a form covered with mud rises up in front of them and asks D. who he is that comes alive into Hell, [Inf. viii. 31-33]; D. replies that he has not come to remain, and inquires in turn who the other is ([Inf. viii. 34-35]); the figure gives an evasive reply, whereupon D., recognizing that it is Filippo Argenti, curses him ([Inf. viii. 36-39]); F. A. then makes as though to seize the boat, but is thrust off by V. ([Inf. viii. 40-42]), who commends D. and describes the overbearing character of F. A. ([Inf. viii. 43-48]); D. expresses a desire to see the latter ducked in the marsh ([Inf. viii. 52-54]); V. approves his wish, which is shortly after gratified, F. A. being attacked by his companions, who call out his name ([Inf. viii. 55-61]); in fury he rends himself with his teeth, and D. hears no more of him ([Inf. viii. 62-65]).

The old commentators say that Filippo got his name Argenti from the fact that on one occasion he had his horse shod with silver. They all agree in saying that he had a very savage temper. Boccaccio says:

Fu questo Filippo Argenti . . . de' Caviciiuli, cavaliere ricchissimo, tanto che esso alcuna volta fece il cavallo, il quale usava di cavalcare, ferrare d'ariento, e da questo trasse il soprannome. Fu uomo di persona grande, bruno e nerboruto e di maravigliosa forza, e più che alcuno altro, iracundo, eziandio per qualunque menoma cagione.

In the {Decameron ix. 8} is a characteristic story of how Filippo fell foul of a certain Biondello, who at the instigation of Ciacco had ventured to trifle with him:

. . . .messer Filippo Argenti, uom grande e nerboruto e forte, sdegnoso, iracondo e bizzarro più che altro . . . presolo per li capelli, e stracciatagli la cuffia in capo e gittato il cappuccio per terra e dandogli tuttavia forte, diceva: Traditore . . . Paioti io fanciullo da dovere essere uccellato? E così dicendo, con le pugna le quali aveva che parevan di ferro, tutto il viso gli ruppe, nè gli lasciò in capo capello che ben gli volesse, et convoltolo per lo fango, tutti i panni indosso gli stracciò. . . .Alla fine, avendol messer Filippo ben battuto ed essendogli molti dintorno, alla maggior fatica del mondo gliele trasser di mano così rabbuffato e malconcio come era.

Benvenuto, who copies the above story without acknowledgement, tells another of how Filippo had a horse, which he called 'the Florentine people's horse', because he placed it at the disposal of the first comer who should ask for it and of how he used to amuse himself by jeering at the disappointment of those who came when the horse had already been requisitioned. According to Benvenuto this was the horse which was on occasion shod with silver.

According to Boccaccio's story ({Decameron, ix. 8}), Filippo was D.'s contemporary, living in the time of Messer Vieri de' Cerchi.

©Oxford University Press 1968. From A Dictionary of Proper Names and Notable Matters in the Works of Dante by Paget Toynbee (1968) by permission of Oxford University Press