Villani's Chronicle

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Transcriber's note:

This e-book contains numerous sidenotes. All sidenotes have been moved to the beginning of the paragraph in which they appear. Duplicate date sidenotes within a section have been removed.

Phonetic symbols are represented by [)a] (short a) and [=a] (long a). The "because" symbol (an inverted triangle of 3 dots) is represented by [V].

The last four lines on page 22 in the edition used to prepare this e-book were erroneously duplicated from another page. For details, see the note at the end of this e-book.

Inconsistent spellings of proper nouns have been retained as they appear in the original, except where clearly incorrect.

VILLANI'S CHRONICLE

Being Selections from the First Nine Books of the Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni Villani

Translated by Rose E. Selfe

and

Edited by Philip H. Wicksteed M.A.

London Archibald Constable & Co. Ltd. 1906

SECOND EDITION

Carefully Revised

Ditemi dell' ovil di San Giovanni Quanto era allora, e chi eran le genti Tra esso degne di piu alti scanni

[Illustration]

PREFATORY NOTE

The Editor is responsible for the selection of the passages translated, and for the Introduction. He has also compared the translation with the original text, has satisfied himself of its general accuracy, and has made numerous suggestions.

The Translator is responsible for the fidelity of the translation in detail, and for its general tone and style. She has also drawn up the Indexes, and seen the work through the press.

For the selection of marginal references to the works of Dante the Editor and Translator are jointly responsible.

Both Translator and Editor desire to express their obligations to Mr. A.J. Butler, who has given them his ungrudging assistance in every difficulty, and whose learning and judgment have been invaluable.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION xxv

BOOK I.

_This book is called the New Chronicle, in which many past things are treated of, and especially the root and origins of the city of Florence; then all the changes through which it has passed and shall pass in the course of time: begun to be compiled in the year of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, 1300. Here begins the preface and the First Book._

Sec. 1. 1

Sec. 2.--How through the confusion of the Tower of Babel the world began to be inhabited 2

Sec. 5.--Of the third part of the world called Europe, and its boundaries 4

Sec. 7.--How King Atlas first built the city of Fiesole 4

Sec. 8.--How Atlas had three sons, Italus and Dardanus and Sicanus 6

Sec. 9.--How Italus and Dardanus came to agree which should succeed to the city of Fiesole and the kingdom of Italy 7

Sec. 10.--How Dardanus came to Phrygia and built the city of Dardania, which was afterwards the great Troy 8

Sec. 11.--How Dardanus had a son which was named Tritamus, which was the father of Trojus, after whose name the city of Troy was so called 8

Sec. 17.--How Antenor and the young Priam, having departed from Troy, built the city of Venice, and that of Padua 9

Sec. 21.--How Aeneas departed from Troy and came to Carthage in Africa 10

Sec. 22.--How Aeneas came into Italy 13

Sec. 23.--How the King Latinus ruled over Italy, and how Aeneas had his daughter to wife, and all his kingdom 14

Sec. 29.--How Rome was ruled for a long time by the government of the consuls and senators, until Julius Caesar became Emperor 16