saw that afternoon in the
Place of the Holy Felicity. In front of the house of Messer Folco
Portinari, that seemed to me more grim and solemn than ever that day,
were ranged a number of the soldiers of the authorities of the city,
that had evidently been set there to protect Messer Folco's house from
attack, and that were far too few for the purpose, considering who was
the assailant and what his powers of aggression. For the assailant was
Messer Simone dei Bardi, that strode a big horse and was girt with a big
sword, and looked for all the world like the painted giant of a puppet
play. Behind Messer Simone was massed a mighty following, that took up
much of the space in the square and flowed off into the other streets
adjacent, which his men held, that no assistance might be sent to the
soldiers of the authorities. It was not these soldiers, indeed, that
stayed Messer Simone from his purpose of forcing an entrance to the
Portinari palace, but the presence of other elements in the struggle
that was to be striven that day.

One of these elements was represented, to my wonder and delight, by my
dear Dante, who stood on the steps of the Portinari palace with a great
sword in his hand. So standing, he looked like some guardian angel of
the place, appointed to protect it from desecration. His face was very
calm, and he kept his gaze ever fixed most steadily upon Simone of the
Bardi, and he seemed eager for the conflict that must surely be. Below
him were gathered many of his friends, many of the Reds, many of the
fellowship of the Company of Death, that had fought and beaten the
Aretines but yesterday, and among these, of course, and of course in the
foremost place, was Messer Guido Cavalcanti. But though the friends of
Dante were many, they were but few in comparison with the numbers that
were led by Simone dei Bardi, and Simone could have swept his enemies
away from the threshold of the Portinari palace were it not for the
existence of a further element in the struggle. That element was
represented by a multitude of armed men on horseback that were ranged
in front of the palace in manifest antagonism to Messer Simone and his
supporters. Over the helms of these horsemen floated the Dragon-flag
that I now knew so well, and at their head, mounted on a great gray
horse that he held well reined in, Messer Griffo of the Claw, that made
a fine opposition to Messer Simone, both in bulk and bearing.

By the side of Messer Griffo,