At the time of which we write—the latter end of the thirteenth
century—there existed between the two principal families in Florence,
(those of Amedi and Donati,) a spirit of bitter malignity and determined
rivalry, which was carried quite to the extent of the quarrels described
by Shakspeare, in “Romeo and Juliet,” between the houses of Capulet and
Montague.
Ambition for supremacy was the origin of the dispute between these noble
families, but political differences had widened the breach. The quarrels
between the Emperor of Germany and the Pope, which followed the
elevation of Gregory VII. to the papal throne—and which divided
Germany, and even Italy into factions, calling themselves Guelphs and
Ghibellines—had extended to Florence, mid the rival families of Donati
and Amedi were not slow to take sides in the dispute; each hoping
thereby to obtain an ascendency over the other. The Donati took part
with the Pope, and called themselves Guelphs; the Amedi sided with the
emperor, and were called Ghibellines; and for generations, the animosity
between these two houses disturbed the peace of the beautiful city of
Florence.
At the period of our narrative a female ranked as the head of the house
of Donati. Left a widow, during the childhood of her only daughter, she
had sustained with masculine energy the pretensions of her family, and
at the same time she had reared with maternal fondness the offspring
left to her sole charge.
The father of young Buondlemonte was a nobleman of the first influence
in Italy. He resided in the upper vale of Arno, and though he supported
the pretensions of the pontiff against those of the emperor, his
feelings were so far from being rancorous, that he maintained an equal
intimacy with the rival houses of Amedi and Donati; the circumstance of
their having served together in the wars of the day alone induced him to
prefer the alliance with the family of Amedi.
It is hardly necessary to observe, after the dialogue in the last
chapter, that the predilections of the youthful noble took a different
direction from the one indicated by the parental judgment. With free
ingress to the bosoms of both families, Buondlemonte experienced no
hesitation in preferring the sweet and gentle Camilla Donati to the
equally beautiful, but haughty and imperious, Francesca Amedi. The
considerate affection, too, of Camilla’s mother was much more attractive
to him than the austere and severe manners which characterized the Amedi
family.
Camilla Donati, young as she then was, was not insensible to the marked
preference shown her by Buondlemonte. ’Tis true he uttered no words of
love, yet she felt that she was beloved by him, and with all the ardor
of her nature she returned his affection.
When he had arrived at the age of seventeen years, Buondlemonte’s father
died. On his death-bed he expressed a wish that his son should travel
for five years, and that the marriage with Francesca Amedi should be
solemnized on his return to Italy. In accordance with this wish
Buondlemonte left his home to acquire his education as a gallant knight
at the polished court of the French king. His parting with his bride
elect was a task of easy performance, but not so his farewell to Camilla
Donati. It was with sad hearts and tearful eyes, and murmured hopes of a
happier meeting that they separated. For five years he had been absent
from his native country. All the scenes through which he had passed, all
the fair ladies he had seen had not weakened the ardor of his first
love. He returned to Florence, urged by the wishes of the Amedi family;
but he came back with the feelings of a criminal stalking to the place
of execution rather than as a bridegroom about to lead a beloved and
blushing bride to the altar.