Chapter C: 15th May 1833

MY VERY DEAR SIR,

“Non io, se cento bocche avessi e cento
Lingue, con ferrea lena e ferreo petto,”[85]

not if I were to talk for a hundred years with the eloquence of Cicero himself, could I sufficiently thank you for having first mentioned and then sent to me the _Donna Immaginaria_ of Magalotti. Oh what a precious book for proving to the over-brim my assumption!...

In these recent days I have made some most important discoveries in the _Convito_: of these I will give you a hint, but only a hint, as the thing would be lengthy to expound. Being persuaded that the _Convito_ is the exposition, in the sect-language, of the _Commedia_ and its secrets, I, observing that Dante dwells so much upon explaining the cosmographical construction of heaven and earth, and confident that he must be speaking of his poem, have been minded to follow the track which he indicates; and I have found (_mirabile dictu!_) that all corresponds to the poem. Begin reading at p. 153 (Zatta’s edition), here at the end; “This heaven turns round this centre continually,” etc.; all that he says--verily all--expounds the arcane structure of his poetic machinery, and discloses its secret device....

Your much obliged
G. ROSSETTI.