v. 1. The fell monster.] Fraud.
v. 53. A pouch.] A purse, whereon the armorial bearings of each were emblazoned. According to Landino, our poet implies that the usurer can pretend to no other honour, than such as he derives from his purse and his family.
v. 57. A yellow purse.] The arms of the Gianfigliazzi of Florence.
v. 60. Another.] Those of the Ubbriachi, another Florentine family of high distinction.
v. 62. A fat and azure swine.] The arms of the Scrovigni a noble family of Padua.
v. 66. Vitaliano.] Vitaliano del Dente, a Paduan.
v. 69. That noble knight.] Giovanni Bujamonti, a Florentine usurer, the most infamous of his time.
CANTO XVIII
v. 28. With us beyond.] Beyond the middle point they tended the same way with us, but their pace was quicker than ours.
v. 29. E’en thus the Romans.] In the year 1300, Pope Boniface VIII., to remedy the inconvenience occasioned by the press of people who were passing over the bridge of St. Angelo during the time of the Jubilee, caused it to be divided length wise by a partition, and ordered, that all those who were going to St. Peter’s should keep one side, and those returning the other.