Gaville

Description

At Gaville the episode of the transformations of Inferno XXV comes to a close: the man born from the serpent who has accused Buoso is identified as the one whom today still the town of Gaville mourns, for the misfortunes that resulted from it. Ancient tradition identifies him as a member of the Cavalcanti family – the same magnate household to which Guido belonged – killed by the inhabitants of the place; his kinsmen took revenge with ferocious killings, the reason why, according to the Anonimo, that village still mourns him. The name of the character remains uncertain, handed down by the ancients in different forms (Francesco or Guercio, Guelfo for the Ottimo, Puccio for the Bambaglioli), and according to the Anonimo he succeeded Buoso in public office. The closing line, abrupt and in the form of an obscure periphrasis, recalls other interruptions with which Dante cuts short sad infernal sequences and preludes the opening in elevated tone of the following canto, the canto of Ulysses.