Letter to a Florentine friend by Dante Alighieri. Short summary

5 seconds

Dante thanks the recipient of his letter for sincerely wishing him to return to his native Florence. Through the letters of his Florentine friend, Alighieri learns of the exiles’ forgiveness.

1 minute

Dante expresses his gratitude to the addressee of his own letter, as the Florentine friend sincerely wishes the Italian poet to return to his native Florence. Thanks to the letters written by the comrade Alighieri, the latter learned of a decree that had recently been put into print.

According to this normative act, the natives previously expelled from Florence could return, subject to several conditions, namely the payment of a certain sum of money and the expression of consent to participate in the infamous ceremony. The Italian poet had been in exile for nearly 15 years, and felt that he did not deserve such treatment since he had not committed any criminal acts. He informs the addressee that this way of returning to Florence does not suit him categorically.

Dante adds that if kind people can find another route for him, he will gladly take it. Otherwise, according to Alighieri, he can be happy elsewhere.