Extra Credit Reading: Dante's Inferno
In Canto XVII of Inferno, Dante explicitly attacked then Pope Boniface VIII with this passage: “As the Sicilian bull, that rightfully his cries first echoed who had shaped its mould did so rebellow with the voice of him tormented. That the brazen monster seemed pierced through with pain; thus, while no way they found nor avenue immediate through the flame into its language turned the dismal words: But as soon as they had won their passage forth, up from the point, which vibrating obeyed their motion at the tongue, these sounds were heard: ‘O thou, to whom I now direct my voice, that lately didst exclaim Lombard phase, ‘Depart though; I solicit thee no more.” His anger resounded throughout excerpts of Inferno, dwelling on his hatred of Boniface VIII. Alighieri opposed the reign of Boniface heavily, grudgingly manifesting his fury at being expelled from Florence by him, thinking him unworthy of ruling because of his widespread corruption and apparent incompetency. Dante wrote letters an