Note 52 — Chapter I · THE ORIGIN OF FLORENCE.
Linda Villari translation
The "Libro fiesolano" styles them Africans instead of Franks, una compagnia venuta d'Africa, as elsewhere, instead of Ottone or Otto, it says Ceto, a blunder also found in the MS. that was printed. The blunders probably originated from some ignorant copyist of the legend, and were frequently repeated by later scribes. John of Salisbury ("Polikratikus," vi. 17, edit. Giles), in mentioning the cities built by Brennus, according to history, repeats the same story of Siena contained in the legend. He remarks that all this is not real history, sed celebris traditio est, adding, however, that tradition is confirmed by the fact that in their constitution, beauty and customs, the Siennese resemble "ad gallos et Britones a quibus originem contraxerunt." John of Salisbury's words are also recorded by Benvenuto da Imola in his Commentary on the "Divina Commedia," where he mentions that Dante intended to allude to this resemblance ("Inferno," xxix. 121) in the lines:
"Or fu giammai Gente si vana come la senese? Certo non la francesca si d'assai."
Boccaccio's "Commento" gives the same explanation of these lines.