King Arthur's Round Table—An “Academic Club” in Thirteenth-Century Tuscany

Abstract

In an impetuous controversy of the kind which was customary between professors and schoolmasters of Dante's age, one Master Mino da Colle di Val d'Elsa, a Tuscan compatriot of Dante's, concludes his answer to a challenging letter by a colleague with the following: “Besides there is one thing which I should not fail to tell you: although I tolerate anything from your bad presumption as far as my person is concerned I would not bear anything said about the Round Table ruled by the magnificent King and consisting of honorable Knights. And since you had these words you should have made them ashes to your mouth [that is: regret them?] so that this most precious Table might not have been terribly offended. From now on, please, refrain from mentioning it.”