Dante's Comedy in English Prose. By Sir Edward Sullivan. Part
I., "Hell." (Elliot Stock.)—Without attempting to criticise this translation on the score of accuracy and fidelity, or to decide the question whether prose or verse is the best medium for representing the poet to an English reader, we may any that this version reads well. It has a dignified flow of well-balanced lan- guage, formed on the model of the authorised version of the Bible. Here is a specimen from Canto tr. :—" We drew near to a lordly castle's base, encircled seven times with towering walls, and warded on every side by a beauteous stream. This we passed across as though it had been solid land. Through seven gates I entered with these sages ; we came into a mead clad with fresh , verdure. People were there with eyes tranquil and fun of majesty, of great authority in their bearing ; they spake but little, with voices full of gentleness. Then we withdrew aside to a place spacious, bright, and lofty, so that in all their numbers they could be seen. And right in front, on the enamelled green, the mighty shades were shown me, at having looked on whom my heart exults within me. I saw Electra with many companions, among whom I recognised both Hector and /Eneas, and Ccesar, clad for fight, with his hawk-like eyes."
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