The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri. With a Translation by
Courtney Langdon. Vol. I., Inferno. (H. Milford. 10s. ed. net.)— Mr. Langdon, an American scholar who was, he tells us, born and educated in Italy, has produced the first part of an interesting translation in blank verse of The Divine Comedy, with the Italian text facing the English. A very full " interpretative analysis " pre- cedes the text ; a volume of commentary is to follow the three volumes containing the poem. Mr. Langdon is unquestionably right in urging that English blank verse is the best substitute for Italian terra lima, despite the gallant efforts of Dean Plumptre and others to render Dante in Dante's own metre, and his rendering, if not inspired, is pleasant and competent. We may cite a few lines
from the passage about those " who lived with neither infamy nor praise " :— " When some I'd recognized, I saw and knew the shade of him who through his cowardice the great Refusal made. I understood immediately, and was assured that this the band of cowards was, who both to God displeasing are, and to His enemies."
Mr. Langdon reminds us that it is uncertain whether it was Pilate or Pope Celestine V. who, in Dante's view, " made the great refusal."
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