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Title: Move Along...
Review: This is a translation that was doomed from the start. Since it is impossible to translate the rhyme scheme and meter of the poem into English; we must simply be content with a true translation, or learn Italian. Ciardi makes a valiant attempt, but it is futile. In fact he makes a fairly straightforward text almost impossible to understand. He also savages the text in order to fit the words into the meter and rhyme. Although in some ways I prefer this to the cleaner translations (since it DOES have the true feel of Dante about it), I am afraid I cannot recommend it; especially not to a beginner. Stick with Allen Mandelbaum (though Ciardi's glosses are more comprehensive and elaborate)
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