How to make available to the contemporary reader all the beauty of thought, language and imagery of The Divine Comedy has been the primary consideration of the editors of the Modern Library in issuing this translated version of Dante's masterpiece, complete and unabridged. After careful consideration of all the extant English translations and after consultation with the foremost university authorities, the Carlyle-Wicksteed rendering was chosen. It gives the entire scope, substance and spirit of The Divine Comedy to those numberless readers who cannot cope with the original.