PREFACE. THE following compilation consists of specimens of Early Latin, and of selections from the writings of Latin authors from Livius Andronicus to Apuleius (250 B. C.-160 A.D.), arranged in chronological order. The attempt has been made not only to furnish materials for tracing the history of the Latin language through the periods of its growth, maturity, and decay, but also to exhibit the individual characteristics of the several writers, so far as this can be accomplished by detached passages, necessarily limited in number and length. It is believed that the book will prove useful in connection with instruction in the history of Latin literature, either by lectures or text-book; for it is doubtful whether this study can be made interesting or really profitable, unless students are brought to have some acquaintance with the writings of authors discussed, in the original. As a rule, few college students know anything at first hand of any Latin writers beyond those whose works are read at length in the usual preparatory and college courses. It is also believed that the work will be found of practical use as a manual of exercises for sight-translation. The Editor has not intended, by the position given to certain selections, as, for example, the inscription on the Columna Rostrata, - to pass upon the mooted questions in reference to the actual date to which the form in which they are now known is to be assigned. The ancient formulas from Livy have been placed where the intrinsic evidence of their language would seem to require, namely, about the time of Ennius and Cato. The formula of decreeing a Ver Sacrum is probably in the form observed in 217 B. C. The labor of preparing this compilation has been greatly lessened by a free use of the materials furnished by such works as Ribbeck's Scenicae Romanorum Poesis Fragmenta, Peter's Historicorum Romanorum Relliquiae, Wordsworth's Fragments and Specimens of Early Latin, and, especially, Cruttwell's Specimens of Roman Literature. Indeed, the present work may be said to be based in great part upon that last mentioned, a large proportion of the passages, with their explanatory headings, having been taken from it. This has been accompanied, however, with a careful revision of the text, and with an entire change in the system of arrangement; the chronological arrangement by authors adopted in the present work having been subordinated by Cruttwell to an arrangement according to subjects. Words and letters introduced to supply lacunæ in the inscriptions and other specimens of Early Latin are indicated by italics. Brackets as a rule denote conjectural readings. In a few instances they surround questionable words which there is reason to believe have found their way into the text without warrant, or through mistake. Of bracketed words requiring special explanation, Brutus, p. 55, is substituted for Tullius, the word found in the passage as given by Cicero, on Cicero's own authority that Tullius was used instead of the original Brutus out of compliment to himself; and bonos, p. 94, is substituted for tales, to restore the connection broken by the omission, for the sake of condensation, of The Table of Contents furnishes a chronological list GENEVA, NEW YORK, April, 1882. |