BEING SPECIMENS OF THE LATIN LANGUAGE FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE END OF EDITED BY EDMUND H. SMITH PROFESSOR IN HOBART COLLEGE Boston JOHN ALLYN, PUBLISHER 565 1883 MAIN 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 |