fact and the rule or the phrase which registers that fact, I have here explained (so far as the matter at present really admits of explanation) why Latin words mean this or that, as well as set down what their actual meaning is. It is essential, therefore, to the profitable use of this book that the pupil should thoroughly.' get up' the whole vocabulary as he goes on, and not merely pick out the particular words he requires for translating each separate sentence. The pupil will also find that he can learn the Vocabulary with greater ease and much more profit if he begins by carefully reading through the Introduction, in which I have fully explained both the principles and the plan on which the Vocabulary is drawn up. MORCHARD BISHOP: INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. ON ROOTS, AND DIFFERENCE OF TYPE. 1. Two objects have been kept steadily in view in this NEW VIRGIL READER; one is to render the study of Latin easier to the English pupil by taking every opportunity of tracing its connexion with his own language and every-day speech, and thus making it more interesting to him. 2. The second object (which, as will afterwards be shown, has a very close connexion with the first), is to lay a deep and sure foundation for all his future studies in language by connecting (as far as possible) every Latin word that occurs in it with its root, and with the other commonly-used Latin derivatives of that root, and more especially those which are found in Virgil. 3. In this manner, groups of words are formed which can easily be committed to memory for future use, because they have a real and necessary connexion with each other, since they all spring more or less directly from the same root; and therefore each word of every group naturally throws light upon the meaning of all the other words contained in it. And the practical working of the plan here followed may be judged of by the fact that in the later extracts there is not upon the average so much as one word in a line which requires to be entered afresh in the Vocabulary; for the rest have already been explained in connection with some word related to them in one of the earlier passages. And, if the book had been carried further, new words, that is to say, words from entirely fresh roots, would have grown still scarcer, until they had almost entirely disappeared. 4. My great hope, however, is that by this plan of constant recurrence to roots, Etymology, which is the 'true history of words,' will also be found to be the key to their true meaning; for any knowledge of 'mere derivation of words,' which falls short of this one great end, is far from repaying time and trouble spent in obtaining it; and is, in fact, simply worthless. 5. It must be observed that these roots, which form the basis of the system of learning here advocated, are scarcely ever found in Latin as complete words, but are usually met with either as first syllables or else as parts of such first syllables, in what are commonly called simple or primitive Latin words. Or, to express the same thing in a different way, almost every Latin word, however simple it may look, is in reality made up of two perfectly distinct elements, namely, first, its root, and after that, one or more suffixes or additions. 6. Accordingly, the word placed at the head of each group in the Vocabulary is that in which the assumed root is found in the simplest form, or with the fewest suffixes; and which may therefore fairly be considered as the original form in which that particular root first made its appearance in the Latin language. I have purposely abstained from any discussion of the probable origin of the primary roots themselves. I will only say, that I do not for my own part believe that they are imitative, except in a few instances, some of which have been noted in the Vocabulary; that is to say, I hold words to be rather a result of man's reasoning powers than a mere echo of impressions made upon his senses. 7. When, however, a (so-called) simple Latin word had thus been formed by the addition of a suffix to a primary root, this whole word (or the greater part of it) was in its turn treated as a new root; and so another, and then another new word was formed, either springing direct from that root, or else the one springing from the other in continued succession; just as among the members of one family each son may give rise to one or many distinct lines of descendants. 8. Thus, so long as Latin was a living language it was an |
