Advanced Manual of Latin Prose Composition

of Latin Prose. The capacity to do so depends too largely upon the capacity 'Lateinisch zu denken'; and a Latin mode of thought is the result of a saturation with Latin authors, which, save in cases of exceptional aptitude, is the outcome of wide and careful reading.

In Parts I. and II. as much use as possible is made of the Notes,' and reference is constantly being made to them; but it is as much with the intention of aiding learners in extracting more advantage from their reading that they have been added. It is not often that the peculiarities of Latin style are carefully and systematically pointed out by the master; yet the want of this attention must retard the process of familiarisation with them. In order that the learner may fully acquaint himself with them, and derive the greatest profit from the 'Notes on Style,' they should be employed in conjunction with the reading-book. An instance of how this may be done is given in the Appendix, where two pieces have been supplied with references. Either the 'Notes' may be brought in to each Latin construing lesson, and the sections concerned be constantly consulted, or a passage may be set as an exercise to be supplied with the proper references by the class out of school. In any case, it is indispensable that the teacher should himself be thoroughly familiar with the contents of the various sections.

The editor has given no examples in extenso, such as are to be found in one or two other manuals, of the method of teaching Latin Prose Composition viva voce. This is not because he does not attach the greatest importance to the method. It is indeed one which he has regularly adopted

himself. But the pièces in Part I. will nearly all be found so fully facilitated as to suggest the lines which such teaching may follow, while leaving much latitude to the teacher; and it may be found useful, with a class which is too advanced to have these proses set them to do, to run them over rapidly viva voce, or to give them as pieces to be brought up as a prepared lesson. In all cases, the editor cannot too strongly disclaim any intention of binding either master or pupil down to the particular method of translation suggested, should any better version, as is likely enough to happen, present itself.

All the extracts have been made from papers set in scholarship examinations at Marlborough or elsewhere, or from the original authors. Here and there small alterations and omissions have been made in the latter case, but substantially the pieces stand as they were written. It is hoped that none have been inserted which appear in other collections. The editor has been at pains to avoid those he has recognised; but in ransacking the various writers he has so often happened upon old acquaintances that he still fears some may have been inadvertently inserted. The passages in most writers suitable for the purpose are so surprisingly few that it is likely enough that a passage which has recommended itself to him has been approved of by some of the many who have been before him in the search.

The division into 'Narrative,' 'Oratory,' 'Dissertation,' 'Correspondence,' Characterisation,' has been made as of obvious convenience; but the dividing lines cannot be very precisely drawn. 'Narrative' often approximates to

'Dissertation,' and how small the difference is between the latter and the more formal letter is manifest, for instance, in Cicero's letter to Quintus on provincial administration. It will be noticed that the number of oratorical pieces is unusually large; but it is the speeches of Cicero that are mostly read in schools, and the style of them is far more easily caught than that of his philosophical writings.

The book, on the face of it, lays no claim to originality, unless it be in scope and arrangement; but it may be as well to acknowledge fully indebtedness to the various Grammars, especially those of Roby, Allen and Greenough, and Postgate; and to Nägelsbach, Heinichen, and Berger for the section on 'Style.'

The rules of Syntax and Notes on Style have had the advantage of revision by Mr. H. A. Strong, Professor of Latin in University College, Liverpool, for whose kindly aid I am glad to express my gratitude; and the whole of the proofs were submitted to, and carefully revised by, the Rev. Bertram Pollock, Headmaster-designate of Wellington College. A large part of whatever freedom from fault the book possesses is due to his care and vigilance.

Libri