A4M33 1833 PREFACE. MAIN THE want of a useful edition of the Orations of Cicero which are usually read in schools and colleges, has long been felt and acknowledged. The Delphin edition, the only one available to the generality of students, was, perhaps, of all the Delphin classics, the least deserving of the patronage of the learned. The text was corrupt, the annotations were not drawn from the best sources, and the principal difficulties left unnoticed. When to this it is added, that typographical errors had been permitted to accumulate in the successive editions, so as, in many instances, to render the meaning of passages either unintelligible or exceedingly obscure, it will readily be admitted, that a favourable opportunity was afforded for the publication of a new edition, which should at least attempt to supply the deficiencies, and avoid the glaring errors of its predecessors. This task has been attempted in the present publication. The text of Orellius has been adopted; whose elaborate edition of the works of Cicero, published at Zurich, 1826,1830, displays the strictest attention to sound critical principles; avoiding equally an obstinate adherence to ancient but unauthorized readings on the one hand, and reckless innovation on the other. b 450397 The next care of the Editor has been to supply the want of copious explanations of the difficult passages with which these Orations abound. The Editor is aware that some have objected to copiousness of annotation, as tending to prevent research in the student, and have urged the propriety of merely giving references to the proper sources of information; and no doubt such a plan would be highly deserving of adoption, if these sources were always accessible to the student. But as this is not the case, the Editor hopes to be excused for having laboured to make his explanations as full as possible. Another important subsidiary element in the study of Cicero, is the observing the minute but elegant turns of thought with which he abounds; the amazing force and propriety of the expressions, even where his mind would appear to be carried away with the rapid flow of his eloquence. These never fail to strike an examiner, and require that the attention of the student should be directed to them wherever they occur. This, it is hoped, the Editor has not failed to effect. Closely connected with this attention to the niceties of the Author, is the careful observation of the mutual dependence of the various arguments, which, being obviously necessary to a comprehensive view of the whole, has been carefully pointed out. Historical Introductions have been prefixed to the Orations, with analyses of the contents. In these, the Editor has adopted the plan, and, in many instances, the matter, of the argumenta, given by Schütz, in his edition of Cicero. And here, perhaps, the Editor's task should have closed, and all the apparatus of history, antiquities, &c., should be left to be derived from the authors who professedly treat of these subjects; but, aware that very many students are so circumstanced as to be unable to command the perusal of these authors, the Editor felt bound not to omit brief notices of such points of history, antiquities, &c., as occur. Still, however, he would not have it supposed, that these ought to supersede the perusal of the proper treatises, from which alone, masterly views on these subjects can be obtained.With this object, and conceiving that there may be some, quibus arte benigna Et meliore luto finxit præcordia Titan," the Editor has not failed to mark the various references to the works from which his facts and explanations are derived; and he has frequently referred to passages which might confirm or illustrate the view which he has taken; to enable such students as enjoy the requisite facilities, to compare the passages themselves, and form their own opinion. With regard to the sources from which the annotations have been derived, they are so varied, and the alterations which it was found necessary to make, in adapting the matter which they supplied to the design of the work, so great, that the names have been generally omitted, except where it seemed necessary for the Editor, in confirmation of his own opinion, to avail himself of the argumentum ad auctoritatem. He must not, however, omit to state, that many of the notes of Valpy's edition of the select orations of Cicero, anticipating, as they often did, his own views, have been inserted and duly acknowledged. The Editor has only to express his hopes that this Edition will be found useful, as well for collegiate purposes, as also in those schools where the Orations of Cicero form a part of the course of study. With this view, principally, the notes have been written in English rather than in Latin, and various explanations of the less obvious words and phrases inserted for the benefit of the junior class of students. It will be observed, that the Orations against Catiline, |
