PREFACE BY THE TRANSLATOR.

Ir will be natural to ask, why this book is offered to the public. The translator knows not how to introduce the reasons, in a better way, than by first allowing the author himself to explain the design and character of the original work. For this purpose, the reader is requested to peruse the following extracts from the Prefaces of ESCHENBURG.

From the Preface to the fifth Edition.-Twenty-seven years ago, I was induced to commence a revision and enlargement of that portion of HEDERICK'S Introduction to the Historical Sciences, which treats of Classical Literature, Mythology and Roman Antiquities. In doing this I expected to aid an esteemed friend, who had been requested by the booksellers to prepare an improved edition of the whole work. But what determined me to the attempt was a conviction, that it was undertaking a work of very useful tendency, and a hope, that by it a want, long felt in elementary instruction, might be supplied. Other duties hindered the seasonable accomplishment of this purpose, and I was led to enlarge the original plan, so as to include the Grecian Antiquities, and what is embraced under the head of Archæology of Literature and Art. Thus it formed a complete Manual, furnishing the most essential aids in reading the classical authors, and with sufficient fulness for all elementary purposes. My work so designed has, therefore, now scarcely a trace in it of the treatise of Hederick.

My aim, in this work, was to furnish both Learners and Teachers with a book, which might at the same time serve as a general introduction to the reading of classical authors, and likewise afford further and constant help in understanding and explaining them. It surely is unnecessary to prove, that a knowledge of Greek and Roman Mythology and Antiquities, and some acquaintance with the Archeology of Literature and Art, and also with the general History and Criticism of the Ancient Authors, are not only useful, but absolutely indispensable, in the pursuit of classical study. And it ap pears to me, that it must greatly facilitate the acquisition of this knowledge, to have the whole range of it brought into one collected system, as it is in this work, and all digested with one common end in view, and reduced as far as far as possible to one uniform method, with a careful selection of what is most essential, and omission of what is comparatively unimportant, and a constant reference to its appropriate use. The Teacher will find presented to him throughout the work occasions and hints for further illustrations and additions; while the Learner has in the book itself what is of indispensable importance, and in such a form, that he may easily re-peruse and review it. The Archeology of Literature and Art had never, previously to the attempt in this work, been exhibited in a form adapted for general instruction. some such acquaintance with the subject as this work may furnish, is of the highest importance to the scholar. It may be expected, that the glance, which he will here obtain of the rich monuments of antiquity, will lead him to seek the pleasure of a more complete and full knowledge, especially of Grecian art. And certainly the classical teacher needs to be in some degree familiar with the objects presented in this field of study, in order to do justice to his pupils.-The View of the Classical Authors was necessarily confined within brief limits. I preferred to arrange them in Departments, instead of following purely chronological order, because I could thereby more conveniently introduce the brief remarks I wished to offer respecting the form, which each Department of writing assumed among the Greeks and Romans. In giving the editions of the classics, and the works helping to ilA

Yet

lustrate them, I confined myself chiefly to such as are most suitable for scholars, and best calculated in my view for their advancement. In describing the authors, only a short and condensed summary could be given, not including a complete enumeration of their works, but merely naming the most important. The sketch of Greek and Roman Mythology is that, which I first drew up for use in my own lectures, and which has been separately printed. Here I have endeavored to separate the circumstances most important for the scholar's notice from those of minor consequence; introducing the historical or traditional part of the fables, without saying much of the theories and speculations employed in solving them; yet presenting hints at explanations, worthy of the scholar's notice. The references to the Metamorphoses of Ovid are added, because I deem it highly useful to connect a reading of these with the study of Mythology.-A new system of Greek and Roman Antiquities might seem, at first view, less needed than the other parts of this work, since there are other systems and compends easily accessible, especially of Roman Antiquities. But it was necessary to the completeness of the MANUAL to include these branches. Nor was this all. I hoped here, as in the rest of my work, to furnish something especially valuable on account of its embracing all that is most essential to the subject, with the exclusion of extraneous and unimportant matter.

Since the last edition of this Manual, there have appeared some performances of a similar kind, in which I thankfully find evidence of the utility of my own work, and am ready to acknowledge their excellence in some particulars. These works might render a new impression of mine superfluous; but the very frequent call for the Manual, the urgent request of the booksellers, and the apprehension of a second counterfeit emission of the work, have persuaded me to prepare this fifth edition. In the emendations and improve. ments I have been guided by the same considerations, which controlled me in the preceding editions. In the additions in the part treating of the classic authors I have received very friendly assistance from Professor SCHEFFLER, of this place.

From the Preface to the Sixth Edition.-In a former preface, the occasion, design, and plan of this Manual have been stated. In each successive edi tion, I have endeavored to make useful improvements; but have throughout adhered to the original design, and confined myself, of course, to substantially the same limits. Although much progress has been made in classical studies in Germany during the last thirty years, and there are now several books of great merit, which may serve as guides and introductions to such studies, yet the demand for another impression of this Manual has compelled me again to take it in hand and to perform the renewed labor of revision. In this labor I must again gratefully mention the assistance kindly rendered me by Professor SCHEFFLER.

But

The 6th edition was the last published during the life of the author. the work has been printed once or twice since his death. The following is taken from the Remarks prefixed to the seventh edition (Berlin, Nov. 1, 1824). -The continued acknowledgement of the great excellence of this Manual of Classical Literature, which is proved by the constant demand for the book, renders it unnecessary to say much by way of preface to a new edition. After the death of Eschenburg, the society of booksellers employed a well qualified editor, who has revised the work and superintended it with great care and fidelity. An examination will show, that in doing this, advantage has been taken of the important results of modern classical researches. It is, therefore, confidently believed, that this work, will still be found one of the most useful of the kind; perhaps the very best Manual, both for the Gymnasia and other Seminaries, and also for private use.

In view of this account of the character, design, and reputation of the original work, it is easy to see the reasons why it should be presented to the scholars of our country. Many instructors have felt the want of a Comprehensive Text-book in the department of Classical Literature and Antiquities. After much inquiry, the translator has been able to find no work, which, on the whole, seemed so well adapted for the object, as Eschenburg's MANUAL.

It will be seen, by a mere glance, that the general design and plan of the work, in its present form, is to exhibit in a condensed but comprehensive summary, what is most essential on all prominent topics belonging to the department of Classical Literature and Antiquities, and at the same time give references to various sources of information, to which the scholar may go, when he wishes to pursue any of the subjects by further investigations. I cannot doubt, that a Manual on this plan, thoroughly executed, would prove one of the greatest aids to the classical student, which it is possible to put into his hands; and I cherish the hope that in the entire want of a book of this sort not only in our country, but also in the English language hitherto, the present attempt to introduce one from abroad will meet with a candid reception; especially as it is one whose value has been so fully attested in the land most of all celebrated for classical attainments.

Here it may be proper to mention, that, some years since, this work was translated into the French. The translator, after some preliminary remarks, says, "from such considerations, I supposed I should render the public a service, by making known in France a series of elementary works universally esteemed and circulated in Germany. I begin with the Manual of Classical Literature by ESCHENBURG. This author is Councillor in the Court of the Duke of Brunswick, and Professor in the public Seminary called the Carolinum. As estimable for his moral character as for the variety of his attainments, known as editor of the posthumous writings of Lessing, and dear to all the celebrated men of the country; living also in the vicinity of one of the richest libraries; he united, along with these advantages, all the light and experience derived from a long series of years devoted to instruction, and that good judgment, admirable but rare, which knows how to avoid the superfluous without omitting the necessary and the useful. I shall not attempt an encomium on the book, of which I here offer a translation; it is sufficient to refer to the public suffrage and decision, by which this Manual has been adopted as the basis of public and private instruction in a major part of the Universities and Colleges in Germany."-Subsequently to the time of this translation, in a Report made to the French Institute respecting the literary labors of the Germans, by Charles Villers, the distinguished author of the Essay on the Reformation of Luther, the Manual of Eschenburg was noticed as a valuable gift to the world.

I feel at liberty also to state, as evincing the value of this work, in the estimation of competent judges, that the present translation was commenced with the warm approbation and encouragement of Prof. STUART of Andover and Prof. ROBINSON now of Boston. In fact, under the advice of these eminent scholars, Mr. Isaac Stuart, Professor of Languages in the University of S. Carolina, had made preparations for translating the same work, and wholly without my knowledge, but had been compelled to renounce the design, just before I consulted their views of the utility and expediency of my attempt. It is likewise worthy of notice here, that, from a conviction of the great value of the Manual and of its fitness to be useful in our country, it had actually been translated, before I entered upon the work, by Mr. Crusé, whose translation of the part pertaining to Roman Authors is introduced into the present publication.

No more needs to be said respecting the design and merits of the original work and its claims to be introduced to the knowledge of American scholars. But something more may be desired respecting the author himself. This desire I am able to gratify, through the friendship of Prof. ROBINSON, whose repeated advice and assistance in the present work I here gratefully acknowledge, and who has furnished the following brief notice of Eschenburg.

PREFACE.

"The name of Eschenburg stands high in Germany, as one of their best writers on taste and the theory of the fine arts, including fine writing. The article [below] is condensed in the Encyclopædia Americana; but I have preferred to translate the original [from the Conversations-Lexicon] as being more full.

John Joachim Eschenburg, Professor in the Carolinum at Brunswick, was born 1743 at Hamburg, and died at Brunswick, 1820. This distinguished scholar and writer received his earliest education in the Johanneum at Hamburg; afterwards in Leipzig, where Ernesti, Gellert, Morus, and Clodius, were his instructors; then under Heyne and Michalis in Göttingen. He then came, through the agency of Jerusalem, as a private tutor, to Brunswick; where he afterwards received the Professorship in the Carolinum, vacated by the death of the poet Zacharia. This post he held during his life. To him Germany is indebted for a nearer acquaintance with many good English writers in the department of Esthetics; e. g., Brown, Webb, Burney, and Hurd, whom he translated and in part accompanied with notes and additions. He published, moreover, at different times in Journals and Magazines, accounts of the most remarkable appearances in English Literature, by means of which a love and taste for the literary treasures of that island and people were greatly promoted among the Germans. His greatest desert, however, lies in his translation of Shakpheare (Zurich, 1775-87, 14 vols.; 1798-1806, 12 vols.). Although not the first in this great undertaking, since Wieland had already begun a similar, yet he has long had the merit of being the most complete; even though so many excellent translations of the great tragic writer have been since begun. Indeed his version of the collected works of this poet is to this moment sought after, although not possessing the charm of metre nor the literal fidelity, which others exhibit. In making his translation, moreover, by means of his literary and social connections, he enjoyed many advantages, which another would with difficulty possess in an equal degree; and his own private library contained, so long ago as 1807, more than 400 volumes in reference to Shakspeare, exclusive of Engravings, &c. Another great benefit, conferred on the public by Eschenburg, was the publication of his Lectures in the Carolinum, his Theorie und Literatur der schönen Wissenschaften, his Lehrbuch der Wissenschaftskunde, and his Handbuch der Classischen Literatur; of the last work a seventh edition was published in 1825. In social intercourse, Eschenburg was exceedingly amiable, and, notwithstanding his occasional satirical remarks, generally beloved. Three years before his death he celebrated his official jubilee or 50th anniversary. He was also Senior of the Cyriacus-foundation, and a knight of the Guelphic order. In the 6th Supplementary Volume of JORDEN's Lexicon deutscher Dichter und Prosaisten, there is a minute catalogue of his works, both original and translated, and also of his editions of other authors of former or recent times."

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It remains for the translator to speak briefly of the principles and method by which he has attempted to execute his task, in preparing the work in its present form; and the following remarks contain all that it seems important for him to say on this point. For the rest, those who use the book must judge.

As to the translation itself, my aim has been throughout to express the author's meaning with strict fidelity; but in doing this I have endeavored to avoid the long periods and involved arrangement of words and clauses, for which the German language is of known celebrity; I have almost uniformly employed shorter sentences, and have sometimes departed very much from the phraseology of the original. The alterations are not many; in some instances I have omitted a clause or sentence, and in a few a whole section or paragraph, without any notice to the reader; in a few cases also I have altered the arrangement of the sections. Otherwise, wherever I have not presented the author entire and unaltered, a distinct intimation of some change by the translator is given to the reader, by one of the marks which will be explained below. - The additions are very considerable; and, whatever may be their pertinency or their value, they certainly have cost some labor. In making them, I have endeavored to keep constantly in mind the grand de