CALIFORMIN PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. IN lecturing on Latin Composition I had often felt a want of some collection of English and Latin passages, to put into the hands of my pupils, that I could refer to for illustration, and some summary of general rules to which I might refer the peculiarities of idiom in any passage that I discussed with them. I have tried to supply this want, and at the same time to provide passages suitable for translation from and into English, selected and arranged as parallels to some extent in subject or in style-in a few cases almost exact translations-and so as to be interesting as well as useful. It is hoped that the small numerals in the extracts (which refer to the Notes on Idioms, and represent my own method of helping my pupils) will rouse the student to observe and classify for himself other peculiarities of diction besides those referred to, and encourage thought more effectually than foot-notes or adaptations; and that generally the book may help the teacher to teach directly and systematically much that students are often left to absorb unconsciously by a process of saturation or infiltration in writing out 'fair copies.' I feel much indebted to Mr Potts' admirable little book (Hints on Latin Composition), and also to Mr E. A. Abbott's on Latin Prose through English Idioms. They satisfy a real want that has long been felt. Both I have made use of, though my line and method of teaching had been adopted before I saw either, and part of the book was in print before I saw the latter. I am also much indebted to Professor J. B. Mayor and other friends for valuable hints and corrections in the proof-sheets. N. b The Second Part will contain a selection of Oratorical, Philosophical and Miscellaneous Passages: and I hope to be able shortly to provide a selection of easy passages for Greek Prose Composition arranged on the same principle. Suggestions and corrections will be gratefully reJ. E. NIXON. ceived KING'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, Jan. 1874. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. IN the Second Edition some corrections and additions have been made in the Notes on Idioms, and some easier pieces-translations, or adaptations of letters (in one or two cases borrowed from Melmoth's Pliny)-added at the end, with a general Index. A few references have also been added to Nägelsbach's Stilistik, a book invaluable for its copious examples, which I have lately compared throughout, and regret that I did not consult it for my first edition. It can and should be used even by those who have little or no knowledge of German, for the purposes of illustration. The numeration of the Notes, the numerical references, the numbering and paging of the Extracts have been left unaltered, to avoid confusion in the case of classes using both editions. It is hoped that the improved side-summaries of the notes will help to make the small numerical references more practically useful. KING'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. May, 1876. Translations of some of the passages have been printed in such a way as to be readily distributable to pupils. Application for these should be made direct to the Author. This Key is now (1892) out of print, but copies may be had of a mixed Selection of Translations from this book and from Part II. (Prose Extracts), similarly printed. Price 2s. 6d. net. CONTENTS OF NOTES ON IDIOMS. Qualifying words and clauses, § 3. Emphasis and antithesis, § 4 (see also § 8). Passives replaced by Actives, § 7. Co-ordinate by subordinate clauses and period, § 9. xi-xvii xvii-xx. |