THE design of this book, and an outline of its contents, are set forth in the Introductory Chapter, and need not be further spoken of in this place. The subject has hitherto received scant attention from competent English scholars. This book is, therefore, based mainly on the researches of German philologists, notably on the works of Förstemann, Zeuss, Diefenbach, Diez, Pott, Leo, Glück, Worsaae, and Buttmann. The works of Kemble, Guest, Hartshorne, Ferguson, Trench, Edmunds, Latham, Donaldson, and other English writers, have, however, been freely used as occasion served. In previous Editions, all such literary obligations were acknowledged in the foot-notes. These notes it has no longer seemed needful to retain, but at the close of nearly every chapter a brief general reference to authorities has been inserted as an aid to students who may desire to work out for themselves, in greater detail, any special line of investigation. The Appendices, and other literary scaffolding, have likewise been removed, and the reader is now presented with results, apart from methods of research. |