Part II has been entirely re-written. Besides largely increasing the number of the exercises, I have added explanations of the various forms of the Compound Sentence, such as I have myself found to be necessary in teaching to a class the principles of Latin Prose. In doing this, I have confined my attention to leading principles, and have sought to avoid the mistake, for teaching purposes, which seems to me to attach to all Manuals of Latin Prose, viz.-that they are too complete. In such books, prominence is necessarily given to exceptions and refinements; but these only perplex the learner's mind, if they be presented before he is in a condition to receive them. Grammatical rules are hard, and are learnt painfully; it is therefore of the utmost importance that the learner's attention should be concentrated on what is essential and fundamental. It is generally more easy to acquire a language than to comprehend the Grammar or the Manual which explains it: and it has been well remarked by Mr. Mark Twain in his study on the German language, that its difficulties are not lightened by a Grammar which contains three pages of exceptions to three lines of rules. It is necessary that complete manuals should exist, for purposes of reference; but a practical teacher will neglect exceptions until he has impressed the principle of the main rule, clearly and emphatically, upon his pupil's mind; and in nine cases out of ten, a knowledge of the rule and of the principle on which it depends, carries with it a knowledge of the exception also. The Introduction to Parts III and IV contains such general observations on Style, Order, and Phraseology as it seems to me possible to formulate apart from particular examples; the rest must be done by individual explanation with the pupil. For an admirable example of the mode in which such explanation should be given, I may refer to the 'Specimen Lecture on Latin Prose Composition' in Bradley's 'Aids to Latin Prose,' p. 147. The number of Exercises included in Parts III and IV has been largely increased; they have been classified according to their difficulty and the character of their contents. My thanks are due to Professor Sellar and Professor E. A. Sonnenschein for having suggested some excellent passages. GLASGOW UNIVERSITY, January 1, 1885. GEORGE G. RAMSAY. b CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION TO PARTS III AND IV PART III. SIMPLE PASSAGES FOR TRANSLATION INTO PART IV. MORE DIFFICULT PASSAGES FOR TRANSLATION INTO LATIN PROSE, ARRANGED AS FOLLOWS:- PAGE |