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PREFACE

THE text and numbering of this edition is, with one or two trifling alterations in punctuation, that of Dindorf, in the Corpus Poetarum (the stereotyped edition of 1865). The editions to which most reference has been made are those of Elmsley', Pflugk, Bothe and Mr Paley. Indebtedness to the three first has in most cases of importance, and to the last, it is believed, in all cases, been acknowledged.

The Critical Commentary does not profess to do more than notice and put into handy shape such of the more important or more instructive variations of text, as the more advanced student should generally be acquainted with. For further details the full critical commentary of Pflugk can be consulted; for an account of the older editions, the Preface of Elmsley; and for an account of the MSS., Pflugk, Prooemium ad finem. The readings of the Aldine edition or of the MSS. are for brevity referred to as "orig."

The Explanatory Notes, it is hoped, will be found sufficiently comprehensive for the more advanced students: but the aim has also been to leave unnoticed no point

1 The minute and yet extensive learning of Elmsley is marvellous. In such labours is the foundation of all our knowledge. But for a loftily contemptuous estimate of them, it amuses one to refer to the late Lord Lytton's Pelham, chapter LXIII, towards the end of the

second paragraph.

2 For beginners this play is well adapted. The dialogue is simple, idiomatic, and spirited; the choruses are fine and not complicated; the difficult passages are but few; and the theme is noble.

which would be likely to present difficulties to those in an earlier stage'.

Of the parallel passages referred to in the notes, the more important have, to save trouble, been quoted at length; the numbering of the lines being in all cases that of the "Corpus." But the careful reader will of course work with his Corpus, as well as grammar and lexicon, by his side.

Passages have only been translated where it seemed that the point to be brought out could be most simply explained by translation. In other cases the student has

been left to do his own work.

The chorus-metres, since the few peculiarities in them have been noticed in the accessible edition of Mr Paley, have been left without comment. A full scheme or map of each is given in Pflugk.

To Mr A. W. W. Dale, Fellow and Classical Lecturer of Trinity Hall, I am much indebted for careful revision of the notes, both in MS. and in proof, and for the references to Madvig and Goodwin. The Explanatory Notes on lines 120 and 384 are his; as also those on lines 186, 213, 232, 330, 336, 409, 439, 466, 479; and portions of a dozen. others.

TRINITY HALL,

March, 1881.

1 These should be taught to notice the reason for and construction of every indirect mood, participle, preposition, and uń: prepositions, whether apart or in composition; participles, whether concessive, as in 733, 814, 999; causal, as in 757; or forming dis

E. A. B.

guised protases of conditional sentences, as in 732. It is also excellent practice, with or without the book, to analyse and to paraphrase the dialogue; and thus to bring out the points of those complex retorts and hinted arguments which abound in a Greek Tragedy.

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