Editorial note — Front matter (continued 4)

The use of al in this sense, approaching that of por but less purposeful and definite, resembles the "dative of reference" and "ethical dative" of other languages, as in French je me suis brulé la langue, I have burned my tongue, German ich wasche mir die Hände, I wash my hands, Latin sese Caesari ad pedes proicerunt, they threw themselves at the feet of Cæsar, Greek τί σοι μαθήσομαι, what am I to learn for you? etc.