Introduction.

To prepare for college in Latin, commonly means by a four or five years’ study of rules and forms to work through an amount of Latin text about equivalent to a hundred pages of Harper’s Monthly. The subject thus pursued is not very alluring. Even pupils who can recite rules distinguishing between the use of cum with the subjunctive to describe the time of the main verb by its circumstances and the use of cum with the indicative to define the time by denoting a coexistent state of things, will too often find the distinction losing somewhat of such vividness as it may have had, when told that cum regularly takes the indicative if the principal action is expressed in the form of a temporal clause. So with other rules. They are not hard in themselves, but their multiplicity and variety as they grow in number during a course of several years, and their abstract statement, make the study something like a problem in chess. The results of all this instruction, so far as knowledge of Latin is concerned, we can perhaps understand if we try to imagine what would be the English achievements of a French or German boy who in lessons of five hours or so a week during parts of four or five years had worked out the grammatical constructions of some short English book. To many persons the whole scheme seems wrong, and the results accomplished seem an inadequate return for the outlay of time and labour.

Those who so think, believe that the remedy is easy. Latin is taught as no modern language is taught — one might almost say as no language is taught, for by the method followed the ancient languages have become mnemonic tasks and grammatical problems, the literature being lost in a species of anagram whose significance is slowly determined by prescribed formulas. The remedy would be to teach Latin as a language. By this it is not meant that anything should be subtracted from the course of instruction now given. Rules and forms must be learned, and it is no disadvantage that in so doing the student learns also to concentrate his attention and to work upon a given task. It is, however, a disadvantage with little reading, to dwell upon logical niceties and abstract statements, when familiar use would illuminate the whole field. Therein is the secret of language learning — familiar use. There is no other way, and Latin is no exception to the rule. This, moreover, is the easy way, the method by which in the same time and with no greater efforts much greater results can be achieved. Suppose, for example, the element of pleasure were introduced into the study, and texts were given to the pupil which he could read out of class, easily and with enjoyment, — stories or novels, such as are given to beginners in any modern language, — would not the process of learning rules, forms and uses of words be simplified at every point? Suppose that by a little practice of this sort, without using the dictionary, and without stopping over difficult passages, a student could learn to follow the action of stories, told in Latin, such as would appeal to the interest of the young and could be read for a double enjoyment — the enjoyment of the story and of unexpected success — and suppose that by much reading in this way Latin could be so far learned that the lessons in class would deal with forms and constructions already somewhat familiar, — would it not be possible thus to substitute a certain degree of success for the failure which now so often marks Latin studies?

But it will be objected, that Roman literature has no such stories as are needed for this method of instruction. This is true. Petronius and Apuleius come nearest to what would be needed, but on account of the subject-matter, of difficulties in the text and other objections they are not adapted to the purpose described. What is needed for the plan proposed is a modern translation of modern stories.

At this point of course we part company with all to whom Latin means the style of a few selected authors or nothing. None who would keep from students the so-called eighth book of Cæsar’s Commentaries lest our modern beginners be corrupted by Hirtius’ expressions, can be expected to approve of modern translations.

On the other hand, all who would be willing, were it possible, to spend a month in ancient Rome — as a modern student of French would go to France — there to learn by the daily speech of all, whether ignorant or learned, even from strangers in Rome, to learn also from books and papers, of whatever literary value, the use of the language as a tool, these persons will be prepared to accept modern work judged only by the skill with which it has been done. To such persons, these stories translated into Latin by Dr. Arcadius Avellanus are offered.

The translations show a wonderful intimacy with the spirit of the Latin language and an admirable grasp of its vocabulary, its synonyms and forms of expression. No doubt had these stories been published at Rome in classical times, the translator would have inclined to say with Apuleius, himself a foreign learner of the language —

To modern readers no apology is required. Such translations as those now presented could come only out of long familiarity with the Latin tradition and from wide and studious reading of Latin authors, and if in some constructions, forms or spellings a certain degree of indifference is manifested toward modifications which recent investigations would make in long-accepted texts, this unwillingness to change old ways is itself but one aspect of the long experience which has so admirably qualified the translator for the task he has assumed.

To many persons these matters will be of minor consequence. The important fact is that many of those who can read these stories will find after the first few pages that they are beginning to read with pleasure, and will discover that in this way a foundation can be laid for such a knowledge of the Latin language as will enable them not merely to work through a classical text, but actually to read an oration of Cicero or a book of Cæsar with some knowledge of the writer’s meaning and style.

This volume is privately printed, but while the edition holds out, copies may be purchased at the address given below. It is intended to print other stories in this manner, the number of copies depending upon the demand for the present volume.

E. Parmalee Prentice.

37 Wall Street,

New York City