The Syriac Chronicle

...so that the book might be increased. For not rarely did I derive the meaning of a word not obvious in lexicons from the related Arabic and Chaldaic languages, even if I did not indicate it in the notes. I cannot but publicly and gratefully acknowledge the kindness of the most illustrious Ford, Professor of the Arabic language at Oxford, who, at my request, inspected several passages in the Oxford codices. It is not the purpose of this preface to discuss the philological, historical, and geographical use of the work. If the monuments upon which history rests deserve to be brought to light, if the boundaries of language are pushed forward by the publication of books written in them, if it is not enough for books to be transported from the East to Europe, to be deposited in public buildings, and for their custodians to be appointed, but if, above all, the effort must be made to make them accessible to everyone for the advancement of the disciplines, there will not be lacking in Europe, which flourishes in the praises of literature, those who will excellently praise Kirsch's decision to devote so much labor, care, and money to this work, and will ensure that he does not regret it.