PREFACE.

Nevertheless, the matter could be resolved immediately if it were possible to read the Verona palimpsest palimpsest A manuscript page from which the text has been scraped or washed off so that the page can be reused for another document. manuscript 38, in which Blume⁶) Friedrich Blume (1797–1874), a German legal scholar and researcher of ancient texts. believes the "true Boethius" lies hidden. The most kind and generous Boncompagni Prince Baldassarre Boncompagni (1821–1894), a famous historian of mathematics and patron of science., that illustrious supporter of mathematical subjects, saw to it that this manuscript was inspected with the greatest care; however, it was found to be so difficult to read that, except for a very few words, nothing could be transcribed from it. Therefore, until either sharper eyes—which I can hardly believe—or a more advanced technology—which no one would deny is possible—bring what Blume investigated into public use, nothing else remains but to publish that work which is circulated as Boethius's Geometry. The author himself referred to this as the "art of geometry," as evidenced by the passages I have cited on page 434 under the word art original: "ars". While this work is of almost no value in itself, it has become of the greatest importance for the history of arithmetic because it contains the oldest traces known in our literature of those signs with which we now write numbers Friedlein refers to the early use of Hindu-Arabic numerals (apices) found in manuscripts of the "Pseudo-Boethian" Geometry.. Therefore, I spared no effort so that I might personally use the Chartres original: "Carnutensi" manuscript as well; however, this could not be done, as the laws did not permit that manuscript to be sent to me from France original: "Francogallia".

Regarding the manuscripts I used, I have added explanations of the notations to each specific work. I have striven as much as possible to publish not only the genuine writings of Boethius but also the authentic form of his writing. Therefore, the chapter titles had to be omitted, as it is highly unlikely that Boethius himself wrote them. However, since they provide an easier overview of the works, they are to be published in smaller type...

⁶) Explanations regarding the writings of the Roman land-surveyors Feldmesser German: "Erläuterungen zu den Schriften der röm. Feldmesser." This refers to the Gromatici, ancient Roman surveyors.. p. 65, note 114.