Surviving Works, Vol. II

PREFACE.

When I was publishing the first volume of my Macrobius, I hoped that I would finish this second volume within that same year. Four years have passed, and during those four years, things have happened that I thought were impossible. I would not deny that the completion of this volume was slowed down during these times, though certainly less by the difficulty of the work than by the delays imposed by the printer. For my part, I did not waste any time, except for a few months in the year 1849 during which I was hindered by poor health. In that very year, the first pages were sent to the press, and the printer never requested material from me in vain; he himself, however, often paused, at one point not even responding to my warnings for a period of six months.

I do not have much to say about the work itself, for I discussed the condition and format of this edition in the preface of the first volume, and the critical apparatus in the prolegomena, page LXXX and following. It has been augmented by those things which, besides the excerpts from the Borbonicus manuscript (N) mentioned in that same place on page LXXXVII, were sent to me—such is his generosity—by H. KEILIUS, copied from that same manuscript ¹), and from the Mediceus manuscript, VIII of the shelf list.

¹) Having compared these parts of the Saturnalia with the Bipontine edition: I, 7, §§ 36, 37; I, 10, 3; I, 17, §§ 10, 20; II, 2, 17; II, 7, §§ 3 and 9—11; III, 16, 18. — 17, 14; and the verses of the ancient Latin poets VI, 1, 8. — 5, 5. To the description of the manuscript which is read in the prolegomena p. LXXXVII., the following must be added: In the Borbonicus manuscript, the books are not distinct, but a new line begins with a larger letter at the words: Accentaque (so) sorte (I, 7, 28); Quae de libero patre (I, 19, 1); Saturnus ipse (I, 22, 8); Sicubi (so) modestus (II, 1, 1); Has tot interpretationis ambages (III, 2, 12); Sermone movetur (IV, 1, 1); Post haec (V, 1, 1); Hic (VI, 1, 1), at this place being preceded by the words: FINIT DE HIS QVE VIRGIL. A GRECIS TRAXIT. DE HIS Q. A VETERIBVS LATINIS MARO TRANSTVLIT; Here ends [the section] on those things which Virgil took from the Greeks. On those things which Maro transferred from the ancient Latins; Primis mensibus (so, VII, 1, 1). In book VI. starting from chapter 1, § 8, the words of Virgil and the ancient poets are [arranged] in two columns.