PREMONITION OF THE NEW EDITOR.

Regarding what ought to be judged concerning the seven books of the Natural Questions, what plan Annaeus had in writing them, what scholarship, what aids and sources [he used], at what time he set himself to fashioning this great work, and what singular and unique character he displays in it—this has been treated more accurately and more copiously by those masterly men, Ruhkopf and Köhler, than is necessary for us to recite again. Therefore, deeming it best that their respective prefaces be transcribed in place of an introduction, we shall, friendly reader, make known to you in this little preface the nature of this small work of ours.

First, as in the editing and interpreting of the previous books, Ruhkopf is for us the basis and foundation of the volume. For he who surpassed himself in this task approached the Natural Questions all the more aptly, the more diligently he had seen to the translation of Seneca’s Latinity into the German tongue in years recently past¹.

¹ Seneka's physikalische Untersuchungen aus dem Lateinischen mit Anmerkungen, von Ruhkopf, Leips. Crus. 1794, in-8°.