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Ga 112.574

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A

HARVARD UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

20

TO THE

REV. WILLIAM ROGERS,

RECTOR OF BISHOPSGATE,

WHO BY

THE KINDNESS OF HIS HEART,

AND THE FORCE OF HIS CHARACTER.

HAS GIVEN A NEW LIFE TO EDUCATION

IN THE CITY OF LONDON,

THIS WORK

IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.

PREFACE.

THE translation of the Politics which is now given to the public was commenced about fifteen years since, with the intention of illustrating the Laws of Plato. A rough draft was made by the translator, which he had the advantage of reading over with Mr. Alfred Robinson, of New College. But finding the work more difficult than he had anticipated, he determined to begin again and rewrite the whole. He was insensibly led on to the preparation of a commentary and an analysis. Other subjects of a more general character, which arose out of the study of Aristotle's Politics, naturally took the form of essays'. These will be published shortly and will complete Vol. II. The translation

'The subjects of the Essays will be as follows:-
:-

1. The Life of Aristotle.

2. The Structure and Formation of some of the Aristotelian Writings, to which are added three Appendices:

(i) On Books V, VI, VII of the Nicomachean and Eudemian Ethics: (ii) On the Order of the Books of the Politics:

(iii) On the Order of the Books of the Metaphysics.

3. On the Style and Language of the Politics.

4. On the Text of the Politics.

5. Aristotle as a Critic of Plato.

6. Aristotle's Contributions to History.

7. Aristotle's Politics.

8. The Spartans and their Institutions. 9. Aristotle as a Political Philosopher. VOL. I. b

was printed more than two years ago, and before the appearance of Mr. Welldon's excellent book. The editor has availed himself of the opportunity which the delay afforded to add in the Notes his second thoughts on some doubtful passages.

He has to acknowledge the great assistance which he has received from several friends, especially from Mr. David Ritchie in the composition of the Notes, and from Mr. Evelyn Abbott in the criticism of them. He has also to express his gratitude to his friend and secretary, Mr. Matthew Knight, for the excellent Indices he has prepared both of the Text and Notes, and for many valuable suggestions which occur in different parts of the book. He wishes that Mr. Knight could be induced to bestow on some work of his own the knowledge and thought which he devotes to the writings of another.

The Editor has to apologize for a delay in the fulfilment of his task, which has arisen necessarily out of the pressure of other avocations. He had hoped that his work would have been completed some years ago. An author generally finds that his literary undertakings exceed the measure of time which he has assigned to them; they grow under his hand; the years which he has spent upon them quickly pass, and at last he too often fails of satisfying either himself or the public. When he has nearly finished, if ever, he feels that he is beginning to have a greater command of his subject; but he is obliged to make an end. He may perhaps claim to know better than any one else the deficiencies

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