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viii Preface
able, since certain translations would have been impaired in the effort
to bring about greater consistency. Many of the versions were almost
completely lacking in stage directions. An attempt has been made to
supply that deficiency, but no stage direction has been added which cannot
reasonably be inferred from the text itself, since there are practically
no such directions in the Greek manuscripts of the plays.
No verse translations have been altered in any particular by the editors.
The anonymous prose version of Aristophanes has been exhaustively
corrected and revised, while certain minor modifications have been introduced
into the translations of Euripides by E. P. Coleridge. The remaining
prose versions appear as they were originally published.
The General Introduction attempts to present certain material, both
historical and systematic, which is requisite to the understanding of the
plays. It treats, for example, such subjects as the nature of the Greek
theatre, Greek Tragedy and Greek Comedy in general, and the lives and
works of the individual dramatists. Accompanying each play is a short
special introduction to that play, designed primarily to facilitate its
understanding on the part of the reader. Each play also is accompanied
by notes which endeavour to explain particular passages which otherwise
might prove difficult to apprehend. A Glossary, mainly of proper names,
appears at the end of Volume II, which renders unnecessary a number
of specific notes on the individual plays. It is hoped that the Glossary
will prove a useful and valuable adjunct to the book, being particularly
important for the plays of Aristophanes with their wealth of topical
allusions.
The editors wish to thank Professors D. R. Stuart, G. E. Duckworth,
F. R. B. Godolphin, N. H. Pearson, H. C. Hutchins, and Dr. N. T. Pratt
for invaluable assistance in the preparation of this book. They are particularly
grateful to Professor L. A. Post for permission to use his introductions
and revised translation of the comedies of Menander. They wish
also to express their appreciation to Mrs. Thomas S. Dignan for assistance
in connection with the frontispiece for Volume I, and to Professor Margarete
Bieber for permission to use one of her photographs as the frontispiece
to Volume II.
The editors together assume the responsibility for the selection of
translations. Mr. Oates edited the text, prepared the individual introductions
and notes for the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides.
He also prepared that part of the General Introduction which deals with
tragedy and the tragedians. Mr. O'Neill edited the text, revised the
translation, and prepared the individual introductions and notes for the
plays of Aristophanes, as well as that portion of the General Introduction
which deals with comedy and the comic poets. He likewise compiled
the Glossary.