PREFACE. I HAVE little to say about this second volume of Cicero's orations. It would have appeared sooner, if my labours had not been often interrupted. But interruptions have not been the only cause of delay. The difficulties in some of these orations are so many and so great, that after all that has been done by many excellent commentators, there still remains a great deal to do. I have done the best that I could, but I have not always been able to satisfy myself; and though I have very freely remarked on the mistakes of others, I do not suppose that my own work is faultless. However, the reader will find here a great deal that he will find in no other edition; and he will learn that the study of Cicero's orations must be a severe labour to those who would make it profitable. I have mentioned in the Introductions to the several orations the editions and books which I have used, in order to make a due acknowledgment to all those from whom I have got help, and to inform the reader where he may look himself, if he chooses. I did not receive the volume of the new edition of Orelli's Cicero, which contains the Orations, until I had finished and printed the notes as far as the Oratio Pro M. Tullio 1. |