Translator's preface
Little need be added to the Translator's Preface
of the preceding volume. My resources, problems,
aims and methods of work are essentially those
there described, and no significant additions to the
literature have come to my attention. I content
myself, therefore, with reference to the appropriate
sections of the Preface of Volume IX.
Two points, however, may be mentioned. In two
important particulars the Periocha differs from the
continuous text. Livy (XXXV. xiv. 5-12) quotes
the famous conversation between Africanus and
Hannibal, with some apparent doubts as to its
authenticity; the author of the Periocha is not so
troubled. The difference in the account of the
dedication of the temple of the Magna Mater is
more serious. Livy (XXXVI. xxxvi. 4) says that it
was dedicated by Brutus; the author of the Periocha
assigns that distinction to Scipio Nasica. These
variations raise the puzzling question of the relation
of the Periochae to the continuous text, but I have
not found space to discuss it at length.
The ever-troublesome problem of chronology becomes more serious in these Books. Livy seems
happily unaware of it, but the translator with the
most modest ambitions is painfully conscious of it
while he recognizes his inability to solve it. It is
fortunate for him as for the Romans that intercalation was resorted to before matters grew worse.
I have devoted to this problem the minimum of
attention.
Maps 1 and 2, identical with the corresponding
maps in Volume IX, are the work of Mr. Foster.
I express my gratitude to him, as to my colleagues, Professor Adalaide J. Wegner and Dr. Nancy
Margaret Miller, for assistance at various points,
and to my son, Robert L. Sage, of the Oriental
Institute, University of Chicago, for aid, particularly
with the place-names of Asia Minor.
