First Greek Book

the Greek. This, it is hoped, will not only economize the time of the learner, but also lead him to compare the two languages, and thus secure a more definite knowledge of their resemblances.

The present work is the result of a growing conviction on the part of the author that the old method of burdening the memory of the beginner with a confused mass of unmeaning forms, inflections, and rules, without allowing him the luxury of using the knowledge he is so laboriously acquiring, is at once unsatisfactory and unphilosophical. It accordingly aims to present a clear and systematic arrangement of the great facts and laws of the language, and to illustrate them step by step with carefully selected examples and exercises. In this way every lesson is learned for actual use, and thus becomes clothed with interest and meaning. The various changes of inflection, otherwise so dry and difficult, are found to be the keys to the rich treasures of ancient thought.

In preparing the exercises and the reading lessons care has been taken to introduce such selections as would not only best illustrate grammatical points, but would also possess in themselves some intrinsic value and interest.

The work is designed to be complete in itself, requiring no accompaniment of grammar or lexicon. For the convenience, however, of such as may prefer to use it, in connection with some standard Grammar,

references are made in the Syntactical portions, both of the Lessons and Notes, to the excellent works of Professors Hadley, Crosby, and Sophocles.

In the preparation of the work the author has resorted freely to such sources of information as were within his reach. Among the numerous Grammatical and Philological works which he has had constantly before him, the invaluable labors of Veitch and Carmichael on the Greek Verb, and those of Madvig and Clyde on the Greek Syntax, deserve special mention.

A. HARKNESS.

PROVIDENCE, August 20th, 1860.