PREFACE. THIS introduction to Latin Verse writing is on the plan of my Materials for Latin and Greek Prose Composition, except that it takes up the learner at an earlier stage. It presupposes no knowledge whatever of Latin Verse writing. The earlier part of the book is intended for beginners, when they have mastered the elementary rules of prosody, or even sooner than that. The first exercises consist merely of words to be arranged in proper order, the quantities being marked whenever necessary. When some skill is attained in this, the Exercises are altered in character; certain English sentences-translations from Ovid or other writers -are given, with the proper words required for their translation and arrangement in verse. By degrees the help given is diminished, fewer words being supplied. After working through the First Part of the book, it is hoped that the learner will be skilful enough to begin the Second Part. This consists of extracts from English poets; at first, of course, very simple and easy. In the notes to each Exercise help is given by suggesting appropriate turnings where such aid appears to be wanted, or adducing passages from the Latin writers which may assist the learner in discovering such turnings for himself. In the earlier extracts the aid afforded is copious; afterwards it is, of course, diminished. After working through the whole series of Exercises, the scholar will perhaps be able to dispense with all extraneous assistance, and to swim without corks. The work professes to afford an introduction to the writing of Elegiacs or Hexameters only. Lyric verse lies entirely beyond the scope of the book. BRIGHTON, October, 1867. PERCIVAL FROST. |