This rendering of the ‘Argonautica,’ now first published, has been translated from the original Greek by Arthur S. Way, M.A., the gifted translator of ‘Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey,’ ‘the Tragedies of Euripides,’ and ‘the Epodes of Horace.’ In the accompanying ‘Epilogue’ the translator summarises the literary history of the poem, and indicates its place in Greek literature. The earlier English versions of the poem are the verse renderings by Fawkes and Green (1780), and Preston (1803). These translations are in the style of Pope; Preston’s effort is the better; it is in three volumes, the second and third containing elaborate introductions and notes. The two poetical versions have been long out of print, and are now very rare. There is also an English prose rendering by Coleridge (Bohn, 1889).

As in the case of Chapman’s ‘Iliads,’ the Publishers have thought it well to allow the type to run into the margin, so as to avoid the turning of the lines.

The General Editor desires to thank Mr. Way for generously placing this new version of the old poem at his disposal for inclusion in the present series; he feels sure that many readers will appreciate this new-old treasure from ‘the realms of gold.’

I. G.

Shakespeare’s Day, 1901.