I have tried to reduce the amount as much as possible by means of cross-references and a full index both of the work and to the notes.
Now I come to the pleasant task of acknowledging the very great help I have received from many quarters. The particular places where aid has been rendered will, I trust, be found recorded in the notes. Here I wish to confess to a debt of a different nature, general rather than specific. Many of my friends have given me the advantage of airing my positions before them, of exposing my ignorance to their knowledge. To over-estimate the gain to this work from such contact would be impossible; to acknowledge it is mere honesty. On the other hand, it must be as clearly stated that the responsibility for the various heresies contained in the following pages is my own; sometimes I misunderstood their reasonings, sometimes I dared to disagree. With this clear understanding that the guilt is mine, I take pleasure in thanking Professor Keller for his suggestions on the sociological part of the work, Professor Goodell for helping me with the Greek, and Professor Morris and Professor Hendrickson for their untiring kindness in discussing with me the Latin background. To these last gentlemen I owe much more than mere scholastic gratitude for the warmth of the encouragement. Professor Luquiens must have a feeling of accomplishment on seeing this work completed, since he has put so much of his energy into it. For such kindness I cannot adequately phrase my sense of indebtedness. In conclusion I must express the recognition of my obligation to Mr. Keogh and the officials of the Yale Library who put the resources of that great institution personally at my disposal. Professor Bolton of Syracuse has verified my references, Mr. Raymond Jenkins read part of the manuscript, and Miss Underwood with most gracious patience has revised the proof. I hope that they realize how grateful I am.
Finally in a separate paragraph I must confess that from the first page of the manuscript to the last page of the proof this work has passed beneath the scrutinizing eye of my dear wife. That there are not more errors in diction is due to her persistency. But she should receive no credit. Is it not her book? J. M. B.