Excerpt from The History of Herodotus, Vol. 1 of 4: A New English Version, Edited With Copious Notes and Appendices, Illustrating the History and Geography of Herodotus, From the Most Recent Sources of Information

Seven years have elapsed since this work was first promised to the public. It was then stated that its object would be at once to present the English reader with a correct yet free translation, and to collect and methodise for the student the chief illustra tions of the author, which modern learning and research had up to that time accumulated. The promise thus made might without much difficulty have been redeemed within the space of two or three years. Parallel, however, with the progress of the work, which was commenced at once, a series of fresh discoveries continued for several years to be made - more especially on points connected with the ethnography of the East, and the history, geography, and religion of Babylonia and Assyria - the results of which it seemed desirable to incorporate, at whatever cost of time and labour. Great portions of the present volume had thus, from time to time, to be rewritten. This circumstance, and the unavoidable absence of Sir Henry Rawlinson from England during three years out of the seven, will, it is hoped, be deemed sufficient apology for the delay that has occurred in the publication.

Some apology may also seem to be required for the project of a new translation. When this work was designed, Herodotus already existed in our language in five or six different versions. Besides literal translations intended merely for the use of students, Littlebury in 1737, Beloe in 1791, and Mr. Isaac Taylor in 1829, had given the Father of History an English dress designed to recommend him to the general reader. The defects of the two former of these works - defects arising in part from the low state of Greek scholarship at the time when they were written.

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