Page:Frontinus - The stratagems, and, the aqueducts of Rome (Bennet et al 1925).djvu/12

Rh The text of the De Aquis is that of Bucheler, Leipzig, 1858, with certain changes in spelling and punctuation and with the omission of his diacritical marks. Some variants in readings have been admitted, and where the text is unreadable, conjectures have been accepted and the translation bracketed. The translation is a revision of that of Herschel, 1899, since the credit for the first English version of this treatise must go not to a Latinist but to an hydraulic engineer. In the preface to his book, Mr. Herschel thus explains his undertaking of this translation: "Having had the study of Frontinus for my pastime and hobby for many years, it has seemed to me fitting that others should be enabled likewise to partake of the instruction and pleasure this has given me.… We laymen have been waiting for a long time for Latin scholars to do this thing for us, and they have not responded." Mr. Herschel was very familiar with the translations of the French architect, Rondelet, and the German builder, Dederich, and he resolved to add an English rendering to these translations by men whose interests were primarily scientific.

But though not a Latin scholar, Mr. Herschel achieved what few Latin scholars can hope to do. In his quest for first-hand information about his subject, he went to Rome, studied the aqueducts in person, conferred with Lanciani and others, and finally went to the monastery at Monte Cassino and succeeded in having this, the sole original manuscript of the De Aquis, photographed for publication in his book. This is an excellent facsimile, and a most valuable gift to the student of this work.

During the preparation of his translation, Mr. vi