Page:The Theatre of the Greeks, a Treatise on the History and Exhibition of the Greek Drama, with Various Supplements.djvu/13

 PKEFACE TO THE SEVENTH EDITION. VII the ancients have written on the subject, the more so as I have made frequent references to these three sources of infomiation. The last part of the book, which gives an account of the language, metres, and prosody of the dramatists, is no longer a number of detached notes, but has assumed the form of a coherent disquisition. ^Ir Tate's essay, which is identified with this book and records the honest research of that successful and experienced teacher, has been retained out of respect for his memory, no less than on account of its practical value. A prominent and distinctive feature of the present edition will be recognized in the numerous illustrations from the best ancient authorities, by which the details of a Greek theatrical performance are reproduced and rendered visible to the student. Some of these have been borrowed from Mr Rich's very useful Companion to the Latin Dictionary and Greeh Lexicon. The majority appear for the first time in an English book. With regard to the Theatre at Aspendus, which has done more than any ancient monument to substitute reality for conjecture in our notions of the ancient scene, it is to be regretted that Schonbom's photographs are not forthcoming; but Texier's views of the elevation and interior, which are here reproduced, are sufficient to give an adequate idea of the only ancient theatre which has come down to us without material dilapi- dations. Thus remodelled and illustrated I venture to believe that the Theatre of tJte Greeks is now in harmony with the existing condition of our knowledge m regard both to Greek literature and to ancient art. It has at any rate assumed the form which I conceive to be most proper for such a work; and as I