Gallus: Or, Roman Scenes of the Time of Augustus

444 Pages·2010·7 MB·English

by  Wilhelm Adolf Becker

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Classics
From the Renaissance to the nineteenth century, Latin and Greek were
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Gallus
Historical fictionalisations are popular with a wide readership today. The
better examples avoid expediency with historical fact, but bring dramatic
life to otherwise dry chronology. It is therefore surprising to find sober
German historical erudition utilising a fictional narrative to impart a copious
amount of detail. However, this style found a readership far wider than
just the scholarly. By combining historical learning with dramatisation,
Gallus, published in 1838, became a best-seller in Germany and was quickly
translated for the English market. Perhaps not to the taste of the English,
however, was the somewhat burdensome apparatus of the notes which broke
the narrative after each section. These were distilled and placed as footnotes,
so that the narrative flowed freely. The depth of learning which abounds
throughout the book is an attribute of this significant work which should not
be overlooked when engaging with the novelty of its approach.
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Gallus
Or, Roman Scenes of the Time of Augustus
Wilhelm Adof Becker
CAmBRIDGE UNIvERsITy PREss
Cambridge, New york, melbourne, madrid, Cape Town, singapore,
são Paolo, Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo
Published in the United states of America by Cambridge University Press, New york
www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108012782
© in this compilation Cambridge University Press 2010
This edition first published 1844
This digitally printed version 2010
IsBN 978-1-108-01278-2 Paperback
This book reproduces the text of the original edition. The content and language reflect
the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated.
Cambridge University Press wishes to make clear that the book, unless originally published
by Cambridge, is not being republished by, in association or collaboration with, or
with the endorsement or approval of, the original publisher or its successors in title.
G A L L U S:
ROMAN SCENES OF THE TIME
OF AUGUSTUS;
WITH NOTES AND EXCURSUS
ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE
MAMEKS AND CUSTOMS OF THE ROMANS.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF PROFESSOR BECKER,
BY
FEEDEEICK METCALFE, B.A.
LATE SCHOLAR OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
Gallus et Hesperiis et Gallus notus Eois
Et sua cum Gallo nota Lycoris erat.—OVID.
LONDON:
JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND.
M.DCCC.XLIV.

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
Gallus oder Romische Scenm aus der Zeit Augusts—
such is the German title of Professor Becker's work—
was published at Leipsic in 1838. The novelty of its
conception ; the comparatively fresh ground it broke in
the field of Roman Antiquities, and the exceeding eru-
dition brought to bear on the subject, at once arrested
the attention of German scholars, and it has ever since
been considered, what its author ventured to hope it would
be, ' a desirable repertory of whatever is most worth
knowing about the private life of the Romans.' Soon
after its publication, a very lengthened and eulogistic
critique appeared in the Times London newspaper ; and
as it seldom happens that that Journal can find space
in its columns for notices of this description, no little
weight was attached to the circumstance, and a pro-
portionate interest created in the work. Proposals were
immediately made for publishing it in an English dress,
and the book was advertised accordingly; but unforeseen
difficulties intervened, arising from the peculiar nature of
the work, and the plan was ultimately abandoned.
In fact, in order to render the book successful in
England, it was absolutely necessary that it should be
somehow divested of its very German appearance, which,
how palatable soever it might be to the author's own
vi TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
countrymen, would have been caviare to the generality of
English readers. For instance, instead of following each
other uninterruptedly, the Scenes were separated by a
profound gulf of Notes and Excursus which, if plunged
into, was quite sufficient to drown the interest of the
tale. The present translator was advised to attempt
certain alterations, and he was encouraged to proceed
with the task by the very favourable opinion which some
of our most distinguished scholars entertained of the
original, and their desire that it should be introduced
into this country. The notes have been accordingly trans-
ported from their intercalary position, and set at the
foot of the pages in the narrative to which they refer.
The Scenes therefore succeed each other uninterruptedly,
so that the thread of the story is rendered continuous, and
disentangled from the maze of learning with which the
Excursus abound. These, in their turn, have been thrown
together in an Appendix, and will doubtless prove a very
substantial caput caence to those who shall have first dis-
cussed the lighter portion of the repast. In addition to
these changes, which it is hoped will meet with appro-
bation, a little lopping has been resorted to, and the two
volumes of the original compressed into one. In order to
effect this, the numerous passages from Roman and Greek
authors have, in many instances, been only referred to,
and not given at length; matters of minor importance
have been occasionally omitted, and more abstruse points
of disquisition not entered into. Those who may feel an
interest in further inquiry, are referred to the Professor's
work, in four volumes, on Roman Antiquities, now in
course of publication, in Germany. At the same time,
care has been taken not to leave out any essential fact.
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. vii
The narrative, in spite of the author's modest esti-
mate of this section of his labours, is really very interest-
ing, nay, wonderfully so, considering the narrow limits he
had prescribed for himself, and his careful avoidance of
anything not founded on fact, or bearing the semblance of
fiction.
The idea of making an interesting story the basis of
his exposition, and of thus ' strewing with flowers the
path of dry antiquity,' is most judicious. We have here
a flesh and blood picture of the Roman, as he lived and
moved, thought and acted, worth more a thousand times
than the disjecta membra, the dry skeleton, to be found in
such books as Adams1 Roman Antiquities, and others of
the same nature, which, however erudite, are vastly
uninviting.
In conclusion, the translator will be abundantly satis-
fied if, by his poor instrumentality, the English student
shall have become acquainted with a most instructive
work, and thus his mind stimulated to the further inves-
tigation of a subject fraught with peculiar fascination —
the domestic habits and manners of the most remarkable
people of antiquity.
JJONDON,
May, 1844.