The main object of this book is to introduce, to such English readers as may be curious in the matter of music, the writings of the foremost musical theorist of Ancient Greece; and with this object in view I have endeavoured to supply a sound text and a clear translation of his great work, and to illustrate its more obscure passages by citations from other exponents of the same science. But further, since the mind of the modern reader is apt to be beset by prejudices in respect of this subject—some of which arise from his natural but false assumption that all music must follow the same laws that govern the only music that he knows, while others are due to the erroneous theories of specialists which have been accepted as certain truths by a public not in possession of the evidence—I have thought it necessary to deal at some length with those prejudices; and this is the chief aim of the Introduction.
The critical apparatus differs from that of Marquard in including the readings of H as given by Westphal, and correcting from my own collation of the Selden MS. many incorrect reports of its readings.
I wish to express my thanks to the Provost of Oriel College, Oxford, Mr. Mahaffy, and Mr. L. C. Purser, for reading the proofs, and for many useful suggestions; to Mr. Bury for advice on many difficult passages of the text; and above all to another Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, Mr. Goligher, for most generous and valuable aid in the preparation of the English Translation.
Trinity College, Dublin.
Sept. 1902.
