THE text of the Annals of Tacitus depends upon two MSS. made by Italian copyists in the early middle ages. The first contains Books I.-VI.; the second, Books XI. XVI., with Books I.-V. of the Histories.1 Emendations have depended rather upon conjecture than comparison. The present edition follows the text of Halm (Leipsic, 1877), except in the annexed variations, in the spelling of a few words, and in some matters of punctuation. In preparing the notes, the commentaries of Justus Lipsius, Freinshemius, Ryckius, the two Gronovii, Er 1 These MSS. are called the Medicean because they became the property of the Medici family in the sixteenth century. The first is absolutely unique. It was found in Germany by an agent of Leo X., and after his death passed with his other books to Florence, where it is preserved in the Bibliotheca Laurentiana. When found it was bound with a copy of Pliny's letters, made by the same hand. It is in quarto form, in Lombard characters, and was apparently made by an ignorant copyist, as he seems unconscious of breaks in the narration caused by lacunae in the MS. from which he copied. It is referred to the tenth century. The second MS., also in the Bibliotheca Laurentiana, is of about the same date, but the text is worse (XI. 1, N.). There are copies of it, but none that indicate an independent authority. |