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Transcriber's Note
This version of the text cannot represent certain typographicaleffects. Italics are delimited with the '_' character as _italic_.A bold font is delimited with the '=' character as =bold=. Otherdiacritical marks are represented using the following notation:[)e] is e with a breve, [=e] is e with a macron. Text printed in mixedcase small capitals is printed in all upper case. Greek characters aretransliterated and denoted as [Greek: ].
Errors and inconsistencies in punctuation have been attributed toprinter's errors, and corrected without further comment.
Please note the publisher's decision to place footnotes at the bottomof each page, as well as the author's note on this topic in thePreface. In keeping with his intent, notes here have been moved to theend of each chapter.
Please consult the endnotes at the bottom of this text for more detailson the handling of textual issues.
WORKS
BY
ERNST ECKSTEIN.
=CYPARISSUS.= From the German by Mary J. Safford. One vol., paper, 50 cts.; cloth, 75 cts.
=HERTHA.= From the German by Mrs. Edward Hamilton Bell. One vol., paper, 50 cts.; cloth, 75 cts.
=QUINTUS CLAUDIUS.= From the German by Clara Bell. Two vols., paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.75 per set.
=PRUSIAS.= From the German by Clara Bell. Two vols., paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.75 per set.
=NERO.= From the German by Clara Bell and Mary J. Safford. Two vols., paper, 80 cts.; cloth, $1.50 per set.
=THE WILL.= From the German by Clara Bell. Two vols., paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.75 per set.
=APHRODITE.= From the German by Mary J. Safford. One vol., paper, 50 cts.; cloth, 90 cts.
=THE CHALDEAN MAGICIAN.= From the German by Mary J. Safford. One vol., paper, 25 cts.; cloth, 50 cts.
ECKSTEIN'S ROMANCES,
12 volumes, cloth binding, in box, $9.50
QUINTUS CLAUDIUS
A ROMANCE OF IMPERIAL ROME
BY
ERNST ECKSTEIN
FROM THE GERMAN BY CLARA BELL
IN TWO VOLUMES--VOL. I.
REVISED AND CORRECTED IN THE UNITED STATES
NEW YORK GEO. GOTTSBERGER PECK, PUBLISHER 117 CHAMBERS STREET
Copyright, 1882, by WILLIAM S. GOTTSBERGER
THIS TRANSLATION WAS MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THE PUBLISHER
PREFACE
TO THE FIRST GERMAN EDITION.
It was in Rome itself, in the sublime solemnity of the Colosseum,among the ruins of the palaces of the Caesars and crumbling pillars ofthe temples of the gods, that the first dreamy outlines rose beforemy fancy of the figures here offered to the reader's contemplation.Each visit added strength to the mysterious impulse, to conjure upfrom their tombs these shadows of a mighty past, and afterwards, athome, where the throng of impressions sorted and grouped themselves atleisure, my impulse ripened to fulfilment.
I will not pause here to dwell on the fact, that the period of Imperialrule in Rome bears, in its whole aspect, a stronger resemblance to theXIXth century than perhaps any other epoch before the Reformation; for,without reference to this internal affinity, we should be justified inusing it for the purpose of Romance simply by the fact, that hardlyanother period has ever been equally full of the stirring conflict ofpurely human interest, and of dramatic contrasts in thought, feelingand purpose.
I must be permitted to add a word as to the notes.[A]
I purposely avoided disturbing the reader of the story by references inthe text, and indeed the narrative is perfectly intelligible withoutany explanation. The notes, in short, are not intended as explanatory,but merely to instruct the reader, and complete the picture; they alsosupply the sources, and give the evidence on which I have drawn. Fromthis point of view they may have some interest for the general public,unfamiliar with the authorities.
LEIPZIG, June 15, 1881. ERNST ECKSTEIN.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] The publisher of this translation has, for the reader's convenience, placed all the notes at the foot of the pages containing the corresponding text.
QUINTUS CLAUDIUS.