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English Pages [277] Year 1969
A COMMENTARY ON THE PHAEDRUS OF PLATO
by G. J. DE VRIES Litt. et phi!. dr, Professor of Greek in the Free University, Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM ADOLF M. HAKKERT - PUBLISHER
1969
Library ofCongress Catalogue Card Number: 72-84685
Copyright 19.69 by A. M. Hakkert, Amsterdam, Netherlands AU Rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or translated in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm or any other means without written permission from the publisher
JOfNT UBRARY OF THE HELLENIC AND ROMAN SOCIETIES Jt-34 GORDON SQUARE, LONDON, W.C.1
Printed in the Netherlands
The present book has primarily been designed for students; this will especially be clear in the Introduction. Certainly more could have been said. My aim, however, was in the first place to provide students with a kind of ancilia, enabling them to study the Greek text themselves. I have not added a text of my own: there is no lack of serviceable editions of the Phaedrus. But I have often commented upon the text of these editions; from these comments my ideas about the text will be available. My own research into the tradition has been limited to checking some readings in the Bodleian manuscript; for the rest I have relied on existing collations. Not all the editions which appeared between Heindorf's (1802) and Moreschini's (1966} have been reported on; the most important omission is of the edition by J. Theodorakopoulos (Athens, 1948). It has been omitted because, owing to the date of its appearance, it has hardly been distributed outside Greece (there is no copy to be found in any Dutch library}. During my work my respect for the editors and commentators which I consulted has been growing constantly; this holds for Vollgraff, too, whose edition is hardly ever mentioned without criticism. I have reported his readings in order to show the high-handed way in which scholars of his days handled their texts, but I am far from pillorying his scholarship. I have also reported on some translations; here arbritariness in selecting could not be avoided and may perhaps be excused. My debts of gratitude which I am glad to acknowledge are manifold. The Goldsmiths' Librarian of the University of London Library and Dr L. Brandwood gave me permission to use a microfilm of Dr Brand wood's thesis; the Netherlands Organization for the Advancement of Pure Research granted the cost of its making. Mr I. G. Kidd allowed me to consult notes for an unpublished lecture. Professors H. Brunsting and R. J. Forbes advised me on archaeological
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questions; Dr W. K. Kraak provided me with information in matters of botany.
The typescript was prepared by Mrs G. L. Kuiper-Gilhuis. Mr C. C. Barfoot correc t ed its English.
So did Dr K. J. McKay, who, moreover,
checked many references and corrected several inaccuracies. Professors J.
L. Ackrill and W.
J. Verdenius read the whole of the
typescript and contributed pertinent observations. I can hard ly gauge the time and energy spent by Dr D. M. Schenkeveld
on checking the references and helping me to see the book through the press.
The remaining oversights, inaccuracies, mis takes and errors are mine. Amsterdam-Wo!fheze, February 1969
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G. ]. DE VRIES