PREFACE vii 



member also that great as has been the progress 

 of science generally in the nineteenth century, we 

 are after all merely at the dawn, so to speak, of 

 that knowledge which is beginning to appear 

 before us : that, in fact, in 2,500 years to come — 

 if it is not too far ahead to think of, and it certainly 

 ought not to be if we are to face the question in the 

 proper light — people will doubtless look back to the 

 work of this century in much the same fashion as we 

 too are wont to look back, though it is to be hoped 

 not down, upon the great efforts and marvellous 

 speculations of the Greek mind of 2,500 years ago, 

 in its brilliant attempts to unravel the problem which 

 , has puzzled humanity for ages : a problem which 

 doubtless will continue to puzzle it to a considerable 

 extent for many days to come. The why and the 

 wherefore we may ask, but get no answer to ; the 

 how is our only consolation : and even in that do 

 we need the most careful steering to avoid the 

 pitfalls and precipices of error. 



One word more I feel should preface the introduction 

 to this book, and that is to express my indebtedness 

 to the editor of the Fortnightly Review for his kind- 

 ness in permitting me to reproduce here part of an 

 article which has appeared in his Eeview, and to 

 state also, how much the interest which this subject 

 has evoked in England and in America is due to him 

 and others mentioned in the text. 



JOHN BUTLER BURKE. 



Cambeidge, 



January, 1906. 



