Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
The Origin and Deeds of the Goths By: Jordanes |
---|
![]()
by JORDANES in English Version Part of a Thesis Presented to the Faculty of Princeton University
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by CHARLES C. MIEROW Princeton 1908 NOTE For the first time the story of the Goths recorded in
the Getica of Jordanes, a Christian Goth who wrote his
account in the year 551, probably in Constantinople, is
now put in English form, as part of an edition of the
Getica prepared by Mr. Mierow. Those who care for the
romance of history will be charmed by this great tale of a
lost cause and will not find the simple hearted exaggerations
of the eulogist of the Gothic race misleading. He
pictured what he believed or wanted to believe, and his
employment of fable and legend, as well as the naïve
exhibition of his loyal prejudices, merely heightens the
interest of his story. Those who want coldly scientific
narrative should avoid reading Jordanes, but should likewise
remember the truthful, words of Delbrück: "Legende
und Poesie malen darum noch nicht falsch, weil sie
mit anderen Farben malen als die Historie. Sie reden
nur eine andere Sprache, und es handelt sich darum,
aus dieser richtig ins Historische zu übersetzen." ANDREW F. WEST.
PREFACE
The following version of the Getica of Jordanes is
based upon the text of Mommsen, as found in the
Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Auctores
Antiquissimi 5 (Berlin 1882). I have
adhered closely to his spelling of proper names, especially
the Gothic names, except in the case of a very few words
which are in common use in another form (such as
Gaiseric and Belisarius). I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dean Andrew F.
West of the Princeton Graduate School for his unfailing
interest in my work. It was in one of his graduate
courses that the translation was begun, three years ago,
and at his suggestion that I undertook the composition
of the thesis in its present form. He has read the entire
treatise in the manuscript, and has been my constant
adviser and critic. Thanks are also due to Dr. Charles
G. Osgood of the English Department of Princeton
University for reading the translation. CHARLES C. MIEROW.
Classical Seminary,
Princeton University,
July 1908. THE ORIGIN AND DEEDS OF THE GOTHS (Preface)
Though it had been my wish to glide in my little boat 1
by the shore of a peaceful coast and, as a certain writer
says, to gather little fishes from the pools of the ancients,
you, brother Castalius, bid me set my sails toward the
deep. You urge me to leave the little work I have in
hand, that is, the abbreviation of the Chronicles, and to
condense in my own style in this small book the twelve
volumes of the Senator on the origin and deeds of the
Getae from olden time to the present day, descending
through the generations of the kings. Truly a hard command, 2
and imposed by one who seems unwilling to realize
the burden of the task. Nor do you note this, that my
utterance is too slight to fill so magnificent a trumpet of
speech as his. But above every burden is the fact that
I have no access to his books that I may follow his
thought. Still and let me lie not I have in times past
read the books a second time by his steward's loan for a
three days' reading. The words I recall not, but the
sense and the deeds related I think I retain entire. To 3
this I have added fitting matters from some Greek and
Latin histories. I have also put in an introduction and
a conclusion, and have inserted many things of my own
authorship. Wherefore reproach me not, but receive and
read with gladness what you have asked me to write. If
aught be insufficiently spoken and you remember it, do
you as a neighbor to our race add to it, praying for me,
dearest brother. The Lord be with you. Amen. (Geographical Introduction) [Sidenote: Ocean and Its Lesser Isles.] I Our ancestors, as Orosius relates, were of the 4
opinion that the circle of the whole world was surrounded
by the girdle of Ocean on three sides... Continue reading book >>
|
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|