Page images
PDF
EPUB

LATIN PROSE EXERCISES.

London

Orford

Cambridge..

RIVINGTONS

Waterloo Place

High Street

Trinity Street

LATIN PROSE EXERCISES

FOR BEGINNERS AND JUNIOR FORMS

OF SCHOOLS

BY R. PROWDE SMITH, B.A.'

ASSISTANT MASTER AT THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, HENLEY-ON-THAMES

[blocks in formation]

PREFACE.

Most masters will admit that boys experience difficulty in elementary Latin Composition principally from not understanding the structure of their own language. They commence Latin at an early age without any knowledge of English Grammar, for it is assumed that this will grow upon them during their study of Latin; and they spend years in endeavouring to apply certain rules which they learn by heart, without being led to perceive that the grammatical value of most words must be the same, whatever be the language employed. Now none of the exercise books at present in use seems to recognize this deficiency; they are all adapted rather. for men who have commenced the study of Latin late in life than for the boys for whom they are actually intended. The result is that, whatever be the dubious gain in mental discipline, as far as the acquisition of knowledge is concerned a considerable period of a boy's early life is practically wasted. In many instances, success is attained at last, not so much through any assistance derived from the teacher, as because repeated examples have at length forced themselves upon the observation of the learner, and enabled him unconsciously to form a system for himself.

Now it appears that a great deal of trouble and vexation might be saved even to a clever boy, if his observation were directed aright from the beginning. If he were made to parse his English sentences before turning them into Latin, he would soon perceive that certain fixed principles pervade both languages;

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »