HERMETICA TUE ANCIENT GREEK AND LATIN WRITING WHICH CONTAIN RELIGIOUS OR PUILOSOPHIC TEACHINGS ASCRIBED TO HERMES TRISMEGISTUS. TOMO IV: TESTIMONIA, ADDENDA, ANDINDICES.

INTRODUCTION
THIs volume is printed from Mr,ais fer as
z; there is reason to believe that the tent an eeas
give his final view. Some small econ havemae
1 have added a few notes, which are indiced by sare baches
The only change that requires mention is the sbotion d Cates
text of Ammianus Marcellinus for that ssed by Ms. or 1idso
feel justified in intervening further
For the material printed ater p. 35 Iie. Te is
evidence that Mr, Scott intended to add Appendines, they wus
written, and I have ventured to replace thes by hdiesta Faoe
edition on a large scale will hardly sppeer in this gion ndi
may be convenient to have the additional mate gabeed under one
cover. It is necessary to remenmber that the wr made acves
foreign periodicals diffcult during the years ves Ms. Soont's co
mentary was taking shape, there are no sigrs, for erample, that te
ever saw Bousset's remarkable anticle in the Giiche ir
Anseigen for 1914. So far as space allowed, I to give a
account of recent work. The debr I ume to the vorks o Bous
and Reitzenstein requíres special acknowledgement Ihave lele bour
to quote their opinions even when I could ot folow the vcie va
Material also accumulated in my own band and I ae
some of it. It is but respectful to explain why these notes frequem
diverge from Mr. Scott's interpretation. I agree vit bin Gat s
documents are largely in the Platonic-Suoic tuadiin, and bare add
evidence in support of that view. I am urable to follow bs he
of the textual history of the documents. f that vere a vo
not have fallen within rmy province to express aon
using my material I repeatedly found myvelf drives to he concis
that the order given in the manuscripts is a aable diue
meaning. Without this working asrumption, I coid mke o a
way. Contradictions did not especially trouble Hm 1
worked upon a school tradition, which they were ot conceme
trim into consistency or to state in logical orde
most of themselves when they are least intelligbe The poti
interpretation is not so much to distingish and state a Hen ...

HERMETICA, PART 4: THE ANCIENT GREEK AND LATIN...

INTRODUCTION

THIS volume is printed from Mr. Scott's manuscript as far as
p. 352; there is reason to believe that the text and interpretation
give his final view. Some small excisions have been made, and
I have added a few notes, which are indicated by square brackets
The only change that requires mention is the substitution of Clarke's
text of Ammianus Marcellinus for that used by Mr. Scott. I did not
feel justified in intervening further.

For the material printed after p. 352 I am responsible.
evidence that Mr. Scott intended to add Appendixes; they were not
written, and I have ventured to replace them by Addenda. Another
edition on a large scale will hardly appear in this generation ; and it
may be convenient to have the additional matter gathered under one
cover. It is necessary to remember that the war made access to
foreign periodicals difficult during the years when Mr. Scott's com
mentary was taking shape; there are no signs, for example, that he
ever saw Bousset's remarkable article in the Göttingische gelehre
Anzeigen for 1914. So far as space allowed, I have tried to give an
account of recent work. The debt I owe to the works of Bousset
and Reitzenstein requires special acknowledgement; I have felt bound
to quote their opinions even when I could not follow the whole way.

Material also accumulated in my own hands, and I have used
some of it. It is but respectful to explain why these notes frequently
diverge from Mr. Scott's interpretation. I agree with him that the
documents are largely in the Platonic-Stoic tradition, and have added
evidence in support of that view. I am unable to follow his theory
of the textual history of the documents. If that were all, it would
not have fallen within my province to express an opinion. But in
using my material I repeatedly found myself driven to the conclusion
that the order given in the manuscripts is a valuable clue to the
meaning. Without this working assumption, I could make no head
way. Contradictions did not especially trouble Hermetists. They
worked upon a school tradition, which they were not concerned to
trim into consistency or to state in logical order; they often reveal
most of themselves when they are least intelligible. The problem of
interpretation is not so much to distinguish and state a Hermetic...