THE translation is based on the Teubner text of H. Heubner (editio correctior, 1994). In a very few places I have accepted readings different from Heubner’s, and the places where these affect the translation are to be found in the Appendix. There are also occasional divergences from Heubner’s punctuation (e.g. at 2.37.2, 6.34.1, 12.68.2), but as punctuation reflects editorial interpretation rather than manuscript readings these are not indicated.
For the most part the ancient names have been retained for people (Pompey is an exception, to assist the reader to differentiate Julius Caesar’s rival from his also-famous son, Sextus Pompeius) and for places, except where these are usually referred to by historians in their modern forms (Rome, of course, but also Naples, Rhodes, Britain, etc.). In the case of rivers, the ancient names are again retained, for the most part, except for the major ones of Germany and France that occur with some frequency in the text (Rhine, Elbe, Rhône) and England’s Thames. Places and rivers, with their modern names, can be found in the Glossary. As for the emperors, who are often referred to simply as ‘Caesar’, I have generally tried to avoid confusion by supplying the commonly used name (Tiberius, Claudius, or Nero).
I have consulted numerous other translations, most of them to be found in the Select Bibliography, and the standard commentaries also listed there: the indispensable Furneaux on the entire œuvre; Miller, Goodyear, Woodman and Martin, Shotter, and Martin, on the individual books of the first Medicean; Woodcock and Miller on Books 14 and 15 respectively. The book I probably consulted more frequently than any other in the four years it has taken to bring this work to fruition is the translation of A. J. Woodman, a fascinating version of Tacitean Latin into an English equivalent. I hope my translation will be seen as a complement—and indeed a compliment—to Professor Woodman’s, from which, replete as it is with new and interesting insights, I have learned much.
Although the preparation of the various components of this volume reflected a division of labour, the book as a whole is the result of very close collaboration, since each of the authors read through the other’s chapters and improved the other’s contributions with countless suggestions and observations. But it is also a collaborative venture in a broader sense, since the task of completing it was considerably lightened by the generous assistance of a number of individuals.
The authors express their gratitude first of all to Judith Luna, editor of the Oxford World’s Classics series, for initially offering us the project, and for seeing it through with characteristic efficiency and courtesy, and to Elizabeth Stratford for her usual thorough copy-editing (now experienced for the third time by one of the authors). They also wish to thank Laura Gagné, currently a doctoral student at the University of Toronto, for her compilation of the index, and Chris Kelk, Doreen Barrett, and Laura Gagné for their generous offers, quickly snapped up, to proofread the entire work.
The translator has debts of gratitude to record. Chris Pelling and Dexter Hoyos both read parts of the translation and offered many valuable suggestions and much appreciated encouragement. John Jacobs (Yale University) also deserves special mention. Having generously offered his services as a proofreader, he provided me with a thorough critique of the translation and notes, pointing out many omissions and infelicities. Although I am sure that errors remain, thanks to him they are far fewer than they would otherwise have been.
J.C.Y.