WHY WE HAVE TAKEN SUCH DILIGENT CARE TO AMEND THE BOOKS OF GRAMMAR

HILE continually refreshing ourselves by the reading of books, which it was our custom to read or to hear every day, we noticed clearly how much the action of the intellect is impeded by the imperfect knowledge of even one word, for the sense of no utterance is understood whose slightest part is unknown. Wherefore we were at special pains to order explanations of exotic words to be recorded, and gave consideration with constant watchfulness to the orthography, the prosody, the etymology, and the syntax of the ancient grammarians, and terms whose meaning had become obscure by great age we took care to explain by suitable descriptions, to the end that we might make ready a smooth path for our students. This is, in truth, the sum total of the reason why we have made it our care to renew the antiquated volumes of the grammarians by making improved copies. It was to open royal roads over which our scholars might advance without stumbling to all arts whatsoever.