Author: Jas; G. Wood

Publisher:

Published: 2015-08-05

Total Pages: 108

ISBN-13: 9781332330959

Excerpt from Theophrastus of Eresus on Winds and on Weather Signs: Translated, With an Introduction and Notes, and an Appendix, on the Direction, Number and Nomenclature of the Winds, in Classical and Later Times It is, perhaps, desirable to say a few words respecting the circumstances which have led to the preparation of this book. For nearly thirty years I have been a persistent searcher for old works upon Meteorology, partly like other hunters, from the universal desire to capture something; but I hope more with two other objects, (1) to form a centre where much of the meteorological literature of past ages could be consulted, and, as far as my own small efforts could go, to insure its permanent preservation; (2) to learn from it all that I could as to the growth of our knowledge of meteorology. I have always had before me, but I fear only as a vision never to be realised, the translation and publication of, at any rate, the most important of these works. Aristotle's Meteorology has been translated into English (but copies are very scarce), and there is the excellent French translation of Barthelemy St. Hilaire, and it is a large work. I thought, therefore, that it would be more prudent to begin with the smaller works of Aristotle's favourite pupil Theophrastus, which existed only in Greek and Latin; and in the Meteorological Magazine for July, 1892, I asked whether any one would volunteer to prepare the translation, promising that in that event I would undertake the cost of publication. I was favoured with no fewer than four offers, and accepted the first. Of how Mr. Wood has carried out his "congenial labour" it would be presumptuous for me to say one word, but it cannot be wrong to express my hearty thanks for his help, also for that proffered by others which it was not necessary to accept. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.