I count it an honour to have been asked to write a short introduction to
this book. My only claim to do so is a profound belief in the doctrine
which it advocates, that Greek literature can never die and that it has
a clear and obvious message for us to-day. Those who sat, as I did, on
the recent Committee appointed by Mr. Lloyd George when Prime Minister
to report on the position of the classics in this country, saw good
reason to hope that the prejudice against Greek to which the author
alludes in his preface was passing away: it is a strange piece of irony
that it should ever have been encouraged in the name of Science which
owes to the Greeks so incalculable a debt. We found that, though there
are many parts of the country in which it is almost impossible for a
boy, however great his literary promise, to be taught Greek, there is a
growing readiness to recognise this state of affairs as a scandal, and
wherever Greek was taught, whether to girls or boys, we found a growing
recognition of its supreme literary value. There were some at least of
us who saw with pleasure that where only one classical language can be
studied there is an increasing readiness to regard Greek as a possible
alternative to Latin.
On this last point, no doubt, classical scholars will continue to
differ, but as to the supreme excellence of the Greek contribution to
literature there can be no difference of opinion. Those to whom the
names of this volume recall some of the happiest hours they have spent
in literary study will be grateful to Mr. Lumb for helping others to
share the pleasures which they have so richly enjoyed; he writes with
an enthusiasm which is infectious, and those to whom his book comes as
a first introduction to the great writers of Greece will be moved to
try to learn more of men whose works after so many centuries inspire so
genuine an affection and teach lessons so modern. They need have no
fear that they will be disappointed, for Mr. Lumb's zeal is based on
knowledge. I hope that this book will be the means of leading many to
appreciate what has been done for the world by the most amazing of all
its cities, and some at least to determine that they will investigate
its treasures for themselves. They will find like the Queen of Sheba
that, though much has been told them, the half remains untold.