This volume has been prepared on the same scale and with the same purpose as my edition of Books xiii–xvi of the Annals. It is designed to serve the needs of students requiring a less copious and advanced commentary than that given in Mr. Furneaux's large edition. In substance the Introductions and Notes are drawn from Mr. Furneaux's work, but I have ventured to give explanations or translations of my own in certain passages, left without comment by him, which seemed to me likely to present difficulty to students as yet unfamiliar with Tacitus' peculiarities of expression. I have endeavoured to make this volume as far as possible self-contained, by taking illustrations of Tacitus' diction mostly from passages in the books given in the text, and by stating the chief facts of importance that are related in any other part of the Annals about the personages mentioned in this part of the narrative.

The Text is that of Furneaux's edition, 1894. I have not thought it consistent with the plan of this book to give more than the briefest discussion of the points where his readings differ from those of other editors.

My best thanks are due to my friend and colleague, Professor F. Brooks, of the University of Bristol, for his kind help in the work of scrutinizing the proof sheets for misprints or misstatements.