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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
r•
ORIGINAL PREFACE
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dentally thrown light upon the Traveller book, various
editions of the book itself have since Marsden's time been
published in foreign countries, accompanied by comments
of more or less value. All have contributed something
to the illustration of the book or its history ; the last and
most learned of the editors, M. Pauthier, has so contri-
buted in large measure. I had occasion some years ago*
to speak freely my opinion of the merits and demerits of
M. Pauthier's work ; and to the latter at least I have no
desire to recur here.
Another of his critics, a much more accomplished as
well as more favourable one,- seems to intimate the
opinion that there would scarcely be room in future for
new commentaries. Something of the kind was said of
Marsden's at the time of its publication. I imagine,
however, that whilst our libraries endure the Iliad will
continue to find new translators, and Marco Polo though
one hopes not so plentifully new editors.
The justification of the book's existence must how-
ever be looked for, and it is hoped may be found, in the
book itself, and not in the Preface. The work claims
to be judged as a whole, but it may be allowable, in these
days of scanty leisure, to indicate below a few instances of
what is believed to be new matter in an edition of Marco
Polo ; by which however it is by no means intended that
all such matter is claimed by the editor as his own.t
* In the Quarterly Review for July, 1868. t M. Nicolas Khanikoff.
$ In the Preliminary Notices will be found new matter on the Personal and Family History of the Traveller, illustrated by Documents ; and a more elaborate attempt than I have seen elsewhere to classify and account for the different texts of the work, and to trace their mutual relation.
As regards geographical elucidations, I may point to the explanation of the name Gheluchelan (i. p. 58), to the discussion of the route from Kerman to Hormuz, and the identification of the sites of Old Hormuz, of Cobinan and Dogana, the establishment of the position and continued existence of Keshm, the note on Pein and Charchan, on Gog and Magog, on the geography of the route from Sindafu to Carajan, on Anin and Colonzan, on 117uí fcli, Cail, and Ely.
As regards historical illustrations, I would cite the notes regarding the Queens
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