Introduction

Abstract

Anthologists run the occupational risk of satisfying few readers, if indeed any; but they may perhaps find comfort in the fable of the father, the two sons and the ass. I am of course aware of very many papers, additional to those actually selected, which could justly have been included; and I am equally aware that the chosen list is short. The range of sampling could have been increased, and the list of items extended, had it been possible to deal entirely in terms of brief extracts; but then the nature of the material could have forced the collection into the undesired form of a monograph, a review article or a dissertation. This would have been to defeat the central purpose of assembling original material from a variety of sources, and of presenting it in conveniently abbreviated form but still at significant length.