NOTE

For the first time the story of the Goths recorded in
the _Getica_ of Jordanes, a Christian Goth who wrote his
account in the year 551, probably in Constantinople, is
now put in English form, as part of an edition of the
_Getica_ prepared by Mr. Mierow. Those who care for the
romance of history will be charmed by this great tale of a
lost cause and will not find the simple-hearted exaggerations
of the eulogist of the Gothic race misleading. He
pictured what he believed or wanted to believe, and his
employment of fable and legend, as well as the naïve
exhibition of his loyal prejudices, merely heightens the
interest of his story. Those who want coldly scientific
narrative should avoid reading Jordanes, but should likewise
remember the truthful, words of Delbrück: "Legende
und Poesie malen darum noch nicht falsch, weil sie
mit anderen Farben malen als die Historie. Sie reden
nur eine andere Sprache, und es handelt sich darum,
aus dieser richtig ins Historische zu übersetzen."

ANDREW F. WEST.