Secure in his strength, Croce will often introduce a joke or some amusing illustration from contemporary life, in the midst of a most profound and serious argument. This spirit of mirth is a sign of superiority. He who is not sure of himself can spare no energy for the making of mirth. Croce loves to laugh at his enemies and with his friends. So the philosopher of Naples sits by the blue gulf and explains the universe to those who have ears to hear. "One can philosophize anywhere," he says--but he remains significantly at Naples. Thus I conclude these brief remarks upon the author of the _Æsthetic,_ confident that those who give time and attention to its study will be grateful for having placed in their hands this pearl of great price from the diadem of the antique Parthenope. DOUGLAS AINSLIE. THE ATHENÆUM, PALL MALL, _May_ 1909. NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR TO THE SECOND ENGLISH EDITION This second edition of the _Æsthetic_ will be found to contain the complete translation of the historical portion, which I was obliged to summarize in the first edition. I have made a number of alterations and some additions to the theoretical portion, following closely the fourth (definitive) Italian edition, and in so doing have received much advice and assistance of value from Mrs. Salusbury, to whom I beg to tender my best thanks. I trust that this new edition will enable all those desirous of studying the work to get into direct touch with the thought of the author. THE ATHENÆUM, PALL MALL, S.W., _November_ 1920. AUTHOR'S PREFACE This volume is composed of a theoretical and of a historical part, which form two independent but complementary books. The nucleus of the theoretical part is a memoir, bearing the title _Fundamental Theses of an Æsthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic,_ which was read at the Accademia Pontaniana of Naples during the sessions of February 18 and May 6, 1900, and printed in vol. xxx. of its _Acts._ The author has added few substantial variations, but not a few additions and amplifications in rewriting it, also following a somewhat different sequence with a view to rendering the exposition more plain and easy. The first five chapters only of the historical portion were inserted in the Neapolitan review _Flegrea_ (April 1901), under the title _Giambattista Vico, First Discoverer of Æsthetic Science,_ and these also reappear amplified and brought into harmony with the rest.