Transcriber’s Note:

Minor errors in punctuation and formatting have been silently corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation.

Please consult the end notes, as well, for the approach used in the rendering of Arabic, Greek, Coptic, Hebrew and Syriac text.

The cover image has been fabricated and is placed in the public domain.