The Opening of the Histories

This is the Showing forth of the Inquiry of Herodotus of Halicarnassos, to the end that neither the deeds of men may be forgotten by lapse of time, nor the works great and marvellous, which have been produced some by Hellenes and some by Barbarians, may lose their renown; and especially that the causes may be remembered for which these waged war with one another.

这是哈利卡纳索斯人希罗多德的探究的展示。写下它，是为了不让人们的业绩随着时间流逝而被遗忘，也不让那些伟大而奇妙的成就——有的出自希腊人，有的出自异邦人——失去它们的光彩；尤其是为了让人们记住，他们彼此交战的缘由。