§11.1a.1ἴσως δέ τινες ἐπιζητοῦσι πῶς ἡμεῖς οὐ προγραφὰς ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ βίβλῳ, καθάπερ οἱ πρὸ ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ προεκθέσεις καθʼ ἑκάστην ὀλυμπιάδα πεποιήκαμεν τῶν πράξεων.
Perhaps some people will inquire why we have not made tables of contents in this book, as did our predecessors, but rather introductory summaries of events for each Olympiad.
§11.1a.2ἐγὼ δὲ κρίνω χρήσιμον μὲν εἶναι καὶ τὸ τῶν προγραφῶν γένος· καὶ γὰρ εἰς ἐπίστασιν ἄγει τοὺς ἀναγινώσκειν θέλοντας καὶ συνεκκαλεῖται καὶ παρορμᾷ πρὸς τὴν ἀνάγνωσιν τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας, πρὸς δὲ τούτοις πᾶν τὸ ζητούμενον ἑτοίμως ἔνεστιν εὑρεῖν διὰ τούτου·
For my part, I judge that the class of tables of contents is also useful; indeed, it directs the attention of those who wish to read, and summons and incites those who consult the work to read it, and furthermore, through it one can readily find whatever is sought.
§11.1a.3θεωρῶν δὲ διὰ πολλὰς αἰτίας καὶ τὰς τυχούσας ὀλιγωρούμενον καὶ φθειρόμενον τὸ τῶν προγραφῶν γένος, οὕτως καὶ διὰ ταῦτα πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ μέρος κατηνέχθην·
But seeing that for many and indeed casual reasons the class of tables of contents is neglected and ruined, I was for this reason led to adopt the following method.
§11.1a.4τῆς γὰρ προεκθέσεως οὐ μόνον ἰσοδυναμούσης πρὸς τὴν προγραφήν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πλεῖόν τι δυναμένης, ἅμα δὲ καὶ χώραν ἐχούσης ἀσφαλεστέραν διὰ τὸ συμπεπλέχθαι τῇ πραγματείᾳ,
For the introductory summary not only has the same value as the table of contents, but is capable of even more, and at the same time occupies a safer position through being interwoven with the narrative itself.
§11.1a.5τούτῳ μᾶλλον ἐδοκιμάσαμεν χρῆσθαι τῷ μέρει παρʼ ὅλην τὴν σύνταξιν πλὴν ἓξ τῶν πρώτων βυβλίων· ἐν ἐκείνοις δὲ προγραφὰς ἐποιησάμεθα διὰ τὸ μὴ λίαν ἐναρμόζειν ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸ τῶν προεκθέσεων γένος.
Therefore, I preferred to use this method throughout the whole work, except for the first six books; in those books we made tables of contents because the method of introductory summaries did not fit them very well.