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have very little to inform the Reader concerning this new edition of a poet whose immortal fame is so universally established in every country, where due honour is paid to genius, and uncommon natural endowments. It being chiefly intended for the use of schools, correctness and cheapness have been more consulted than that elegance and splendour, which too often exceeds the narrow circumstances of the diligent, but indigent youth.

The best editions have been carefully compared, as well these that appeared during the author's life as those since his death: the variations of the text have been constantly attended to, the differences duly weighed, and those readings chosen and oftentimes replaced, that had been either corrupted by the carelessness and inadvertency of former editors, or Rh