"AN earnest desire of improving this Selection as much as possible, has engaged the Compiler to make considerable alterations upon it in every succeeding impression; and in none more than the present. For these liberties he hopes to be forgiven; especially as they have been the means of giving it at last a degree of excellence, which, he flatters himself, will render it highly acceptable to every person of taste. To prevent, however, the inconveniences which might attend the varying of it so much in future editions, it is determined to allow it, henceforward, to remain the same, or nearly the same, as it is now presented to the Public.Of the general plan and manner of using it, the following is a short account." This is an edition of a classical book first published in the eighteenth century.