THE favour shown by the public to a preceding edition in the present form, has induced the editor, on a revision, to use his best endeavours to make it less unworthy of the approbation which it has had the good fortune to receive. The text previously followed was that of the edition deservedly in high esteem, prepared for the press by the labours of John Michael Heusinger, and of his nephew, Jacob Frederic Heusinger; published at Brunswick, after the death of the latter, by his son, Conrad. As early as the year 1749, John Michael had announced his intention of editing the Offices: within two or three years after, on his death, his materials fell into the hands of Jacob Frederic, a man of sound judgment, unwearied industry, and well skilled in every department of classic lore. To this work he devoted his attention for a number of years, and by the possession of several MSS. before unexamined, was enabled to verify, and to make, numerous emendations. Since the publication of that edition in 1783, no material improvement of the text, though frequently reprinted in different countries, appears to have been attempted till 1811, when a new critical edition was given at Leipsic, by Aug. Gotth. Gernhard, with a reprint of Facciolati's notes, and the addition of a valuable body of others, prepared by the editor himself. Though the Heusingers' edition has been taken as the basis of the present, Gernhard's has been most carefully compared and consulted: in every instance in which his 3 |