ture[63] editors. Of such importance is the _first edition of
Shakspeare_[64] considered, that a fac-simile reprint of it has been
published with success. In regard to the Greek and Latin Classics, the
possession of these original editions is of the first consequence to
editors who are anxious to republish the legitimate text of an author.
Wakefield, I believe always regretted that the first edition of
Lucretius had not been earlier inspected by him. When he began _his_
edition, the Editio Princeps was not (as I have understood) in the
library of Earl Spencer--the storehouse of almost every thing that is
exquisite and rare in ancient classical literature!

[Footnote 62: There is a curious and amusing article in
Bayle [English edition, vol. i., 672, &c.] about the elder
ANCILLON, who frankly confessed that he "was troubled with
the BIBLIOMANIA, or disease of buying books." Mr. D'Israeli
says "that he always purchased _first editions_, and never
waited for second ones,"--but I find it, in the English
Bayle, note D, "he chose _the best_ editions." The manner in
which Ancillon's library was pillaged by the Ecclesiastics
of Metz (where it was considered as the most valuable
curiosity in the town) is thus told by Bayle; "Ancillon was
obliged to leave Metz: a company of Ecclesiastics, of all
orders, came from every part, to lay hands on this fine and
copious library, which had been collected with the utmost
care during forty years. They took away a great number of
the books together, and gave a little money, as they went
out, to a young girl, of twelve or thirteen years of age,
who looked after them, that they might have it to say they
had _paid for them_. Thus Ancillon saw that valuable
collection dispersed, in which, as he was wont to say, his
chief pleasure and even his heart was placed!"--Edit. 1734.]

[Footnote 63: An instance of this kind may be adduced from
the _first edition_ of Fabian, printed in 1516; of which
Messrs. Longman, and Co., have now engaged a very able
editor to collate the text with that of the subsequent
editions. "The antiquary," says the late Mr. BRAND, "is
desired to consult the edition of Fabian, printed by Pynson,
in 1516, because there are others, and I remember to have
seen one in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, with a
continuation to the end of Queen