More  correct  than  either  of  the  two  preceding  editions,  is  the  one
of  which  a  description  is  now  presented  to  the  reader.  AudifFi'edi,
Edit.  Rom.  p.  58-60,  has  given  a  list  of  a  few  of  its  variations  from
the  readings  of  the  preceding  impressions  ;  from  which,  it  appears
that  its  episcopal  editor,  the  Bishop  of  Aleria,  has  not  boasted  with-
out reason  of  its  superior  accuracy.  The  dedicatory  Epistle  of  the
Bishop  is  on  the  recto  of  the  first  leaf,  and  bears  date  M.CCCC.LXX :
the  reader  may  see  it  extracted  in  the  Opfimor.  Scriptor.  Edit.  p.  79,  of
Cardinal  Quirini,  edit.  Schelhorn,  1761,  4to.  This  epistle,  as  has  been
already  obsen'ed,  proves  that  the  works  of  Lactantius  had  been  more
than  once  before  printed  by  Sweynheym  and  Pannartz  :  see  the  note  at
page  207,  ante.
The  table  begins  on  the  reverse  of  the  first  leaf ;  preceded  by  the
editorial  epistle  of  the  Bp.  of  Aleria  to  Paul  II.  The  head  of  the  first
chapter,  beginning  on  the  13th  leaf,  is  here  printed  in  4  lines ;  diffe-
rent from  the  edition  of  1468,  A  full  page  contains  38  lines.  The
volume  contains  210  leaves,  exclusively  of  tliose  of  the  table.  On  the
recto  of  the  222nd,  from  the  beginning,  at  bottom,  are  the  well  known


renke;  1471.]  LACTANTIUS.  •  211

verses,  commencing  with  *  Aspicis  illustris :'   vide  p.  20,  ante;  and
AudiflFredi  ibid.    Subjoined,  is  the  date

.M.CCCC.LXX.
