Spence, Joseph; Tindal, Nicholas [Editor]; Dodsley, James [Oth.]: A Guide To Classical Learning: Or, Polymetis Abridged: Containing, I. By Way of Introduction, the Characters of the Latin Poets and their Work ... II. An Inquiry concerning the Agreement between the Works of the Roman Poets and the Remains of the Antient Artists ... Being a Work absolutely necessary, not only for the Right Understanding of the Classics, but also for forming in Young Minds a True Taste for the Beauties of Poetry, Sculpture, and Painting (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1786)

preface,
towards the understanding of the classics
an exaft knowledge of these things is for
a school-boy, evidently appears from the
allusions to them in almost every line of
the Latin poets. Neither had it ever been
attempted to ffiew the real intent and de-
sign of the allegories os the antients, and
the true nature of their machinery or in-
terposition of the Gods; tho’without a
right notion of these, it is impossible for
the young student (or indeed any body
else) ever to have a true sense of the beau-
ties of the polite arts.
Now in this Abridgement the appear-
ances of the Roman deities are accurately
described, and the real intent of the alle-
gories and machinery of the antients is
dearly set forth; and therefore in these
respedts it is undoubtedly preferable to
any school-book of the kind hitherto pub-
lished.. For,
What an- advantage must it be for the
youths at school to set out with a right no-
tion of these things ? how instrudtive to
have a true idea os that simplicity, plain-
nefs, and propriety of the antient allego-
ries, by which they are characterized, and
A j to