Romane Historie Written by T. Livius
Item #80492
LIVIUS, Titus. The Romane Historie Written by T. Livius of Padua. Also, the Breviaries of L. Florus: with a Chronologie to the Whole Historie; and the Topographie of Rome in Old Time. Translated out of Latine Into English by Philemon Holland. Woodcut allegorical device on title, woodcut portrait of Elizabeth I on title verso, woodcut headpieces, decorative and historiated initials. [12], 804, 809-1351, 1354-1403, [43] pp. Folio. London: Adam Islip, 1600. First edition in English of Livy's Roman History and Philemon Holland's first published translation. Eighteenth century tree calf, rebacked at an early date, spine gilt red and black morocco lettering pieces. STC 16613; ESTC S114001; Pforzheimer, 495l; Luborsky & Ingram. Engl. illustrated books, 1536-1603, 16613. In half brown morocco slipcase and chemise. "[Translator Philemon] Holland's first book, the first complete rendering of Livy into English, was published in 1600 when he was nearly fifty. It was a work of great importance, presented in a grand folio volume of 1458 pages, and dedicated to the queen. The translation set out to be lucid and unpretentious, and achieved its aim with marked success. It is accurate, and often lively, and although it does not attempt to imitate the terseness of Latin, it avoids prolixity. As part of his book Holland translated two other substantial works - an ancient epitome of Roman history that provides an outline of the lost books of Livy, and Bartolomeo Marliani's guide to the topography of Rome - as well as some smaller texts. These were taken from the edition of Livy published in Paris in 1573; by translating them, Holland was making available in English a great learned compendium of historical knowledge, not simply a single ancient author"(ODNB). Livy's foundational history of Rome covering the period from before the traditional founding in 753 BC through the reign of Augustus in Livy's own lifetime would be an important source for America's founding fathers. "The American Revolution further intensified interest in the Roman world. By anchoring those arguments for freedom to ancient precedent, Revolutionary American authors aimed to demonstrate that their arguments were timeless and firmly embedded in history. Historians such as Plutarch, Livy, and Tacitus successfully encapsulated in writing the eternal and unavoidable struggle between.
Price: $17,500.00