 |
ARISTOTLE.
Politicorum ad Nicomachum.
Venice, Geronimo Scoto 1542. [with]
Oeconomicorum.
Venice, Geronimo Scoto 1540.
£1450.00
|
|
8vo. ff. 195 [i]. + pp. [vi] 41 [i] + ff. 26 [ii]. 1st work Roman letter, second Roman and Greek. Woodcut printer's device of Peace on Earth on both t-ps, woodcut device with palm, olive branch, anchor, and 'SOS' on last of Oeconomicorum, fine large woodcut initials with arms (i.a. Medici) in Politicorum. Sm. excision in blank portion of first t-p sympathetically restored at back, interesting and extensive contemp. ms. marginalia in Latin. A good, crisp copy in contemp. vellum, some worming at the base of spine, ties missing. A very rare edition of Leonardo (Aretino) Bruni's version of Aristotle's Politics, and of Bernardino Donato's version of Aristotle's Economics, which had also been translated by Bruni and published c1471. Donato mentions the latter in his preface to the work. The eight books of the Politics contain Aristotle's idea that the state was developed naturally by the grouping of families in villages, and of villages in a state, for the purpose of securing for the citizens a good and self-sufficient life. He discusses citizenship, classifies existing constitutions, and recognises the advantages of a limited democracy, although he thinks that the best form of government is either an enlightened monarchy, or an aristocracy of virtuous men. Books 4-6 deal with historical states; 7 and 8 contain the discussion of the ideal state. Each book is introduced by an useful outline by Raffaello Maffei. The first books of the Economics deal with the relationship between man and woman, the second contains historical examples. This is followed by the original Greek text. Leonardo Bruni (1369-1444) was born at Arezzo, the birthplace of Petrarch. He learnt Greek in Florence under Chrysoloras, and his fame as a latinist led to his being a papal secretary from 1405 to 1415, and chancellor of Florence from 1427 to his death. His reputation, however, rests on his translations from the Greek. Beginning with Demosthenes, he subsequently provided versions of works of Aeschines, Plutarch, Xenophon, and Plato. The much admired translation of the Politics was prompted by the admiration for his Ethics expressed by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. He used a manuscript obtained from Constantinople by Palla Strozzi, probably comparing it with the manuscript in possession of his friend Filelfo. According to Sandys, 'Bruni describes the original as an opus magnificum ac plane regium, and he had good reason to be proud of a free and flowing version that made the Greek masterpiece intelligible to the Latin scholars of Europe.' [cit. infr.]. Politicorum: Index Aurel. 108.059 (4 copies only). See Sandys II pp. 45-46. Not in BM STC, Adams, Brunet, Graesse, or Dibdin. Oeconomicorum: Index Aurel. 108.000 (3 copies only). Not in BM STC, Adams, Brunet, Graesse, Dibdin, Goldsmith Canney/Gibbs, or Kress Barucci/Carpenter.
SNL188
|
|
|