A Poetical Translation of the Works of Horace
A Poetical Translation of the Works of Horace: with the Original Text, and Notes Collected from the Best Latin and French Commentators on that Author
by Horace
| A Poetical Translation of the Works of Horace | |
 Title page from A Poetical Translation of the Works of Horace, volume two, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary. | |
| Author | Horace |
| Translator | Philip Francis |
| Published | London: Printed for A. Millar ... in the Strand |
| Date | 1747 |
| Edition | Second |
| Language | English |
| Volumes | 4 volume set |
| Desc. | (18 cm.) |
Poetical Translation of the Works of Horace is a compilation of the works of Quintus Horatius Flaccus—more commonly known as Horace, the renowned Roman poet, literary critic, and satirist—as well as notes in Latin and French on his work from various critics. Born to a wealthy family in Apulia, Italy, in 65 B.C.E., Horace studied philosophy and literature in Athens before becoming an officer in Brutus’ army.[1] After leaving the army and losing his family’s fortune, Horace went to Rome, where he worked as a clerk at the Treasury and started writing poetry.[2]
In 29 B.C. Horace published Epodes, his first book of poetry, before publishing a four-part series of books calledOdes in 23 B.C and the poem Ars Poetica sometime before his death in 8 B.C.E.[3] Remembered for its plain but witty style, Horace’s poetry covers a wide range of topics, from drinking with friends to political musings on the fate of the Roman Empire as it recovered from years of civil war.[4] Several of Horace’s poems are addressed to dignitaries and political figures, including Emperor Augustus and senators, about subjects such as patriotism, ethics, and honor.[5] Horace encouraged writers to “read widely, to strive for precision, and to find the best criticism” and was a wide influence on several eighteenth-century poets, including Alexander Pope.[6] He is remembered for his ability to simply express difficult ideas and his political, ethical, and social commentary on the Roman Empire, which have influenced great thinkers and leaders throughout history.
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as Horace by Francis. 4.v. 12mo. and given by Thomas Jefferson to his grandson Thomas Jefferson Randolph. The precise edition owned by Wythe is unknown. George Wythe's Library[7] on LibraryThing indicates this, adding "Four-volume duodecimo editions were published at London in 1747, 1750, 1756, 1764, 1765, 1778, 1791, and 1794." The Brown Bibliography[8] lists the London 4th edition published in 1750 based on the copy Jefferson sold to the Library of Congress.[9] The Wolf Law Library purchased the second London edition published in 1747.
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Rebound in brown library binding. Purchased from Smythe Books LLC, ABAA.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
External Links
References
- ↑ The American Academy of Poets, s.v. “Horace," accessed October 3, 2013, http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/331
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Poetry Foundation, s.v. “Horace,” accessed October 3, 2013, http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/horace
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ The American Academy of Poets, s.v. “Horace.”
- ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on November 13, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe
- ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
- ↑ E. Millicent Sowerby, Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 4:507 [no.4476].
