Difference between revisions of "M.T. Ciceronis Orationes Quaedam Selectae"

From Wythepedia: The George Wythe Encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
(Summary paragraphs by Andrew Steffensen.)
(Evidence)
Line 4: Line 4:
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero] (106–43 BCE) was a Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, political theorist, consul, and constitutionalist. He is widely considered to be one of Rome’s greatest orators and prose stylists.<ref>Elizabeth Rawson, ''Cicero: A Portrait'' (Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1994), 303 and Henry Joseph Haskell, ''This was Cicero'' (New York: Fawcett Publications, 1964), 300-301.</ref> His influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but European languages up to the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against or a return to his style.<ref>''Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature'', s.v. "Ciceronian period" (Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1995), 244.</ref><br />
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero] (106–43 BCE) was a Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, political theorist, consul, and constitutionalist. He is widely considered to be one of Rome’s greatest orators and prose stylists.<ref>Elizabeth Rawson, ''Cicero: A Portrait'' (Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1994), 303 and Henry Joseph Haskell, ''This was Cicero'' (New York: Fawcett Publications, 1964), 300-301.</ref> His influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but European languages up to the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against or a return to his style.<ref>''Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature'', s.v. "Ciceronian period" (Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1995), 244.</ref><br />
 
<br />  
 
<br />  
−
In addition to his profound skills as a linguist, translator and philosopher, Cicero introduced the Romans to the chief schools of Greek philosophy and created a Latin philosophical vocabulary.<ref>Gian Biagio Conte, ''Latin Literature: A History'' (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994), 199.</ref> When Cicero’s letters were rediscovered in the fourteenth century, his teachings and writings became a foundation for the initiation of the fourteenth century Renaissance. According to one historian,<ref>Cheney, Dr. Liana. "Italian Renaissance Art: Humanism & Philosophical Background: Neoplatonism, Ficino and Pico." Italian Renaissance Art: Humanism & Philosophical Background: Neoplatonism, Ficino and Pico. http://faculty.uml.edu/CulturalStudies/Italian_Renaissance/8_9.htm (accessed October 24, 2013).</ref> “[The] Renaissance was above all things a revival of Cicero, and only after him and through him of the rest of Classical antiquity.”<ref>Zielinski, Tadeusz . Cicero im Wandel der Jahrhunderte. Leipzig [etc.: Teubner, 1897.</ref><br />
+
In addition to his profound skills as a linguist, translator and philosopher, Cicero introduced the Romans to the chief schools of Greek philosophy and created a Latin philosophical vocabulary.<ref>Gian Biagio Conte, ''Latin Literature: A History'' (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994), 199.</ref> When Cicero’s letters were rediscovered in the fourteenth century, his teachings and writings became a foundation for the initiation of the fourteenth century Renaissance.<ref>Liana Cheney, [http://faculty.uml.edu/CulturalStudies/Italian_Renaissance/8_9.htm "Italian Renaissance Art: Humanism & Philosophical Background: Neoplatonism, Ficino and Pico"], accessed October 24, 2013.</ref> According to one historian, “[The] Renaissance was above all things a revival of Cicero, and only after him and through him of the rest of Classical antiquity.”<ref>Tadeusz Zielinski, ''Cicero im Wandel der Jahrhunderte'' (Leipzig: B. G. Teubner, 1897).</ref><br />
 
<br />   
 
<br />   
−
The Peak of Cicero’s authority and prestige came during the eighteenth century Enlightenment.<ref>Wood, Neal. "Essentials of the Mixed Constitution." In Cicero's social and political thought. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. 168.</ref> His work had a profound impact on the individuals that were the most influential during the Enlightenment such as John Locke, David Hume, and Montesquieu.<ref>Ibid.</ref> As a politician, Cicero was a fierce advocate for republican principles.<ref>Sellers, M. N. S.. "The United States Constitution." In American Republicanism: Roman Ideology in the United States Constitution. New York: New York University Press, 1994. 57.</ref> It was this highly pro-republic philosophy that caused Cicero’s work to have a strong impact on the Founding Fathers of the United States.<ref>Ibid.</ref> John Adams said of Cicero, “As all the ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher united than Cicero, his authority should have great weight.”<ref>Ibid.</ref> Thomas Jefferson names Cicero as one of a handful of major figures who contributed to a tradition of “public right” that informed his draft of the [[Declaration of Independence]] and shaped American understandings of the “common sense” basis for the right of revolution.<ref>Frisch, Morton J., and Richard G. Stevens. "Letter to Henry Lee." In The political thought of American statesmen; selected writings and speeches.. Itasca, Ill.: F.E. Peacock Publishers, 1973. 12.</ref>
+
The Peak of Cicero’s authority and prestige came during the eighteenth century Enlightenment.<ref>Neal Wood, ''Cicero's Social and Political Thought (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988), 168.</ref> His work had a profound impact on the individuals that were the most influential during the Enlightenment such as John Locke, David Hume, and Montesquieu.<ref>Ibid.</ref> As a politician, Cicero was a fierce advocate for republican principles.<ref>M. N. S. Sellers, ''American Republicanism: Roman Ideology in the United States Constitution'' (New York: New York University Press, 1994), 57.</ref> It was this highly pro-republic philosophy that caused Cicero’s work to have a strong impact on the Founding Fathers of the United States.<ref>Ibid.</ref> John Adams said of Cicero, “As all the ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher united than Cicero, his authority should have great weight.”<ref>Ibid.</ref> [[Thomas Jefferson]] lists Cicero (along with Aristotle, Locke and Sidney) as an author of "books of public right" which provided "harmonizing sentiments of the day" which Jefferson express in the [[Declaration of Independence]].<ref>[http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mtj.mtjbib025396  Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, Jr., May 8, 1825] in ''The Thomas Jefferson Papers Series 1 General Correspondence 1651-1827'', (Washington DC: Library of Congress), images 219-220.</ref>
  
 
==Bibliographic Information==
 
==Bibliographic Information==
Line 18: Line 18:
  
 
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
 
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
 +
Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as ''Ciceronis orationes selectae Delph. 8vo.'' [[Thomas Jefferson]] gave Wythe's copy to his grandson [[Thomas Jefferson Randolph]]. The precise edition owned by Wythe is unknown. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on November 13, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe </ref> on LibraryThing indicates as much while noting "Numerous octavo editions were published at Cambridge and London, the first in 1692." The [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref> 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</ref> lists the 1722, London edition and this is the one the Wolf Law Library chose to purchase.
  
 
==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
 
==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
Line 23: Line 24:
 
<br />
 
<br />
 
View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3630042 William & Mary's online catalog].
 
View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/3630042 William & Mary's online catalog].
−
===References===
+
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  

Revision as of 10:39, 13 November 2013

by Marcus Tullius Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BCE) was a Roman philosopher, politician, lawyer, orator, political theorist, consul, and constitutionalist. He is widely considered to be one of Rome’s greatest orators and prose stylists.[1] His influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but European languages up to the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against or a return to his style.[2]

In addition to his profound skills as a linguist, translator and philosopher, Cicero introduced the Romans to the chief schools of Greek philosophy and created a Latin philosophical vocabulary.[3] When Cicero’s letters were rediscovered in the fourteenth century, his teachings and writings became a foundation for the initiation of the fourteenth century Renaissance.[4] According to one historian, “[The] Renaissance was above all things a revival of Cicero, and only after him and through him of the rest of Classical antiquity.”[5]

The Peak of Cicero’s authority and prestige came during the eighteenth century Enlightenment.[6] His work had a profound impact on the individuals that were the most influential during the Enlightenment such as John Locke, David Hume, and Montesquieu.[7] As a politician, Cicero was a fierce advocate for republican principles.[8] It was this highly pro-republic philosophy that caused Cicero’s work to have a strong impact on the Founding Fathers of the United States.[9] John Adams said of Cicero, “As all the ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher united than Cicero, his authority should have great weight.”[10] Thomas Jefferson lists Cicero (along with Aristotle, Locke and Sidney) as an author of "books of public right" which provided "harmonizing sentiments of the day" which Jefferson express in the Declaration of Independence.[11]

Bibliographic Information

Author: Marcus Tullius Cicero

Title: M.T. Ciceronis Orationes Quaedam Selectae

Publication Info: Editio quarta, auctior & emendatior. Londini: Typis Gulielmi Sayes, impensis J. Knapton, R Wilkin, J. & B. Sprint, B. & S. Tooke, D. Midwinter, B. Cowse, G. Mortlock, W. & J. Innys, & A. Ward, 1722.

Edition:

Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library

Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as Ciceronis orationes selectae Delph. 8vo. Thomas Jefferson gave Wythe's copy to his grandson Thomas Jefferson Randolph. The precise edition owned by Wythe is unknown. George Wythe's Library[12] on LibraryThing indicates as much while noting "Numerous octavo editions were published at Cambridge and London, the first in 1692." The Brown Bibliography[13] lists the 1722, London edition and this is the one the Wolf Law Library chose to purchase.

Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy

Bound in original decorative calf binding with copperplate ink signature to title page. Purchased from Rooke Books.

View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.

References

  1. ↑ Elizabeth Rawson, Cicero: A Portrait (Bristol: Bristol Classical Press, 1994), 303 and Henry Joseph Haskell, This was Cicero (New York: Fawcett Publications, 1964), 300-301.
  2. ↑ Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature, s.v. "Ciceronian period" (Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1995), 244.
  3. ↑ Gian Biagio Conte, Latin Literature: A History (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994), 199.
  4. ↑ Liana Cheney, "Italian Renaissance Art: Humanism & Philosophical Background: Neoplatonism, Ficino and Pico", accessed October 24, 2013.
  5. ↑ Tadeusz Zielinski, Cicero im Wandel der Jahrhunderte (Leipzig: B. G. Teubner, 1897).
  6. ↑ Neal Wood, Cicero's Social and Political Thought (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988), 168.
  7. ↑ Ibid.
  8. ↑ M. N. S. Sellers, American Republicanism: Roman Ideology in the United States Constitution (New York: New York University Press, 1994), 57.
  9. ↑ Ibid.
  10. ↑ Ibid.
  11. ↑ Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, Jr., May 8, 1825 in The Thomas Jefferson Papers Series 1 General Correspondence 1651-1827, (Washington DC: Library of Congress), images 219-220.
  12. ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on November 13, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe
  13. ↑ 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
Retrieved from "http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/index.php?title=M.T._Ciceronis_Orationes_Quaedam_Selectae&oldid=10796"