Tibulli Et Propertii Opera
by Tibullus and Propertius
| Tibulli Et Propertii Opera | |
 Title page from Tibulli Et Propertii Opera, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary. | |
| Author | Tibullus and Propertius |
| Published | Glasguae: Excudebant Robertus & Andreas Foulis |
| Date | 1753 |
| Edition | Ex Editione J. Broukhusii Fideliter Expressa |
| Language | Latin |
| Pages | [4], xvii, [1], 63, [1], xxv, [1], 126, [2] |
| Desc. | 8vo (17 cm.) |
This work contains the poems of the Roman elegiac poets Tibullus and Propertius. It was published by two well-known and regarded Scottish publishers, Robert and Andrew Foulis.
Tibullus was born between 55 and 48BCE and died in 19BCE.[1] He was an equestrian who socialized with the poetical circle around Messala, with whom he traveled to the East sometime around 30BCE. Their trip was cut short due to illness, after which Tibullus may have served under Messala in Gaul. There are three extant books of love-poems connected to Tibullus, though only the first two are actually his work – the third being the works of other poets of Messala’s circle.[2]
Propertius was born in Assissi around 50BCE and died between 16 and 2 BCE.[3] He received a Roman education in law, but instead pursued poetry, with four extant books of elegies. Propertius belonged to the small group of poets including Ovid, and his first book’s success allowed him entrance into the larger group of Maecenas, as well. He is best known as a love-poet, though his books do contain a variety of themes and subjects. Unfortunately, his works are made more difficult to interpret due to corruptions of the original text, compounded by his “intense visual imagination” which forces readers to understand the implications of a poem’s setting before being able to decipher Propertius’s passionate train of thought.[4]
Both Tibullus and Propertius expressed the belief that love is the true goal and occupation of life.[5] Similarly, they both represented themselves as enslaved by their lovers, though Tibullus is more specific regarding his “enslavement” than Propertius. One key difference between the two poets is that Tibullus rarely uses mythology, while Propertius makes heavy use of it.[6] Also, one of Tibullus’ favorite themes concerns the pleasure of country life, as opposed to Propertius’ urban settings.[7]
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as Tibullus et Propertius. 12mo. Foul. This was one of the titles kept by Thomas Jefferson. The Foulis Press printed one version of the works of Tibullus and Propertius, Tibulli Et Propertii Opera, in 1753.[8] Jefferson sold a copy of the same edition to the Library of Congress in 1815.[9] Both George Wythe's Library[10] on LibraryThing and the Brown Bibliography[11] list the Library of Congress copy as Wythe's volume. Jefferson's copy no longer exists to conclusively verify Wythe's prior ownership. The Wolf Law Library purchased a copy of the Foulis 1753 edition.
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in contemporary calf with raised bands, gilt compartments, and red morocco label with gilt lettering. Includes the inscription "E Libris Sandwich, 1827" on the front free endpaper. Purchased from G.W. Stuart, Jr.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
References
- ↑ " Tibu'llus, A'lbius” in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature, ed. by M.C. Howatson (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ "Prope'rtius, Sextus” in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature, ed. by M.C. Howatson (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ "Tibullus, Albius" in Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World, ed. by John Roberts (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007).
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Philip Gaskell, A Bibliography of The Foulis Press, 2nd ed. (Winchester, Hampshire, England : St Paul's Bibliographies, 1986), 187.
- ↑ E. Millicent Sowerby, Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson 2nd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), 4:476 [no.4401].
- ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe" accessed on November 11, 2013.
- ↑ 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
External Links
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