THE SATIRES OF DECIMUS JUNIUS JUVENALIS. Translated into English Verse. by Mr. Dryden, and Several other Eminent Hands. Togegher with the SATIRES OF AULUS PERSIUS FALCCUS. Made English by Mr. Dryden With Explanatory Notes at the end of each Satire. To which is Prefix'd a Discourse concerning the Origianal and Provgress of Satire. Dedicated to teh Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset, &c. By Mr. Dryden

(London: Printed for Jacob Tonson at the Judge's-Head in Chjancery-Lane, near Fleetstreet, 1693).

FIRST EDITION OF DRYDEN'S IMPORTANT TRANSLATION OF BOTH CLASSICAL AUTHORS. Dryden's sons helped with the translations of Juvenal in a few instances, the intention being to English the works in manner that would be familiar to readers of the time. Decimus Junius Juvenalis, Englished as Juvenal (c. 55–128), was a Roman poet and author of the Satires, a collection of satirical poems. The details of Juvenal's life are unclear, but references in his works to people from the late first and early second centuries AD suggest that he began writing no earlier than that time.
Juvenal wrote at least 16 poems in the verse form dactylic hexameter. These poems cover a range of Roman topics. This follows Lucilius—the originator of the Roman satire genre, and it fits within a poetic tradition that also includes Horace and Persius. The Satires are a vital source for the study of ancient Rome from a number of perspectives. At first glance the Satires could be read as a critique of Rome.
Aulus Persius Flaccus (/ˈpɜːrʃiəs, ˈpɜːrʃəs/; 4 December 34 – 24 AD) was a Roman poet and satirist of Etruscan origin. In his works, poems and satire, he shows a Stoic wisdom and a strong criticism for what he considered to be the stylistic abuses of his poetic contemporaries. His works, which became very popular in the Middle Ages, were published after his death by his friend and mentor, the Stoic philosopher Lucius Annaeus Cornutus.
According to the Life contained in the manuscripts, Persius was born into an equestrian family at Volterra (Volaterrae, in Latin), a small Etruscan city in the province of Pisa, of good stock on both parents' side. At the age of twelve Persius came to Rome, where he was taught by Remmius Palaemon and the rhetor Verginius Flavus. During the next four years he developed friendships with the Stoic Lucius Annaeus Cornutus, the lyric poet Caesius Bassus and the poet Lucan. Lucan would become a generous admirer of all Persius wrote.
Persius strikes the highest note that Roman satire reached; in earnestness and moral purpose he rises far superior to the political rancour or good-natured persiflage of his predecessors and the rhetorical indignation of Juvenal. From him we learn how that philosophy could work on minds that still preserved the depth and purity of the old Roman gravitas. wiki. Item #34671

First Edition. With half-tltle and title-pages as called for. Large Folio, (15" x 9.5"), elegantly bound in full contemporary polished calf, the spine with raised bands over cords, the compartments fully gilt decorated with border tooling and central gilt ornaments within the compartments, one compartment with a red morocco lettering label gilt decorated, the covers with gilt interlocking panels and decorative corner tooling and inner roll tooling gilt. [4], [liii], [3], 315, [1]; [4], 87, [1] pp. A fine copy with only a bit of age evidence or evidence of use, the binding strong and well preserved, the text-block crisp and clean and unpressed. A very pleasing and handsome copy with only minor wear.

Price: $2,850.00