ARISTOTLE. Aristotles Politiques, or Discourses of Government. Translated out of Greeke into French, with Expositions taken out of the best Authours, specially out of Aristotle himselfe, and out of Plato, conferred together where Occasion of Matter treated by them both doth offer it selfe: the Observations and Reasons whereof are illustrated and confirmed by innumerable Examples, both old and new, gathered out of the most renowmed Empires, Kingdomes, Seignories, and Commonweals that ever have bene, and whereof the Knowledge could be had in Writing, or by faythfull Report, concerning the Beginning, Proceeding, and Excellencie of civile Government. By Loys Le Roy, called Regius. Translated out of French into English. At London, printed by Adam Islip. Anno Dom. 1598.
Folio, pp. [30], 393, [5], wanting the initial and terminal blanks; 2D3-4 cut short at the foot (probably a consequence of initial misbinding, not, we think, supplied); contemporary signature excised from title in pen, title-page a little dusty, some light browning at the edges, but withal a very good copy in seventeenth-century panelled calf, rubbed, rebacked preserving the spine label, corners renewed.
First edition in English of Aristotle’s Politics, the most important work of classical political philosophy after Plato’s Republic, translated from the revised second French edition of 1576.The translator, who signs the ‘Dedicatorie Epistle’ to Sir Robert Sidney with the initials ‘I. D’, long escaped identification, but the recent rediscovery at Shrewsbury School of the dedication copy, which prints the translator’s name in full, has revealed it as the work of John Dickenson (c. 1570-1635/6). Dickenson, whose prior works had included English romance and Latin satire (he provides the verse ‘Interpres ad Lectorem’ here), was a skilled linguist and evidently familiar with political theory. He may already have been employed at this time as a spy in the Low Countries, and, on the back of his Aristotle, was to be take up a number of important diplomatic positions in the Low Countries, Germany and Poland, before his appointment as ordinary clerk to the Privy Council in 1622. ‘His Latinity and circumspection have hindered his reputation as an author: only recently has it become clear that the English author Dickenson was identical with the Latin poet Dickensonus … In the broad view his literary achievements show a deep talent and facility, and their function as preparation for a career of state service is notable’ (Gavin Alexander, Oxford DNB).
Pforzheimer 10; STC 760.
£12500
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