Quinti Horatii Flacci Opera Ad Fidem Editionis Gesneri et Zeunii Castigata [Small Later Edition Full Leather Binding Andover Provenance]

Etonae: Veneunt Apud E. Williams; Londini: Etiam Apud Eundem, No 10 Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, 1816, Later Edition. Full morocco leather binding, gilt titles and crests to the spine compartments, five raised gilt bands, gilt compartments. Smaller Edition. Crests for John Hanson, Richard Keymys and Richard Blake to the spine and a leaf at the start of the volume (see photo). Four additional leaves to the front of the volume, the first to do with Andover Grammar School, the second to do with the town benefactors, the third a tribute to John Hanson, the fourth to Lady Ann Lawarr (wife of Richard Keymys). xi, [i], 256pp. Quintus Horatius Flaccus (8 December 65 BC 27 November 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). The rhetorician Quintilian regarded his Odes as just about the only Latin lyrics worth reading: "He can be lofty sometimes, yet he is also full of charm and grace, versatile in his figures, and felicitously daring in his choice of words." Horace also crafted elegant hexameter verses (Satires and Epistles) and caustic iambic poetry (Epodes). The hexameters are amusing yet serious works, friendly in tone, leading the ancient satirist Persius to comment: "as his friend laughs, Horace slyly puts his finger on his every fault; once let in, he plays about the heartstrings". His career coincided with Rome's momentous change from a republic to an empire. An officer in the republican army defeated at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, he was befriended by Octavian's right-hand man in civil affairs, Maecenas, and became a spokesman for the new regime. For some commentators, his association with the regime was a delicate balance in which he maintained a strong measure of independence (he was "a master of the graceful sidestep") but for others he was, in John Dryden's phrase, "a well-mannered court slave". Provenance: undiscernible signature (George ??) from Hungerford, Berkshire to the rear. Approximately 5 inches tall. Condition Report Externally Spine good condition gilt titles and crests/shields to the spine, five raised bands, gently worn top and tail. Joints good condition sound, gently rubbed. Corners good condition bumped and worn. Boards good condition gilt and blind tooled boards. Page edges good condition top edge darkened, all gilt. See above and photos. Internally Hinges good condition sound. Paste downs good condition plain, tanned and foxed, ink signature to the rear. End papers good condition plain, lightly tanned and foxed, final end paper stained with blue ink and standing proud. Title good condition lightly tanned with some foxing. Pages good condition lightly tanned with some foxing throughout. Binding good condition attractive. See photos. Publisher: see above. Publication Date: 1816 Binding: Hardback.…