Decimus Junius Juvenalis And Aulus Persius Flaccus Translated And Illustrated As well with Sculpture as Notes. By Barten Holyday. [the Satires of Perseus with separate title]

Oxford: Printed by W.Downing, for F.Oxlad Senior, J.Adams, and F.Oxlad Junior, 1673. First Edition of the English Translation, with extensive commentary, by Barten Holyday of the satires of Juvenal, incorporating the fourth edition of Holyday’s translation with commentary of the satires of Persius Flaccus. This is also the first English translation to be illustrated, most of the engravings being the work of David Loggan. Prefixed are testimonials by scholars Thomas Farnaby and John Selden. Holyday [1593-1661] was chaplain to Sir Francis Steuart and afterwards to Charles I. Before 1626 he became archdeacon of Oxford, and in 1642 was created D.D. “A translation noted for ‘rigid fidelity’. Holyday was ‘a writer of great learning, and even of critical acuteness, as the excellent commentary on the author fully shews.’ – Tytler. Dryden observes, Holyday’s ‘interpretation and illustrations of Juvenal are as excellent as the verse of his translation and his English are lame and pitiful.’ ‘The most literal translation; and certainly the most learned notes are contained in this volume of all the translations of these caustic authors.’ - Heath.” (Lowndes) Juvenal inspired many authors including Samuel Johnson, who modeled his ‘London’ on Satire III and his ‘The Vanity of Human Wishes’ on Satire X. He is also the source of many well-known maxims, including that men should pray for ‘mens sana in corpore sano’ rather than wealth, power or children, that a perfect wife is a ‘rare bird’ (‘rara avis in terres nigroque simillima cycno’), and that power corrupts (‘quis custodiet ipsos custodes’). Brueggemann pp. 659-60 & 680. Wing J1276. Madan 2927. folio. pp. 6 p.l., 341. without the last leaf containing the longitudinal title, as usual. first title in red & black. 4 engraved plates (incl. 1 map, 1 folding, & 1 of a manual counting system) & 48 engravings & woodcuts in the text (incl. 1 map). woodcut title vignettes. 19th century half calf (rubbed, 2 plates shaved at upper & lower edges, 1 text illus. shaved at outer edge, dampstain to outer margin in first gatherings, occasional stains)