“THE MOST WIDELY STUDIED MILITARY HANDBOOK IN LITERATURE”: 1565 FIRST COMPLETE EDITION IN ENGLISH OF CAESAR’S COMMENTARIES

CAESAR, Gaius Julius. The eyght bookes of Caius Iulius Cæsar conteyning his martiall exploytes in the Realme of Gallia and the Countries bordering uppon the same translated oute of latin into English by Arthur Goldinge. London: Willyam Seres, 1565. Small octavo, contemporary full dark brown calf sympathetically rebacked, blind-stamped centerpiece on both covers, raised bands, renewed endpapers; collation: *8; **4; Mm8; Nn2; A-Ll8. Housed in a full black morocco gilt custom clamshell box.

First complete edition in English of Caesar’s Commentaries, a landmark translation by Arthur Golding from the original Latin, including the first translation into English of De Bello Gallico (The Gallic Wars), in contemporary binding.

Caesar's only extant work apart from his history of the Roman Civil Wars and a few letters, his Commentaries is "the most widely studied military handbook in literature and a model of clear, straightforward composition" (Hornstein, 81). "There are few better models of pure narrative than Caesar. He concerns himself almost exclusively with action. Characters and personalities are revealed by the kinds of action his people perform. He rarely discusses his plans beforehand with the reader. The results reveal the plans. The consequences award praise or blame" (Rexroth, Classics Revisited, 97). The eighth book of the Commentaries was written by Aulus Hirtius, one of Caesar's generals and one of the consuls appointed immediately after Caesar's assassination. In addition to this work, Golding is also known as the translator of the influential English version of Ovid's Metamorphoses. "It is quite certain that Shakespeare was well acquainted with his work" (DNB). "The first English translation of De Bello Gallico, with the eighth book by Aulus Hirtius" (Pforzheimer). John Tiptoft's 1530 edition of the Commentaries in English consisted only of a series of excerpts, and while the title page claimed it to be from the original Latin, it was actually made from a French translation of the original. State of the colophon with printer's address "at the signe of the Hedge-/hog" (vs. "Hedge-/hogge"), "probably worked off simultaneously" (Pforzheimer). Text printed in Gothic type. STC 4335. Pforzheimer 410. Moss I:241. Brueggemann, 518-19. Palmer, 19. Harris, 31. CBEL I:773. Occasional discreet underscores and marginal markings.

Slightly darkened title page mounted and rehinged, with upper corner renewed, just touching woodcut border. Marginal tear to P3, not affecting text; dampstain to last several leaves only. Expert restoration to contemporary boards. A complete copy in handsome contemporary boards.