The Works of Virgil: Translated into English Blank Verse. With Large Explanatory Notes, and Critical Observations. By Joseph Trapp. London: J. Brotherton, et al., 1731, 8vo.
THE VERY RARE FIRST COMPLETE EDITION OF JOSEPH TRAPP'S CONTROVERSIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF VIRGIL INTO BLANK VERSE WHICH SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH MILTON AS THE ENGLISH VIRGIL.
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Joseph Trapp was an English clergyman, academic, poet and pamphleteer. Of his translation into blank verse of Virgil, the first volume of the Aeneid came out in 1718, the second in 1720, and the translation of the complete works with notes, was published in three volumes in 1731 and 1735. His Johannis Miltoni Paradisus Amissus Latine redditus was a Latin translation of John Milton's Paradise Lost, printed at his own cost, and he lost heavily on it. A modern critical view sees a definite intention in the translation of Virgil into Miltonic blank verse, followed by the translation of Milton into Virgilian hexameters, namely to place Milton as the English Virgil.
Virgil's Eclogues and Georgicks are complete in the first volume, as well as books 1-6 of the Aeneid in the second volume (only), lacking the third volume of the set and thus the final 6 books of the Aeneid. Nonetheless it remains a beautiful set in contemporary bindings with lovely illustrated plates (frontispieces) as pictured.
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Size: 105 x 171 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[frontis, t.p., i-xcii (preface), (1) (eratta), half title, 240pp.]; [frontis, t.p., 420pp.]
Contemporary full calf retaining tooled morocco labels. Volume numbers tooled in gilt between raised bands, compartments lined in gilt. Gilt borders to boards. Bindings a little rubbed, more so at the extremities. Both boards of the first volume are very good, and to the second volume more heavily rubbed with few spots of discolouration. Shelf and edge wear with minor losses at corners. Page edges of the first volume very good, and to the second with some ink dots, heaviest to the fore-edge. All boards are securely attached. The bindings secure. Slight shelf lean to the second volume, but both remain vertically stable. Bookplate to front pastedown in each volume of John and Helen Collins. Endpapers a little edge toned as commensurate with the bindings, but generally very good. Very clean throughout the text blocks, without any foxing or similar impediments. An excellent set.
[ESTC T139433; MMSID 9930775323804341; Foxon pp.818].
