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The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778)/Volume 1/Catalogue of the earliest Translations from Greek and Roman Classicks

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The Plays of William Shakspeare (1778)
William Shakespeare, edited by Isaac Reed
Catalogue of the earliest Translations from Greek and Roman Classicks
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2963741The Plays of William Shakspeare — Catalogue of the earliest Translations from Greek and Roman Classicks1778William Shakespeare

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ANCIENT TRANSLATIONS

FROM

CLASSIC AUTHORS.


HOMER.

TEN Bookes of the Iliades into English out of French, by Arthur Hall, Esquire. Lond. imprinted by Ralph Newberie, 4to[1].1581 The Shield of Achilles, from the 18th Book of Homer, by Geo. Chapman, 4to. Lond.1596 Seven Books of the Iliades, by ditto, 4to[2]. Lond.1596 Do.1598 Fifteen Books of ditto, thin folio1600 The whole Works of Homer, by do. printed for Nath. Butterno date

The Crowne of all Homer’s Workes, Batrachomymachia, &c. thin fol. printed by John Billno date[3] ​

MUSÆUS.

Marloe’s Hero and Leander, with the first Book of Lucan, 4to.1600 There must have been a former Edition[4], as a second Part was puhlished by Henry Petowe1598 Musæus’s Poem of Hero and Leander, imitated by Christopher Marlow, and finished by Geo. Chapman, 8vo. Lond.1606


EURIPIDES.

Jocasta, a Tragedy, from the Phænissa of Euripides, by Geo. Gascoigne, and Mr. Francis Kinwelmershe, 4to. Lond.1556


PLATO.

Axiochus, a Dialogue, attributed to Plato, by Edm. Spenser, 4to[5].1592


DEMOSTHENES.

The Three Orations of Demosthenes, chiefe Orator among the Grecians, in Favour of the Olynthians, with those ​his sower against Philip of Macedon, &c. by Tho. Wylson, Doctor of the Civill Lawes, 4to.1570


ISOCRATES.

Isocrates’s sage Admonition to Demonicus, by R. Nutthall, 8vo, Lond.1557, 12mo. and 1585 Isocrates’s Doctrinal of Princes, by Syr Tho. Elliot, Lond. 8vo.1534 Isocrates’s Orat. intitled Evagoras, by Jer. Wolfe, 8vo.1581 Three Orations of of moral Instructions, one to Demonicus, and two to Nicocles, King of Salamis, translated from Isocrates, by Tho. Forrest, 4to.1580


LUCIAN.

Necromantia, a Dialog of the Poete Lucyen between Menippus and Philonides, for his Fantesye faynyd for a mery Pastyme, in English Verse and Latin Prose. Toxaris, or the Friendship of Lucian, by A.O. Lond. 8vo.1565


HERODOTUS.

The famous Hystory of Herodotus[6], in nine Bookes, &c. by B.R. Lond.1584 N. B. This Piece contains only the two first Books, viz. the Clio and Euterpe. The Translator says in his Preface, “As these speede, so the rest will follow.” 4to.


THUCYDIDES.

The Hystory writtone by Thucydides, &c. translated out of the Frenche of Claude de Seyssel, Bishop of Marseilles, into the Englishe language, by Tho. Nicolls, Citizeine and Goldsmyth of London, fol.1550[7]


POLYBIUS.

Hystories of the most famous and worthy Cronographer, ​Polybius, by Christopher Watson, 8vo,1568 This Work consists of extracts only.


DIODORUS SICULUS[8].

The History of the Successors of Alexander, &c. out of Diodorus Siculus and Plutarch, by Tho. Stocker. Lond. 4to.1569


APPIAN.

An aunciente Historie, &c. by Appian[9] of Alexandria, translated out of diverse Languages, &c. by W. B. 4to.1578


JOSEPHUS.

Josephus’s History, &c. translated into English, by Tho. Lodge, fol. Lond.1602—1609, &c.


ÆLIAN.

Ælian's Registre of Hystories, by Abraham Fleming, 4to.1576


HERODIAN.

The Historie of Herodian, &c. transl. oute of Greeke into Latin, by Angelus Politianus, and out of Latin into Englyshe, by Nich. Smyth. Imprinted at London, by William Coplande, 4to[10].


PLUTARCH.

Plutarch’s Lives[11], by Sir Tho. North, from the Fr. of Amyot, Bishop of Auxerre, fol,1579, 1602, 1603 ​Plutarch's Morals, by Dr. Philemon Holland1603[12] Plutarch of the Education of Children, by Sir Tho. Elyott, 4to. The Preceptes of that excellent Clerke and grave Philosopher Plutarche, for the Preservation of Healthe, 8vo.1543

ARISTOTLE.

The Ethiques of Aristotle, &c. by John Wylkinson. Printed by Grafton, Printer to K. Edw. VI. 8vo. B. L.1547[13] The Secrete of Secretes of Aristotle, &c. translated out of the Frenche, &c. Lond. 8vo,1528 Aristotle’s Politiques, &c[14]. from the Fr. by J. D. fol. Lond.1598


XENOPHON.

The eight Bookes of Xenophon; containing the Institution, Schole, and Education of Cyrus, the noble King of Persye, &c. transl. out of Gr. into Engl. by Mr. William Bercher. Lond. 12mo.1567 and 1569 Do. by Dr. Philemon Holland. Xenophon’s Treatise of Houfe-hold right, connyngly transl. out of the Greke tongue, &c. by Gentian Hervet, &c. 8vo. Lond,1532. 8vo. 1534.
1544. 8vo. 1573 The Arte of Riding from Xenophon, &c. Lond. 4to.1584


EPICTETUS[15].

The Manuell of Epictetus, transl. out of Greeke into French, ​and now into English, &c. Also the Apothegmes, &c. by James Sandford. Lond. 12mo.1567


EUNAPIUS SARDIANUS[16].

The Lyves of Philosophers and Orators, from the Greek of Eunapius, 4to.1579


ACHILLES TATIUS.

The most delectable and pleasant Hist. of Clitophor and Leucippe, from the Greek of Achilles Statius, &c. by W. B. 4to1597[17]


M. ANTONINUS[18].

The Golden Boke of Marcus Aurelius, Emperour and eloquent Orator, 12mo. Lond.1553 Translated out of Fr. into Eng. by Sir John Bourchier, Kt. &c. &c. Other editions of this are in 1534, 1535, 2536, 1537, 1559, 1586, 1588.


DIONYSIUS.

Dionysius’s Description of the Worlde. Englyshed by Tho. Twine, 8vo. Lond.1572


EUCLID.

Euclid’s Elements of Geometry, transl. into Eng. by Rich. Candish, who flourished, A. D.1556 ​Euclid’s Elements, Pref. by John Dee. Lond.1570


HIPPOCRATES.

The Aphorismes of Hippocrates, redacted into a certaine Order, and translated by Humfrie Llhyd, 8vo.1585


GALEN.

Galen’s Two Books of Elements, translated into Engl. by J. Jones, 4to. Lond.1574 Certaine Workes of Galen, englyshed by Tho. Gale, 4to.1586


HELIODORUS.

The Beginning of Æthiopical History in Engl. Hexameters, by Abrah. Fraunce, 8vo. Lond.1591[19] Heliodorus’s Æthiopic Hist. transl. by Tho. Underdown, B. L. 4to. Lond.1577 and 1587


VIRGIL.

The Boke of Eneydos, &c. by Caxton, fol. Lond. prose1490 The thirteen Bukes of Eneados in Scottish Metir, by Gawain Douglas, 4to. Lond.1553 Certain Bookes of Virgile’s Æneis[20] turned into English Metir, by the right honourable Lorde, Henry Earle of Surrey, 4to. Lond.1557 The first seven Bookes of the Eneidos, by Phaer. Lond. 4to. B. L.1558 This Translation is in rhime of fourteen syllables. The nyne first bookes, &c. by Phaer, 4to. Lond.1562 The thirteene Bookes of Eneidos, by Phaer and Twyne, 4to. Lond.1584, 1596, 1607, &c[21]. The first foure Bookes of Virgil’s Æneis, translated into ​Engl. heroic Verse, by Richard Stanyhurst[22], &c. 12mo. Lond.1583 The Bucolickes of Publius Virgilius Maro, &c. by Abraham Fleming, drawn into plaine and familiar Englyshe, Verse for Verse, 4to. B. L.1575 VIrgil’s Eclogues and Georgicks, translated into blank Verse, by the same Author, Lond.1589 The Lamentation of Corydon for the Love of Alexis, Verse for Verse, out of Latine. This is translated into English Hexameters, and printed at the end of the Countesse of Pemhroke’s Ivychurch 1591. By Abraham Fraunce. Virgil’s Culex paraphrased, by Spenser. See his works.


HORACE.

Two Bookes of Horace his Satyres Englyshed, accordyng to the Prescription of Saint Hierome, 4to. B. L. Lond.1566 Horace his Arte of Poetrie, Pistles[23] and Satyrs Englished, by Tho. Drant, 4to. Lond.1567


OVID.

The fifteene Bookes of Metamorphoseos. In which ben contaynid the Fables of Ovid, by William Caxton, Westm. fol.1480 The four first Books of Ovid, transl. from the Latin into English Meetre, by Arthur Golding, Gent. 4to. B. L. Lond.1565 The fifteene Bookes of P. Ovidius Naso, &c. by Arthur Golding, 4to. Bl. L. Lond.1576 Another in 1575 according to Ames, and another earlier than either, in 1567, if we may believe the Date of the Dedication. [A former Edition was in 1572, in Rawlinson's catal.] Do.1587. Do. 1612. The pleasant Fable of Hermaphroditus and Salmacis. 8vo. Lond.1565 ​The Fable of Ovid treating of Narcissus, transl. out of Latin into Eng. Mytre, with a Moral ther unto very plesante to rede, 4to. Lond.1560 The Heroycall Epistles, &c. set out and translatcd by Geo. Turbervile, Gent. &c. B. L. 4to. Lond[24].1507, 1569, and 1600 The three first Bookes of Ovid de Tristibus, transl. into English, by Tho. Churchyard, 4to. Lond.1580[25] Ovid his Invective against Ibis, translated into Eng. Meeter, &c. 12mo. Lond.1569[26] And 1577, by Tho. Underwood. Certaine of Ovid's Elegies by C. Marlow[27]. 12mo. At Middleburghno date. All Ovid's Elegies, three Bookes. By C. M. At Middleburgh. 12mo. Somewhat larger than the preceding edition. Salmacis and Hermaphroditus, by Fra. Beaumont, 4to.1602 He Likewise translated a Part of the Remedy of Love. There was another Translation of the whole, by Sir Tho. Overbury, 8vo.without date[28].


PLAUTUS.

Menæchmi, by W. W. Lond.[29]1595


MARTIAL.

Flowers of Epigrams (from Martial particularly) by Tim. Kendall, 8vo[30].1577 ​

TERENCE.

Terens in Englysh, or the translacyon out of Latin into Englysh of the first comedy of Tyrcns callyd Andria. Supposed to be printed by J. Rastell[31]. ​Andria, the first Comedy of Terence, by Maurice Kyffin, 4to.1588 Terence in English, by Richard Bernard, 4to. Cambridge[32]1598 Flowers of Terence1591


SENECA.

Seneca his Tenne Tragedies[33], translated into Englysh by different Translators, 4to. Lond.1581 Seneca's Forme and Rule of Honest Living, by Rob. Whyttington, 8vo.1546 Seven Bookes of Benefyting[34], by Arthur Golding, 4to.1577


LIVY.

Livius (Titus[35]) and other Authores Historie of Annibal and Scipio, tranflated into English, by Anthony Cope, Esquier, B. L. 4to. Lond.1545 ​The Romane Hist. &c. by T. Livius of Padua. Also the Breviaries of L. Florus, &c. by Dr. Philemon Holland, fol. Lond.1600


TACITUS.

The End of Nero and Beginning of Galba. Fower Bookes of the Histories of Cornelius Tacitus. The Life of Agricola, by Sir Hen. Saville, 4to. Lond.1591 Annales of Tacitus, by Richard Grenaway, fol.1598


SALLUST[36].

The Famous Cronycle of the Warre, which the Romyns had against Jugurth, &c. compyled in Lat. by the renowned Romayn Sallust, &c. translated into Englishe, by Sir Alex. Barclay Preest, &c. Printed by Pynson, fol. Do. Lond. pr. by Joh. Waley, 4to.1557 The Conspiracie of Lucius Cataline, translated into Eng. by Tho. Paynell, 4to. Lond.1541 and 1557 The two most Worthy and Notable Histories, &c. Both written by C. C. Sallustius, and translated by Tho. Heywood, Lond. sm. fol.1608


SUETONIUS.

Suetonius, translated by Dr.Phil. Holland, fol. Lond.1606[37]


CÆSAR[38].

Ceasers Commentaries, as touching British affairs. Without name, printer, place, or date; but by the type it appears to be Rastell’s.

Ames, p. 148.

The eight Bookes of Caius Julius Cæsar, translated by Arthur Golding, Gent. 4to. Lond.1565 and 1590 Cæsar’s Commentaries (de Bello Gallico) five Bookes, by Clement Edmundes, with Observations, &c. Fol.1600 ​De Bello Civili, by Do. three Bookes. Fol.1609 Do. by Chapman1604


JUSTIN.

The Hist. of Justine, &c. by A. G. [Arthur Golding] Lond. 4to.1564 and 1578 Do. by Dr. Phil. Holland1606 Do. by G. W. with an Epitomie of the Lives, &c. of the Romaine Emperors, from Aurelius Victor, fol.1606


Q. CURTIUS.

The Historie of Quintus Curtius, &c. translated, &c. by John Brende, 4to. Lond.1553 Other Editions were in1561, 1584, 1570, 1592[39]


EUTROPIUS.

Eutropius englished, by Nic. Haward, 8vo.1564


A. MARCELLINUS.

Ammianus Marcellinus, translated by Dr. P. Holland; Lond. fol.1609


CICERO.

Cicero’s Familiar Epistles, by J. Webbe, fm. 8vo.no date Certain select Epistles into English, by Abra. Flemming, 4to. Lond.1576 Those Fyve Questions which Marke Tullye Cicero disputed in his Manor of Tusculanum, &c. &c. Englyshed by John Dolman, fm. 8vo. Lond.1561 [40] Marcus Tullius Cicero, three Bookes of Duties, tourned ​out of Latin into English, by Nic. Grimalde1555, 1556, 1558, 1574 Ames says 1553; perhaps by mistake. The thre Bokes of Tullius Offyce, &c. translated, &c. by R. Whyttington, Poet Laureat, 12mo. Lond.1533, 1534, 1540, and 1553[41] The Boke of Tulle of Old Age, translated by Will. Wyrcestre, alias Botaner. Caxton, 4to.1481 De Senectute, by Whyttington, 8vo.no date [42]The worthie Booke of Old Age, otherwise intitled The elder Cato, &c. 12mo. Lond.1569 [42]Tullius Cicero on Old Age, by Tho. Newton, 8vo. Lond.1569 Tullies Friendship, Olde Age, Paradoxe, and Scipio’s Dream, by Tho. Newton, 4to.1577 Tullius de Amicitia, translated into our maternal Englyshe Tongue, by the E. of Worcester. Printed by Caxton, with the Translation of De Senectute, fol. The Paradoxe of M. T. Cicero, &c. by Rob. Whyttlngton, Poet Laureat. Printed in Southwarke, 12mo.1540 Webbe translated all the sixteen Books ef Cicero’s Epistles, but probably they were not printed together in Shakespeare’s Lifetime. I suppose this, from a Passage in his Dedication, in which he seems to mean Bacon, by a Great Lord Chancelor.


BOETHIUS.

Boethius, by Chaucer. Printed by Caxton, fol. Boethius in English Verse, by Tho. Rychard. Imprinted in the exempt Monastery of Tavistock, 4to.1525 Eng. and Lat. by Geo. Colville, 4to.1556[43]


APULEIUS.

Apuleius’s Golden Asse, translated into Eng. by Wm. Ad​lington, 4to. Lond.1566 ind 1571[44]


FRONTINUS.

Stratagemes, Sleightes, and Policies of Warre, gathered by S. Julius Frontinus. Translated by Richard Morisine, 8vo. Printed by Tho. Berthelet1539


PLINY JUNr.

Some select Epistles of Pliny the Younger into Eng. by Abr. Flemming, 4to. Lond.1576


POMPONIUS MELA.

Pomponius Mela, by A. Golding, 4to.1590


PLINY.

Pliny’s Nat. Hist. by Dr. Phil. Holland, fol[45].1601


SOLINUS.

Julius Solinus Polyhistor, by A. Golding, 4to.1587


VEGETIUS.

The four Bookes of Flavius Vegetius, concerning martial Policye, by John Sadler, 4to.1572


RUTILIUS RUFUS.

A View of Valiaunce, translated from Rutilius Rufus, by Tho. Newton, 8vo.1580


DARES Phryg. and DICTYS Cret.

Dares and Dictys’s Trojan War, in Verse1555


CATO and P. SYRUS.

Caton[46], translated into Englyshe by Mayster Benet Burgh, &c. mentioned by Caxton. ​Cathon [Parvus and Magnus] transl. &c. by Caxton1483[47] Preceptes of Cato, with Annotations of Erasmus, &c. 24mo. Lond.1560 and 1562 Ames mentions a Discourse of Human Nature, translated from Hippocrates, p. 428; an Extract from Pliny, translated from the French, p. 312; Æsop[48] &c. by Caxton and others; and there is no doubt, but many TransIations at present unknown, may be gradually recovered, either by Industry or Accident.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ In the first vol. of the books of entries belonging to the Stationers’ company is the following:
    “Henry Bynneman] Nov. 1580, lycensed unto him under the wardens’ hands tenne bookes of the Iliades of Homer.” Again, Nov. 14, 1608. “Seven bookes of Homer’s Iliades translated into English by Geo. Chapman.” Again, April 8, 1611, “A booke called Homer’s Iliades in Englishe, containing 24 Bookes.” Again, Nov. 2, 1614, “Homer’s Odisses 24 bookes translated by George Chapman.”
  2. ↑ Meres, in his Second part of Wit’s Common-wealth, 1598, says that Chapman is “of good note for his inchoate Homer.”
  3. ↑ In the first volume of the entries of the Stationers’ company is the following:
    “T. Purfoote.] The Battell of the Frogges and Myce, and certain orations of Isocrates. Jan. 4th 1579.”
  4. ↑ This translation, or at least Marlow’s part in it, must have been published before 1599, being twice mentioned in Nash’s Lenten Stuff, &c. which bears that date. “Leander and Hero of whom divine Musæus sung, and a diviner muse than him, Kit Marlow.” Again, “She sprung after him, and so resigned up her priesthood, and left worke for Musæus and Kit Marlow.”
    Among the entries at Stationers’ hall I find the following made by John Wolfe in 1593, Sept. 8th, “A booke entitled Hero and Leander, being an amorous poem devised by Christopher Mar-Marlow.”
    At the same time, “Lucan’s first booke of the famous Cyvill Warr betwixt Pompey and Cæsar. Englished by Christopher Marlow.”
    Again, in 1597, “A booke in English called Hero and Leander.”
    Again, April 1598, “The seconde Parte of Hero and Leander by Henry Petowe.” Andrew Harris enter’d it.
    Again, in 1600, “Hero and Leander by Marlowe.”
    In 1614 an entire translation of Lucan was published by Sir Arthur Gorges, and enter’d as such on the same books.
  5. ↑ This book was entered in May 1592, at Stationers’ hall.
  6. ↑ Among the entries in the books at Stationers-hall this appears to be one.
    “John Denham.] The famous Historye of Herodotus in Englyshe, June 13, 1581.”
  7. ↑ On the Stationers’ books in 1607 either this or some other translation is entered, called “The History of Thucidides the Athenian translated into English.”
  8. ↑ Caxton tells us, that “Skelton had translated Diodorus Siculus, the Epistles of Tulle, and diverse other Workes:” but I know not that they were ever printed.
  9. ↑ In the first volume of the entries in the books of the Stationers' company, Feb. 5, 1577> is the following:
    “Henry Binneman. Appianus Alexandrinus of the Romaine Civil Warres.”
  10. ↑ Oct. 1591, Herodian in English was entered at Stationers-hall by ——— Adams.
  11. ↑ Thus entered in the books of the Stationers' company.
    April 1579—Vautrouller— Wright, a booke in Englishe called Plutarch's Lyves.”
  12. ↑ On the Stationers’ books in the year 1600 is the following entty.
    “A booke to be translated out of Frenche into Englishe, and so printed, called the Morall Woorkes of Plutarque.” Again in 1602. Again in the same year, “The morral worke of Plutarque, being translated out of French into English.”
  13. ↑ Of the Ethicks of Aristotle some more early translation must have appeared; as Sir Tho. Elyot in his Boke named the Governour, 1537, says, “they are to be learned in Greke; for the translations that we have, be but a rude and grosse shadowe of the eloquence and wysdome of Aristotle.”
  14. ↑ This translation is entered in the books at Stationers-hall. “Adam lslip] Aristotle's Politiques with expositions; to be translated into Englyshe by the Frenche copie, 1 598.”
  15. ↑ In the books ot the Stationer’s company, Feb. 12, 1581, Tho. Easte entered Enchiridion in English.
  16. ↑ Thus entered in the books of the Stationer's company. “Richard Jones. The Lives of divers excellente Orators and Philosophers written in Greeke by Enapius of the city of Sardis in Lydia, and translated into Englishe by ———”
  17. ↑ This book was entered in the same year by Thomas Creede, on the books of the Stationers’ company.
  18. ↑ This book is only introduced, that an opportunity may be obtained of excluding it from any future catalogue of translated classics. It was a fraud of Guevara's, but not undetected; for Chapman, in his Gentleman Usher, 1602, speaks of the book as Guevara’s own. “If there be not more choice words in that letter, than in any three of Guevara’s Golden Episiles, I am a very ass.” See his article in Bayle. Our countryman Elyott did somewhat of the same kind. He pretended to translate the Actes and Sentences notable, of the Emperor Alexander Severus, (from the Greek of Encolpius. See Fabricius’ and Tanner’s Bibliothec. &c.
  19. ↑ A translation of the same book is likewise entered at Stationer’s hall 1602, and again twice in 1604, for different printers.
  20. ↑ This is a translation of the second and fourth books into blank verse, and is perhaps the oldest specimen of that metre in the English language.
  21. ↑ Among the entries in the books of the Stationer’s company, is the following. “Tho. Creede.] Virgil’s Æneidos in Englishe verse, 1595.” Again in 1600. Again his Bucolics and Georgics in the lame year.
  22. ↑ The copy which I have seen, was in 4to, printed at Leiden, and was entered as such on the books of the Stationers on the 24th of January, 1582.
  23. ↑ There is an entry at Stationer’s hall of the Epistles of Horace in 1591.
  24. ↑ Among the Stationers’ entries I find in 1594, “A booke entitled Ocnone and Paris, wherein is described the extremity of Jove, &c.” This may be a translation from Ovid.
  25. ↑ This book was enter'd at Stationers’ hall by Tho. Easte, July 1, 1577, and by Thomas Orwin in 1591.
  26. ↑ Among the entries in the books ot the Stationers’ company is the following. Henry Bynneman] July 1, 1577, Ovid's Invective against Ibis. Bought of Tho. Easte.
  27. ↑ In the forty-first of Q. Eliz. these translations from Ovid were commanded by the archbishop of Canterbury and the bishop of London, to be burnt at Stationers' hall.
  28. ↑ On the books of the Stationers' company, Dec. 23, 1599, is entered “Ovidius Naso his Remedy of Love.” Again, in the same year, “Ovydes Epistles in Englyshe,” and “Ovydes Metamorphosis in Englyshe.”
  29. ↑ This piece was enter'd at Stationers' hall June 10th 1594. In 1520, viz. the 11th year of Hen. VIII. it appears from Holinshed, that a comedy of Plautus was played before the king.
  30. ↑ Entered at Stationers’ hall Feb. 1576.
  31. ↑ As the following metrical introduction to this play, relates chiefly to the improvements at that time supposed to have been made to the English language, I could not prevail on myself to suppress it.
    The Poet.
    The famous renown through the worlde is strong
    Of poetys ornate that usyd to indyte
    Of dyvers matters in theyr moder tong
    Some toke uppon them translacions to wryte
    Some to compile bokys for theyr delyte
    But in our English tong for to speke playn
    I rede but of few have take any gret payn.

    Except master Gowre which furst began
    And of moralite wrote ryght craftely
    Than master Chaucer that excellent man
    Which wrote as compendious as elygantly
    As in any other tong ever dyd any
    Ludgate also which adournyd our tong
    Whose noble famys through the World be sprong.

    By these men our tong is amplyfyed so
    That we therin now translate as well may
    As in any other tongis other can do
    Yet the Greke tong and Laten dyvers men say
    Have many wordys can not be Englyshid this day
    So lyke wyse in Englysh many wordys do habound
    That no Greke nor Laten for them can be found.

    And the cause that our tong is so plenteouse now
    For we kepe our Englysh contynually
    And of other tongis many wordis we borow
    Which now for Englysh we use and occupy
    These thingis have gyven corage gretly
    To dyvers and specyally now of late
    To them that this comedy have translate.

    Which all discrete men nov do besech
    And specyally lernyd men to take no dysdayn
    Though this be compylyd in our vulgare fpech
    Yet lernyng thereby some men may attayn
    For they that in this comedy have take payn
     Pray you to correct where faut shal be found
    And of our matter so here is the ground.

    In the metrical peroration to this piece, is the following stanza:

    Wherfore the translatours now require you this
    Yf ought be amys ye wold consyder
    The Englysh almost as short as the Latten is
    And still to kepe ryme a dyffycult matter
    To make the sentence opynly to appere
    Which if it had a long expocysion
    Then were it a comment and no translacyon.
  32. ↑ At Stationer's hall in 1597, “the second comedy of Terence, called Eunuchus was entered by W. Leake; and the first and second comedie in 1600.
  33. ↑ In the first volume of the entries of the Stationers' company, Aug. 1579, Rich. Jones, and John Charlewood entered the 4th tragedie of Seneca. And again all the ten in 1581.
  34. ↑ In the first volume of the entries in the books of the Stationers’ company is the following, “March 26, 1579, Seneca de Beneficiis in Englyshe”
  35. ↑ In the first volume of the entries in the books of the Stationers' company, anno 1597, is the following note, “Memorandum that Mr. Alexander Nevill, Gent, is appointed to translate Titus Livius into the Englyshe tongue: expressed, the same is not to be printed, by anie man, but only such as shall have his translacion.” Again, in 1598, “The history of Titus Livius" was entered by Adam Islip.
  36. ↑ A translation of Sallust was entered at Stationers’ ball in 1588. Again, in 1607, “The historie of Sallust in Englishe.”
  37. ↑ This translation was entered at Stationers’ hall 1604.
  38. ↑ In the entries made in the books of the Stationers’ company is the following, “John Charlewood] Sept. 1581, Abstracte of the historie of Cesar and Pompeius.”
  39. ↑ In the Stationers’ books this or some other translation of the same author was entered by Richard Tottell, Feb. 1582, and again by Tho. Creede, &c. 1599.
  40. ↑ Mattaire says [Ann. Typog. B. 5. 290.] “In florulentâ tituli margunculâ (vulgo vignette) superiore, inscribitur 1534.” This was a wooden Block used by the Printer Tottel, for many Books in small 8vo. and by no means determines their Date. There may however, have been some earlier translation than any here enumerated, as in Sir Tho. Elyot’s Boke named the Governaur, 1537, is mentioned “the worke of Cicero, called in Latine De Officiis, whereunto yet is no propre English worde, &c.”
  41. ↑ In the books belonging to Stationers’ hall, “Tullies Offices in Latin and English” is entered Feb. 1582, for R. Tottell. Again, by Tho. Orwn, 1591.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 These are perhaps the same as the two foregoing Translations.
  43. ↑ In the Stationers’ books Jan. 13th 1608, Matthew Lownes entered “Anitius Manlius Torquatus Severinus Boethius, a Christian Consul of Rome, newly translated out of Latin, together with orginal notes Explaining the obscurest places.”
  44. ↑ There is an entry of this translation in the books at Stationers’ hall in 1595. Valentine Simes is the name of the printer who entered it. It is again entered by Clement Knight in 1600.
  45. ↑ On the books of the Stationers’ company is this entry. “Adam Islip, 1600. The xxxvii bookes of C. Plinius Secundus his historie of the worlde. To be translated out of Latin into Englyshe and so printed.”
  46. ↑ Probably this was never printed.
  47. ↑ There is an entry of Caton at Stationers’ hall in 1591 by ——— Adams, Eng. and Lat. Again in the year 1591 by Tho. Orwin. Again in 1605, “Four bookes of morall sentences entituled Cato, translated out of Latin into English by J. M. Master of Arts.”
  48. ↑ “Æsop’s Fables in Englyshe” were entered May 7th 1590, on the books of the Stationers’ company. Again, Oct. 1591. Again Esop's Fables in Meter, Nov. 1598. Some few of them had been paraphrased by Lydgate, and I believe are still unpublished. See the Brit. Mus. MSS. Harl. 2251.
    It is much to be lamented that Andrew Maunsell, a bookseller in Lothbury, who published two parts of a catalogue of English printed books, fol. 1595, did not proceed to his third collection. This, according to his own account of it, would have consisted of “Grammar, Logick, and Rhetoricke, Lawe, Historie, Poetrie, Policie, &c.” which, as he tells us, “for the most part concerne matters of delight and pleasure.”
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