[Rarebooks] FS: Uncommon translation of Herodotus, early American provenance

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The History of Herodotus, Translated From The Greek, With Notes.   By The Reverend William Beloe.   In Four Volumes.   London: For Leigh and Sotheby, 1791.   First edition of this translation.   Bound in full contemporary sheep, gilt ruled bands on a flat spine, black lettering label.   ix, 434; [ii], 489; [ii], 456; [ii], 192, [178] pp.   The spine ends are chipped, the joints are cracking but still holding quite firm; the upper forecorner of the rear cover of volume 3 is a little chewed; some scattered browning and foxing.   With the oval book label of James A. Bayard in each volume (Charles Dexter Allen, Early American Bookplates, no. 64; see below). 





      Volume four includes additional notes and corrections, a brief life of Herodotus, and an extensive index.   



     A fairly scarce translation of the greatest of all Greek historians.   In his Introduction, Beloe justifies his translation by saying, “In this country, where successful industry produces elevation of rank, and gives access to polished society, there will always be many persons, who with enlightened and discerning minds, and a considerable disposition to literature, are debarred from the perusal of ancient authors by the want of a suitable education.   Many by birth entitled to every advantage, are early called away from learning to scenes of active occupation.   Some such I have seen, and highly value, who, not ashamed of a deficiency occasioned by unavoidable circumstances, or by honest, useful, and honourable occupations, are desirous to form, if possible, complete collections of approved and elegant translations.”   The prejudice toward classical learning to which Beloe here alludes probably explains why this is only the second full translation into English of Herodotus, preceded only by Isaac Littlebury’s version (1737).   (There was a translation of only the first two books published in 1584). 



     After an unsuccessful career as a schoolmaster (due more to his personality than talents), Beloe seems to have made his living as a translator and editor for various London publishers.   The DNB pays him and this work a backhanded compliment: “He was a fair scholar and a man of extensive miscellaneous reading, but entirely devoid of mental vigour and originality of talent.   He, therefore, excels chiefly as a translator and annotator.   Something in his mental constitution qualified him admirably for reproducing the limpid simplicity and amiable garrulity of Herodotus; his version, infinitely below the modern standard in point of accuracy, is much above modern performance in point of readableness.”   Lowndes echoes this sentiment, describing Littlebury’s translation as accurate but not elegant, and Beloe’s as elegant but not accurate (Lowndes II, p. 1053). 



     This set is from the library of James A. Bayard (1767-1815), statesman, diplomat, and Federalist member of Congress from Delaware.   He played a pivotal role in the disputed presidential election of 1800, negotiating with Jefferson’s friend John Nicholas to remove Delaware’s opposition to Jefferson’s election.   He also supported a strong military and navy in the years leading up to the War of 1812, and was part of the trio appointed by President Madison to negotiate the Treaty of Ghent at the close of that war. 




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$400 plus shipping. 



Cheers, 

Greg Powers 

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