Aesopica: A Series of Texts Relating to Aesop or Ascribed to Him or Closely Connected With the Literary Tradition That Bears His Name: Collected and Critically Edited, in Part Translated from Oriental Languages, With a Commentary and Historical Essay

Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1952. Rare classic scholarly text is a monumental work undertaken by the highly acclaimed Greek-Latin scholar-author, Ben Perry, consuming more than fifteen years of research and special studies such as the scarce ancient manuscripts of Rinuccio Aretino, "Vita of Aesop". The "Vita of Aesop", the legendary slave born around 620 B.C., is preserved in manuscript versions from the tenth to the sixteenth centuries. Prof. Perry discovered that the earliest complete extant manuscript, a 10th century Greek codex, correlates with a papyrus fragment of the second century A.D., and was probably compiled using anecdotes dating back to the fifth century B.C. possibly by a Greek speaking Egyptian. This early dating gives the work an immense significance in the history of literature as the author not only compiled fictional anecdotes, which include a number of fables, but has brought to the Vita a distinct literary style. A translation of the unique, ancient "Life of Aesop" is published for the first time in this volume. Text includes everything ascribed to Aesop or said about him in Greek literature down to the fall of Constantinople, and in Latin literature through Romulus, together with all the different fables, whether ascribed to Aesop or not, which were regarded by the ancients as "Aesopic". Contents include (in Greek & Latin): compendia; Pars Prima. Vita Aesopi; Pars Secvnda. Testimonia Vetervm de Aesopo Fabvlisqve Aesopiis; Pars Tertia. Aesopi Qvae Fervntvr Sententiae Nvnc Primvm Collectae; Pars Qvarta. Aesopi Qvae Fervntvr Proverbia Nvnc Primvm in Vnvm Coacta; Pars Qvinta. Fabvlae Graecae; Pars Sexta. Fabvlarvm Sylloge Qvae Syntipae Nomine Inscribitvr (Nova Editio Critica); Pars Septima. Fabvlae Latine Conscriptae Qvarvm Argvmenta Perpavcis Exceptis in Graecis Fabvlis Non Comparent; Indices. 765 pgs. Inscribed, signed and dated in Latin by Perry on the front endpaper. Gilt spine. Prior owner's nameplate pastedown on front endpaper. Light browning of outer page edges, with a tiny slight scuff mark to center outer edge. Minimal shelfwear. Exceptional copy of this rare text. Heavy item. Insured shipping required. . Signed by Author. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall.