Virgil, Publius. (b. BC 70) The Works of Virgil: Containing his Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. Translated into English verse; by Mr. Dryden.  

Virgil, Publius. (b. BC 70) The Works of Virgil: Containing his Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. Translated into English verse; by Mr. Dryden. London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1697. Large Folio, 423 x 265. First edition. 640pp

One hundred and two full paged engraved illustrations. This is a large paper copy excepting for the first few pages exceptionally white and crisp. Lacks introduction to Lord Clifford and large plate of Virgil at the Senate. Most of the Life of Virgil, which contains the image of Virgil in the Senate is lacking. Title page remounted, Tear B1, somewhat affecting text and browned pages that correspond to other copies. Priced accordingly for this rare Subscribed Royal Folio First Edition. Rebound in a modern binding of mottled calf and tastefully restored.

John Dryden:

. "Virgil is the only complete representative of the deepest sentiment and the highest mood of his countrymen and of his time. In his pastoral and didactic poems he gives a living voice to the whole charm of Italy, in the Aeneid to the whole glory of Rome. He was in the maturity of his powers at the most critical epoch of the national life, one of the most critical epochs in the history of the world. Keeping aloof from the trivial daily life of his contemporaries, he was moved more profoundly than any of them by the deeper currents of emotion in the sphere of government, religion, morals and human feeling which were then changing the world; and in uttering the enthusiasm of the hour, and all the new sensibilities that were stirring in his own heart and imagination, he had, in the words of Sainte-Beuve, 'divined at a decisive hour of the world what the future would love.' He was also by universal acknowledgement the greatest literary artist whom Rome produced. [Š] Virgil's fame as a poet rests on the three acknowledged works of his early and mature manhood-the pastoral poems or Eclogues, the Georgics and the Aeneid-all written in that hexameter verse which Tennyson has called, 'The stateliest measure ever molded by the lips of man.'" (EB vol. 28, page 112-113) Wing V-616

The works of Virgil is the first addition with 102 (excluding the plate of Virgil in the Senate) stunning illustrated plates, each dedicated to a subscriber and produced by the finest European engravers – Michael van der Gucht, Wenceslaus Hollar and Pierre Lombart.

Dryden and Tonson, the printer had a long and profitable relationship. Dryden, indeed was one of the first authors to draw a 'significant advance' for his works from Tonson, which caused many bitter arguments but in the end, Tonson and Dryden were a powerful team, publishing many works previously only found in Greek and Latin editions. Dryden, besides being a popular playwright in his time, made these works popular amongst the rising middle class, who without classical training in Greek or Latin, were omitted from reading the works of Virgil and others, that Dryden seemed to crank out in record time for Tonson's presses. A rare and evocative poem.