Author: Callimachus: [Bentley, Thomas, ed.:]
Title: Hymni et epigrammata: quibus accesserunt Theognidis carmina: nec non epigrammata centum septuaginta sex ex anthologia Græca, Quorum magna pars non ante separatim excusa est. His adjuncta est Galeni suasoria ad artes. Notas addidit, atque omnia emendate imprimenda curavit editor. In Praefatione disseritur de Linguae Graecae Pronunciatione; secundumne Quantitatem an Accentum melius procedat.
Description: Londini [London]: Londini : impensis Gul. Thurlbourne Bibliopolae Cantab. Veneunt apud J. Nourse, P. Vaillant, J. Beecroft, Lond., 1741. 8vo., pp. xviii, 243, [i], 52, [i]. Parallel Greek and Latin texts. Some woodcut ornaments. Very clean internally. Contemporary brown calf, gilt spine with title label, edges sprinkled red. Boards a little scuffed, very good indeed. Thomas Bentley (1693-1742) was a nephew of the much more celebrated Richard Bentley (1662-1742), and this edition is sometimes erroneously attributed to the latter. It seems that the editors of Museum Criticum, referred to by Dibdin, were particularly alive to this ambiguity and gave the following scathing assessment: 'An edition of the Hymns and a few epigrams, with notes for the use of schools, was printed in 1741 and reprinted in 1751 by Thomas Bentley, the nephew of the Doctor, in the same volume with parts of Theognis, and the Aóyos IpoTpeus of Galen. Of this publication Mr. Blomfield, as far as we have observed, takes not the slightest notice: which is surprising, if he were aware of the character given to it by the prince of Bibliographers, Dr. Harwood, who declares it to be 'not inferior to any edition of Callimachus'. Were it not for the fear of differing from so great authority, we should certainly pronounce the notes to be flimsy, drivelling, and useless. Our motive for naming the book at all, is this: No name appearing in the title-page, (though it is quoted as Thomas Bentley's by Ernesti and others), the booksellers, well knowing the advantage of a name in marking a price, entitle this work in their Catalogues Callimachus Bentlei, and purchasers are deluded by the idea of its being the production of the illustrious Master of Trinity College, whose name every body has heard associated with that of Callimachus.' Museum Criticum or Cambridge Classical Researches Vol. II, 1826 (p.150). ESTC T83008; Dibdin I 4th ed. 369.

Keywords: Early Printing (to c.1800, all subjects);Classics & Antiquity


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