The comedies of Plautus, translated into familiar blank verse, by Bonnell Thornton ... Second edition, revised and corrected

London: T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, 1769. 2 volumes, 8vo; pp. xxviii, [4], 320; [4], 386; preliminary blanks preserved, engraved title pages; together with: Comedies of Plautus, translated in familiar blank verse, by the gentleman who translated The Captives... London: T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, 1772-4. 3 volumes, 8vo, pp. [6], viii, 400; [4], 399, [1] ads; [6], 416; preliminary blanks preserved, engraved title pages; uniformly bound in handsome contemporary tree calf, smooth gilt decorated spines with 6 panels, black and green morocco labels in 2, circular tools incorporating a harp, a sceptre, and a cornucopia in the others; very slightly rubbed, (truncated) else a fine, attractive set. Early 19th century oval Stradbroke bookplates. Second edition of the first two volumes and first edition of the last 3. This is the first complete translation into English of the early Roman comedies of Plautus. This project was begun by Thornton near the end of his life, an appropriately witty man whom Samuel Johnson found highly diverting. Thornton was inspired by the edition of the plays of Terence prepared by his friend George Coleman the elder. Two volumes appeared in 1767, just before Thornton's death; these contained 5 plays translated by Thornton himself, one by Coleman, and one by Richard Warner. In the end it was Warner, a literary scholar and botanist who undertook to complete the project; his final text, as represented here provides one of the most successful English translations from the Latin in the 18th century. "Thornton's versions are held to be the best, being highly praised by Southey for their playfulness and ingenuity" (DNB). "The language of Plautus is all his own; here his claims to greatnesss are undeniable. No one ever exploited more fully the resources of Latin for expressions of endearment and abuse, for animated dialogue and effective repartee" (OCD). (Inventory #: 34124)