[TATIUS, ACHILLES]. Erotikon Achilleostatiou, sive, De Clitophontis & Leucippes amoribus libri VIII ex editione Cl. Salmasii. Lugd. Batavor, apud Franciscum Hegerum, 1640.
FIRST EDITION THUS. Leather-bound, hardcover, 12mo (13cm x 7.5cm x 3.5cm), pp. [xxiv], 752, [xxxii]. Signatures: *12, A-2I12, 2K8 (2K8 blank). Dual Latin and Greek text with Roman and Greek letter, some Italic. Full page engraved title, with Leucippe and Clitophon on horseback, small woodcut initials and headpieces, grotesque and floriated tailpieces. Stunning binding of straight grain morocco gilt, all page edges gilt. Condition: VERY GOOD. Collated complete. Binding tight and secure, the joints and hinges perfectly intact. Interior very well-preserved, remaining fresh and clean. Previous owner name in pencil to front endpaper. A magnificent copy and scarce thus.
Notes: First edition with the important commentary and textual revisions of Claude Saumaise, beautifully printed in parallel Greek and Latin, in a fine binding. The Adventures of Leucippe and Clitophon by Achilles Tatius, is one of the five surviving Ancient Greek romances, notable for its many similarities to Longus’ Daphnis and Chloe, and its mild parodic nature. It is a gently erotic romance in eight books, which retained remarkable popularity and spawned innumerable imitations, particularly in the C18, when it was several times reprinted. The author was a Greek from Alexandria in the 3rd or 4th centuries A.D. It is said he became a Christian and ultimately a Bishop. On being challenged for having written an obscene book he replied that he was only teaching the fruits of moderation as opposed to evils attendant on senseless passion. Tatius takes pleasure in asides and digressions on mythology and the interpretation of omens, descriptions of exotic beasts crocodiles, hippopotami, and sights such as the Nile delta, and Alexandria, and discussions of amorous matters; kisses, or whether women or boys make better lovers. The large number of existing manuscripts attests the novel’s popularity. A part of it was first printed in a Latin translation by Annibal della Croce, in Lyon, 1544; his complete translation appeared in Basel in 1554. The first edition of the Greek original appeared in Heidelberg, 1601, printed together with similar works of Longus and Parthenius.”Son roman ... est agréable et expose bien les moeurs antiques. Héliodore en a repris avec succès plusieurs situations; mais, comme les traducteurs modernes, il les a adoucies et exposées plus modestement”, Gay I 14.
