[MACHIAVELLI, Nicholas (1469-1527); Farneworth, Ellis (-1763, editor)]. The works of Nicholas Machiavel, secretary of state to the republic of Florence. Newly translated from the originals; illustrated with notes, anecdotes, dissertations, and the life of Machiavel, never before published; and several new plans on the art of war. By Ellis Farneworth, M. A. Vicar of Rosthern in Cheshire, translator of the Life of Pope Sixtus V. and Davila's History of the civil wars of France. London: printed for Thomas Davies, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden; Thomas Waller, in Fleet-Street; R. and J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall; James Fletcher, in St. Paul's Church-Yard; Mess. Balfour and Hamilton, Edinburgh; and Mr. James Hoey, junior, at Dublin, M.DCC.LXII. [1762].
First edition thus. In two volumes. Leather-bound. Hardcover. Quarto (26.5cm x 21cm). Pp. xxi, [1 blank], [2, contents], [1, blank], 821, [1, errata]; xxii, [2], 379, x, 227, [1], [24, letter, 1, errata]. English text, translated by Ellis Farneworth. Handsomely bound in later panelled calf gilt. Marbled endpapers. Tipped-in portrait frontispiece. 7 folding plans. Printed footnotes. Contents:- v. 1. The history of Florence; The prince; The life of Castruccio Castricani, of Lucca; A narrative of the method taken by Duke Valentine to rid himself of Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto da Fermo, Paula Ursini, and the Duke of Gravina; A sketch of the constitution and affairs of France; A sketch of the affairs and constitution of Germany. Contents:- v. 2. Political discourses upon the first decad of Livy; The art of war; The marriage of Belphegor: a novel; Posthumous works of Nicholas Machiavel. A discourse concerning the proper ways and means of reforming the government of Florence, written by the command of Pope Leo X; Letters written by him in the name of that republic, upon different occasions, whilst he was Secretary of State to it. Condition: VERY GOOD. Collated complete. Binding tight and secure. Some light toning. Minor marginal worm tracts affecting just a few leaves. An excellent copy and scarce thus.
Notes: First quarto edition, rare. The first edition of Farneworth’s translation containing the four major works and the minor works, adding posthumous works including a discourse on the reformation of Florentine government and a number of letters concerning matters of state, as well as the Life of Machiavelli. The folding plans are typographic plans for The Art of War detailing formations of troops. There are voluminous notes throughout and The Prince is followed by Frederick the Great’s Examen or ‘Anti-Machiavel’, with Voltaire’s preface. Needless to say this edition is less sympathetic to Machiavelli than Neville’s and is even hostile to the ‘jejune’ and agenda-serving translations of the previous century. This edition reprints Machiavelli’s apology alongside a letter sent in 1762 by William Warburton, throwing doubt on Neville’s authorship and suggesting that the Marquis of Wharton, the redoubtable Whig, was the author. [ESTC T9111].
