Macchiavelli, Niccolo. [Edward Dacre, trans.]. Discourses upon the first decade of T. Livius ... to which is added His Prince with some marginal animadversions noting an taxing his errors. by E. D. [Separate title for The Prince]: Nicholas Machiavel's Prince. Also, The life of Castruccio Castracani of Lucca. And the meanes Duke Valentine us'd to put to death Vitellozzo Vitelli... London: T. N. [Thomas Newcombe?] for Daniel Pakeman, 1663 [and] 1661. Duodecimo. 144 x 83mm. [25], 499, [8], 162 (i.e. 172) pp. [p. 172 mis-numbered 162]. Contemporary blind paneled calf, lettered in manuscript on spine. Minor worming to upper left margin of prelims, front joint slightly rubbed, an entirely original and very appealing copy.
First edition thus (i.e. combining the two titles in English), the second appearance of each title in English (first printed in English 1636 and 1640). "Machiavelli founded the science of modern politics on the study of mankind – it should be remembered that a parallel work to ‘The Prince’ was his historical essay on the first ten books of Livy" (PMM 63). "It is still widely accepted that Machiavelli's little work 'On principalities' - our Prince- was started after he had written part of his Discourses Upon Livy (Discorsi sopra la Prima Deca di Tito Livio), that he started writing it in July 1513 and finished it early in 1514. Almost all the observations and maxims in The Prince are to be found, elaborated, in the Discourses: but there is a marvelous difference of perspective between the two books. The Discourses were written with no less vehemence, but are more discursive and, crucially, constitute a commentary on all forms of government from the viewpoint of an ardent publican. From the pages of The Prince strides the figure of the autocrat, the new man, ruthless, efficient, and defiant, the literary forerunner of the new monarchs of the sixteenth century. Why should Machiavelli have turned from the Discourses to create this apparent monster?"-George Bull. Introduction to his translation, L:1961. [Bibliografia Machiavelliana Sec. XVII. 58. Wing M 134 and 137, presumably treated as separate books in error. PMM 63, describing the first edition.] (#kfk441) $9500