‎SALLUSTIUS. ‎
‎C. Sallustii Crispi quae extant. Ex recensione J.F. Gronovii, cum Variorum observationibus, ab Ant. Thysio collectis. ‎

‎Leiden & Rotterdam (Lugd. Batav. et Roterod.), Ex Officina Hackiana, 1665. ‎

Reference : 156284

‎8vo. (XXII),534;(45, index),(1 blank) p. Overlapping vellum 20.5 cm (Ref: STCN ppn 061326216; Schweiger 2,879; Dibdin 2,385; Ebert 20023; cf. Fabricius/Ernesti, 1,243; Graesse 6/1,240) (Details: Title page removed) (Condition: Vellum soiled. Title page removed. Some paper damage at the front pastedown. Tip of the right upper corner torn off. Paper slightly yellowing) (Note: 'One of the most widely read and influential of Roman historians, (...), Sallust (86-34 BC) has been studied, quoted, and imitated not only as a historian but also as a moral philosopher, political thinker, and stylist.' Until 1600 more than 200 editions of his work appeared. Sallust was used in the 16th and 17th century to support absolute theories of government. But, 'on the other hand, it was the republican Sallust, 'ennemy of tyrants,' whom John Milton admired and who bolstered the cause of liberty in the Lowlands during the war with Spain and, later, in France and on the American continent'. (The Classical tradition, Cambr. Mass., 2010 p. 856) Sallustius furnished indeed weapons to the supporters and opponents during the rebellion of the Netherlands against the Spaniards, a war of independence that lasted 80 years, from 1568 till 1648. Numberless pamphlets appeared during this war, and many are full of reminiscences and quotations of classical authors. Sallust also was widely used, everyone chose his favourite passage and argument. This was possible because Sallustius preached party politics under a cloak of grave and philosophic impartiality. The editor of this Sallustius edition, Antonius Thysius, emphasizes another aspect of the author's worldview, the corrupting power of wealth. Sallustius is disgusted by the corruption he sees around him, decay which was caused by the power and wealth Rome had acquired. The Dutch jurist and classical scholar Anthony Thys, or in Latin Antonius Thysius, 1603-1665, was from 1637 professor of 'poêsis' of the University at Leiden, where he also lectured on public law, after 1663 as professor. He delivered several speeches on patriotic topics at the end of the Eighty Years' War. In 1655 he succeeded Daniel Heinsius as librarian of the University. His Sallustius edition, first printed in 1649, was a success. It was repeated several times. (NNBW 5, 924/26) Thysius was not a great scholar. He produced 'Variorum' editions, in which he skillfully compared and contrasted the excerpted material of brighter minds. Such editions were very popular and contained everthing a student required. It offered the 'textus receptus' which was widely accepted, accompanied with the commentary and the annotations of specialists, taken from earlier useful, normative or renewing editions. Editions like these, 'cum notis Variorum', were useful, but never broke new ground. The production of this kind of editions was the specialty of Dutch scholars of the 17th and 18th century.) (Collation: *8 (minus leaf *1), 2*4, A-2N8, 2O2 (leaf 2O2 verso blank)) (Photographs on request) ‎