A POETICAL TRANSLATION OF THE WORKS OF HORACE: With the Original Text, and Notes Collected from the best Latin and French Commentators on that Author.

Second edition. Four volumes. Contemporary full panelled calf with central lozenge device to the boards and decorative borders in blind, the spines with four raised bands, ruled in gilt, and with morocco titles labels lettered in gilt (possibly renewed). Later marbled endpapers. Engraved plate depicting "The dining Room of Nasidienus" to the rear of volume three. A very good set, the bindings square and secure with a little cracking to the joints, chipping to spine ends, wear to the corners and rubbing to the extremities. Volume labels lacking. The contents with light scattered foxing and a small hole to the title page of volume three are otherwise in very good order and clean throughout.

An early edition of this English translation of the Roman lyric poet's works by the clergyman and author Philip Francis (1708-1773). Francis was best known as a translator of Horace, with Samuel Johnson praising his work thus: "The lyrical part of Horace never can be perfectly translated. Francis has done it the best. I'll take his five out of six against them all." Volumes one and two contain the Odes of Horace in Latin and English, volume three contains the Satires, and volume four the Epistles and Art and Poetry of Horace.