Politick Discourses – Paolo Paruta – 1657 | First English Edition, Roman History

Politick Discourses by Paolo Paruta is a 16^th-century survey of Ancient Rome, focusing on the rise and fall of the empire as well as the structures of Roman governments. The work provides a comparison of Quintus Fabius Maximus and Scipio Africanus; as well as a discussion on Carthage’s involvement in Rome’s wars against King Pyrrhus. The final text, A Short Soliloquy, shows the author considering the full span of his own life.

This 1657 printing is the first English edition of Discorsi politici, translated into English by Henry Carey, 2^nd Earl of Monmouth.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Politick discourses: written in Italian … whereunto is added, A short soliloquy, in which the author briefly examines the whole course of his life
• Author(s): Paolo Paruta
• Illustrator(s):
• Contributor(s): Henry Carey of Monmouth (translator)
• Publisher: London, Humphrey Moseley
• Edition: First English Edition, 1657
• Format: (4to), single volume
• Binding: Modern leather spine and corners, marbled boards
• Size:  11.75 in x 8 in (29.8 cm x 20.3 cm)
• Collation: (xv), 203 pp
• Illustrations: lacking frontispiece
• Contents Include:
  • On the true and proper form of government of Rome
  • On Carthage’s offer to assist Rome against King Pyrrhus
  • Comparing Roman commanders Quintus Fabius Maximus and Scipio Africanus
  • Use of racism to preserve the Athenian commonwealth
  • A Short Soliloquy by the author
• Provenance: provenance
• Reference(s): references

Condition:

Very Good. The book is bound in modern leather with marbled boards. The spine and hinges are solid. Minor rubbing is visible at the corners. Pages show age toning but remain legible and intact.

Why Collect This?

• First English translation of a significant 17th-century political work
• Presents classical comparisons relevant to Venetian governance
• Suitable for collectors of early political theory and classical studies

Item Number: # 29330