OVIDIUS NASO, Publius. ~ Ovid’s Art of Love, in three books. Together with his amours, and remedy of love. Translated into English verse, by several eminent hands. To which are added, The Court of Love, a tale from Chaucer. And the History of Love. Adorn'd with cutts. London: printed for J. Tonson; and sold by W. Taylor at the Ship in Pater-noster Row, 1719.
12mo (150 × 85 mm.), pp. [xi], 6-419 (pp. 130, 159, 193 misnumbered), [5] (adverts), with frontispiece and 7 plates (of which 4 are included within pagination) by Gribelin, woodcut headpieces. Frontispiece laid to endpaper, title a little marked, occasional foxing, pp. 379-80 torn with no loss. Early continental vellum backed paper boards, paper label with manuscript title in red ink. Somewhat rubbed, text slightly thumbed. A good copy.
A scarce early edition. Three editions had previously been published, the first in 1709, and this popular title went on to be republished numerous times during the eighteenth century. The translators are identified in the text as John Dryden, Nahum Tate and William Congreve. 'The history of love' is by Charles Hopkins and 'The court of love' is a metrical paraphrase by Arthur Maynwaring. ESTC gives 7 locations: BL (2 copies), John Rylands, Manchester (2 copies). McMaster University and Universities of Illinois and Waterloo.