Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers
Dicts and Sayings of the Philosophers ("The Sayings of the Philosophers") is an
History of original and earlier translations
The Arabic original is known as Mukhtār al-ḥikam wa-maḥāsin al-kalim ('Compendium of Maxims and Aphorisms'), and was written toward the middle of the eleventh century by a Syrian-born emir of the Fatimid Caliphate of Egypt, Al-Mubashshir ibn Fatik.[2] The earliest European translation was the Spanish Los Bocados de Oro, completed in the reign of Alfonso X of Castile (1252–1284).[1] Wisdom literature became popular throughout medieval Europe and subsequently versions appeared in several languages, including Latin, Occitan, Old Spanish, and Middle French. In 1450 Stephen Scrope produced a
Textual history
Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers's English translation of The Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers was printed at least three times by William Caxton (1477, ca. 1480, and 1489) and once by
Caxton reviewed Woodville's completed translation and added an epilogue. In this Caxton points to Woodville's omission of Socrates' remarks on women, which subsequently led to the inclusion of an additional chapter.[2]
Notes
Bibliography
- Blake, Norman Francis (1991). William Caxton and English Literary Culture. A&C Black. ISBN 1852850515.
- The Cambridge History of English and American Literature, Volume II.
- Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. .
External links
- The dictes and sayings of the philosophers: a facsimile reproduction of the first book printed in England by William Caxton, in 1477. Mukhtār al-ḥikam wa-maḥāsin al-kalim.English (Middle English). London: E. Stock. 1877.
- "DH300 Dictes Edition Project". An ongoing collated edition of all four printed editions of the Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers created in a practicum module at Wilfrid Laurier University, started in February 2017. [no longer running]