Priscianus [incl. Dionysius Periegetes] . Benedictus Brognolus, ed.

Opera. [De octo partibus orationis; De constructione; De duodecim carminibus; De numeris; De ponderibus et mensuris; De versibus comicis; De declinationibus. [Also contains:] (Pseudo-) Priscianus: De accentibus; (Pseudo-) Hermogenes: De praeexercitamentis rhetorices; Rufinus Antiochensis: De metris comicis; De litteraturis; De compositione et metris oratorum; Dionysius Periegetes: De situ orbis. Tr: Priscianus Caesariensis.]

      [Jacobus De Fivizzano, Lunensis] for Marcus De Comitibus and Gerardus Alexandrinus, Venice: 1476. - Chancery Folio. 266 x 190mm. a-n10, o-y,aa-ll8, kk-oo10,pp-qq8, rr10. [-a1 blank]. 349 [+2 = 351] leaves of 350 without initial blank leaf, but with duplicate of conjugate leaves t4-5 bound with first t4-5). 19th calf by Hatton of Manchester with blind rules and devices, spine banded title label, spine lightly faded, minor rubbing, red edges, marbled endpapers; bookplate and stamp of Earls of Macclesfield, early manuscript annotations (some on folding sections of the margins, where the rest of the margin has been trimmed), bb1-2 and ll4 slightly stained, occ. damp and mold staining in upper corner , last 3 leaves damaged and repaired with some loss of text (not affecting colophon). A very clean copy with ample margins. 35 lines, roman letter, 2- to 7-line initials supplied in red and blue Lombard letters. ÒPriscianus, Latin grammarian, born at Caesarea (Mauretania), taught at Constantinople under Anastatius I (491-518).He delivered the panegyric of the Emperor Anastatius about 512; we possess this work in 312 hexameter verses, preceded by a prologue of 22 iambic senarii. Besides this he composed a "Periegenis" is 1087 hexameters; a translation of the work of the same name written under Hadrian by Dionysius of Alexandria; three works, dedicated to a certain Symmachus (perhaps the consul of 485), on numbers, numeration, and coins, on the metrical character of Latin comedies, on rhetoric according to the "Progymnasmata" at Hermogenes; the "Partitiones XII versuum Aeneidos" (on the versification of the Aeneid); a treatise "De aecentibus"; a compendium on declensions ("Institutio de nomine et pronomine at verbo").But he is chiefly celebrated for a great work of which the last-named is an extract, the eighteen books of the "Institutiones Grammaticae", the most important grammatical work of antiquity which we possess. Each of these eighteen books has its own special title and subject. The first sixteen, often separately copied ("Priscianus Maior") treat of forms ("De accidentibus"); the last two ("Priscianus Minor") of syntax. They are dedicated to a certain Julianus, consul and patrician. In this preface Priscian declares that he borrows his doctrines from the enormous volumes (spatiosa volumina) of Appollonius Dyscolus and from "the sea" (pleagus) of Herodian. He also cites Juba, Heliodorus, and Hephaestion. Moreover, he follows his sources servilely, as is proved by comparison with the extant fragments of Apollonius. His knowledge of Latin authors is chiefly derived from his predecessor Flavius Caper (end of second century). Priscian lacks judgment and taste, but he is valuable because he has preserved for us the theories of the Greek grammarians, and numerous Latin quotations for which he is our sole authority. Ò [CE]"Dionysius Periegetes (literally, Dionysius of The Description) was the author of a description of the habitable world in Greek hexameter verse written in a terse and elegant style. His life dates, and indeed his origins, are not known, but he is believed to have been from Alexandria and to have flourished around the time of Hadrian, though some put him as late as the end of the 3rd century. The work enjoyed a high degree of popularity in ancient times as a schoolbook. It was translated into Latin by Rufus Festus Avienus, and by the grammarian Priscian.Ó[wkpd] Jacobus de Fivizzano learned his trade in Venice before printing under his own name at Fivizzano in the Lunigiana in 1472; by 1476 he had moved back to Venice and began printing in the house of Marcus de Comitibus. This is one of only two works surviving (the other is Goff P305 dated 17 January 1476) with Gerardus Alexandrinus named in the imprint.Benedetto Brognoli [Prunulus] (1427-1502)born in Verona was a professor of philosophy at Venice where he taught Greek and Latin for nearly 50 years. He was corrector for the presses of Nicolaus Jensen and Phillippus Pincius. Goff P965 ; HCR 13358 ; Klebs 806.6 ; Pell Ms 9743 (9560) ; CIBN P-597 ; Zehnacker 1933 ; IGI