Machiavelli in the British Isles: Two Early Modern Translations of The Prince

310 Pages·2009·5.56 MB·English

by  Alessandra Petrina

Machiavelli in the British Isles
Two Early Modern Translations of The Prince
Alessandra Petrina
Machiavelli in the British isles
Anglo-ITAlIAn REnAIssAncE sTudIEs sERIEs
Series Editors
General editor: Michele Marrapodi, University of Palermo, italy
advisory editors: Keir elam, University of Bologna, italy
robert henke, Washington University, Usa
this series aims to place early modern english drama within the context of the
European Renaissance and, more specifically, within the context of Italian cultural,
dramatic, and literary traditions, with reference to the impact and influence of both
classical and contemporary culture. Among the various forms of influence, the
series considers early modern italian novellas, theatre, and discourses as direct or
indirect sources, analogues and paralogues for the construction of shakespeare’s
drama, particularly in the comedies, romances, and other italianate plays. critical
analysis focusing on other cultural transactions, such as travel and courtesy books,
the arts, fencing, dancing, and fashion, will also be encompassed within the scope
of the series. special attention is paid to the manner in which early modern english
dramatists adapted italian materials to suit their theatrical agendas, creating new
forms, and stretching the renaissance practice of contaminatio to achieve, even
if unconsciously, a process of rewriting, remaking, and refashioning of ‘alien’
cultures. the series welcomes both single-author studies and collections of essays
and invites proposals that take into account the transition of cultures between the
two countries as a bilateral process, paying attention also to the penetration of
early modern english culture into the italian world.
FoRTHcoMIng TITlEs In THE sERIEs
Courtesans, Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama
Duncan James salkeld
Italian Literary Women in Early Modern England
Gender in Elizabethan Translations of Boiardo, Ariosto and Tasso
selene scarsi
Shakespeare and Venice
Graham holderness
Machiavelli in the British isles
two early Modern translations of The Prince
alessanDra Petrina
Università di Padova, Italy
© alessandra Petrina 2009
all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
alessandra Petrina has asserted her right under the copyright, Designs and Patents act, 1988,
to be identified as the author of this work.
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British library cataloguing in Publication data
Petrina, alessandra.
Machiavelli in the British isles: two early modern translations of the prince. –
(anglo-italian renaissance studies)
1. Machiavelli, niccolo, 1469–1527 – translations into english – history and criticism.
2. Machiavelli, niccolo, 1469–1527. Principe. 3. Machiavelli, niccolo, 1469–1527 –
appreciation – Great Britain. 4. Political science – Philosophy–early works to 1800 –
translations into english. 5. Fowler, William, 1560?–1612
i. title ii. series
320’.01–dc22
library of congress cataloging–in–Publication data
Petrina, alessandra.
Machiavelli in the British isles : two early modern translations of the Prince /
alessandra Petrina.
p. cm. – (anglo-italian renaissance studies)
includes bibliographical references and index.
isBn 978-0-7546-6697-4 (hardcover : alk. paper) – isBn 978-0-7546-9630-8
(ebook)
1. Machiavelli, niccol, 1469–1527. Principe – translations into english – history and
criticism. 2. translating and interpreting – Great Britain – history. i. title.

Jc143.M3946P48 2009
320.1–dc22
2009011703
isBn 9780754666974 (hbk)
isBn 9780754696308 (ebk)
Alla memoria di mio padre
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a Oscar, costante compagno
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contents
List of Figures ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xv
List of Abbreviations xix
1 Machiavelli’s Principe and its early appearance in the British isles 1
Machiavelli’s Principe in elizabethan england 14
the Principe in sixteenth-century scotland 32
2 english Manuscript translations 47
translation a 52
translation B 60
3 the Burgess humanist: a life of William Fowler 69
4 the Fowler translation: the state of the Manuscripts 87
national library of scotland, Ms hawthornden 2063
(Manuscript Xi) 101
national library of scotland, Ms hawthornden 2064
(Manuscript Xii) 103
national library of scotland, Ms hawthornden 2065
(Manuscript Xiii) 107
national library of scotland, Ms hawthornden 2066
(Manuscript Xiv) 109
national library of scotland, Ms hawthornden 2067
(Manuscript Xv) 110
5 the Queen’s college translation: the state of the Manuscript 113
6 a critical reading and commentary on the translations 119
appendix 1: the Fowler translation 137
editorial notes 137
the text 137
viii Machiavelli in the British Isles
appendix 2: the Queen’s college translation 201
editorial notes 201
the text 201
Bibliography 257
Primary sources 257
Secondary sources 266
Index 285
list of Figures
1 Opening page of William Fowler’s translation of Machiavelli’s
Principe (edinburgh, the society of antiquaries of scotland and
national library of scotland, Ms hawthornden 2064, fol. 144r) 136
2 Opening page of the anonymous translation of Machiavelli’s
Principe (Oxford, Queen’s college library, Ms 251, fol. 1r).
reproduced by permission of the Provost, Fellows and scholars of
the Queen’s college Oxford 200