Milton's L'Allegro and Il Penseroso
London: David Bogue, 1855. Hardcover. Sm. 4to. Gold-and blind stamped brown cloth and spine. Beveled edges. All gilt edges. Head and tail of spine bumped. Corners bumped and worn. Bumping and rubbing to parts of edges. Some staining, spotting and rubbing to boards and spine. Hinges starting. Two small closed tears to blank page opposite title-page. Pages 13 through page 24 detached from block but present. Sporadic foxing to a few pages not affecting text or plates. "Milton's "twin" poems L'Allegro and Il Penseroso are related to the synkriseis tradition of classical literature. In this concept, the merits of values of two opposing ideas or things are debated. Milton uses the contrasting settings of day and night to present readers with two men: the cheerful, amiable man of L'Allegro and the contemplative, melancholy man of Il Penseroso. While L'Allegro is light and melodic, creating a happy pastoral world, Il Penseroso paints a darker picture, with a slower pace and shadowry images to evoke a melancholy mood." (Deb Jensen). Illustrated with etchings on steel by Birket Foster. Fair condition. fair. Item #15402
Price: $125.00