The Orations of Demosthenes: Pronounced to Excite Athenians Against Philip, King of Macedon. Translated by Thomas Leland, D. D.

DEMOSTHENES. TRANSLATED BY THOMAS LELAND,.

$1,200.00

Item Number: 123088

London: Printed by T. Bensley, 1806.

Finely bound example of Leland’s translation of the Orations of Demosthenes. Octavo, 2 volumes, bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. In fine condition. Rare and desirable bound in early 19th century calf.

Ancient Athenian statesman Demosthenes' orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by studying the speeches of previous great orators and delivered his first judicial speeches at the age of 20, in which he argued effectively to gain from his guardians what was left of his inheritance. Cicero said of him that inter omnis unus excellat ("he stands alone among all the orators"), and also acclaimed him as "the perfect orator" who lacked nothing.