20. Musaeus. De Herone et Leandro (1517).

8° ; 80 leaves; 145 x 85mm.


Hero and Leander, the work of the late fifth century A.D. epic poet Musaeus, is the story of two lovers on the Hellespont, which became one of the most popular in European literature during the sixteenth century, influencing Marlowe among others. The Aldine text was the basis of most subsequent texts until the seventeenth century, perhaps due to the fact that unlike other contemporary editions, Aldus's was accompanied by a Latin translation.

Some believe that the undated Hero and Leander was the first work to issue from the Aldine Press. Although this is possible, there is no real evidence to prove this.



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