A worlde of wordes - 1598

              This dictionary gives English definitions for Italian words. The prefatory materials are entirely in English and suggest an audience of English speakers seeking to learn Italian. The volume is dedicated to three patrons: Roger Earl of Rutland, Henrie Earl of Southampton, and Lucie Contesse of Bedford. Sonnets to the patrons are included in the dedications and suggest a well-known love of travel and Italy in particular for both the men, while Lucie's poem focuses instead on her honor, wit and beauty in a general sense. A poem in praise of the author by "BB" and telling something of his life story is also included, his intelligence is praised and his sisters are noted to have been just as worthy "'but for their sexe' [sic] imperfectnesse" (b4r). The main text of the dictionary is immediately preceded by an account of “The names of the Bookes and Auctors, that have bin read of purpose, for the accomplishing of this Dictionarie, and out of which it is collected”(b4v), which serves as both a bibliography and an appeal to authority to establish the scholarly bona fides of the volume.

Organization:

Pages are in three columns. Three letter column headings are impressionistic rather than exact. Entries are sometimes alphabetized by an alternate spelling which is given in the entry, but not the way the entry is spelled.

Entries are alphabetized by Italian. Italian words are in roman type, with definitions in English in Italics.

Bibliographic Information

Condition

No binding remaining. Textblock is kept in a box which is decorated with marbled paper.

Provenance

Handwritten note on title page: “Edward Greene,” Initials “S. J.” surround date on title page,

Top of page a3r handwritten in red ink: “Thomas Price”

Collation

2^o: a⁶, b⁴, A-2Q⁶, (3$, -Qq3) [2Q4-6 wanting]

Misnumbered pages: 223 as “123,” from 375 numbering skips straight to 380, 435 as “433” (discounting the previous skip).

Contents

a2r - Title page

a3r - Epistle Dedicatory (To the Right Honorable Patrons of virtue, Patterns of Honor, Roger Earle of Rutland, Henrie Earle of Southampton, Lucie Countesse of Bedford, signed John Florio – pictures on phone to read)

a5v – To the Reader

b2v – Sonnet “To the Right Honorable Roger Earle of Rutland, &c.”

b3r – Sonnet “To the Right Honorable Henrie Earle of Southampton, &c.”

b3v – Sonnet “To the Right Honorable Lucie Countesse of Bedford, &c.”

b4r – Poem about Florio from B.B.

b4v – The names of the Bookes and Auctors that have bin read of purpose, for the accomplishing of this Dictionarie, and out of which it is collected

A1r-2Q3v – A most copious and exact Dictionarie in Italian and English