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. Published by ashgate Publishing limited ashgate Publishing company Wey court east suite 420 Union road 101 cherry street Farnham Burlington surrey, GU9 7Pt vt 05401–4405 england Usa www.ashgate.com 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 e a Oscar, costante compagno This page has been left blank intentionally 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