Add MS 78356

EVELYN PAPERS. Vol. CLXXXIX. Commentary on Lucretius, De rerum natura, books III to VI, to accompany the above translation; 1656-1657. Autograph draft in a rough cursive hand, preceded by a draft preface(?) in a later hand, concerning his motives for undertaking the work. The main text is written on the rectos of the leaves, with substantial insertions on facing pages. With the volume are two loose leaves: one containing a copy of William Lawes’ musical setting of Richard Lovelace’s `Why should thou swear I am forsworn’, [17^th cent.?], the other a small engraving (34 x 34mm) of soldiers with a battle scene in the background. Beal EvJ 3. Formerly Evelyn MS 33.

ff. iv + 159. Pencil foliation (not including prefatory text), `1-155', probably by Evelyn up to 60, then continued in a more modern hand. Contemporary vellum binding, with traces of pencil and ink sketches on the front and back covers. 220 x 117mm.