Hobbes > Homer Translations
Thomas Hobbes bookended his career as a political scientist with Greek translation projects. His first published work was the translation of Thucydides in 1629, and in 1677, William Crooke brought out Hobbes' translations from Homer. This small-format volume contains second editions of the Iliad and Odyssey bound together. Hobbes issued his translation without annotations. He referred the reader who would like to consult annotations to his predecessor, Ogilve.
Thomas Hobbes published these Homer translations in his late eighties. In his address "To the Reader," Hobbes enumerates the qualities of an "heroick" poem and concludes with some comments about what compelled him to undertake the translation. "Why then did I write it? Because I had nothing else to do. I thought it might take off my adversaries from showing their folly upon my more serious writings, and set them upon my verses to show their wisdom."
Both images from The Iliads and Odysses of Homer (London, Willliam Crooke, 1677; RBML B88HI C77)