The Clay Sanskrit Library

The Clay Sanskrit Library was established in 2005 and added new volumes of transliterated Sanskrit with facing parallel English translations from then until 2009.  I’m listing this here as I do have a passing interest in learning some Sanskrit just so I can continue to broaden my literary and cultural horizons and to better understand the environments in which these classics were written.  I will list the books owned but not yet read in italics and eventually, if I gain some grasp of Sanskrit, read books will be listed in bold.

1. The Emperor of the Sorcerers (volume one) by Budhasvāmin. trans. Sir James Mallinson
2. Heavenly Exploits (Buddhist Biographies from the Dívyavadána) trans. Joel Tatelm
3. Maha·bhárata III: The Forest (volume four of four) trans. William J. Johnson
4. Much Ado About Religion by Bhaṭṭa Jayanta.  trans. Csaba Dezső
5. The Birth of Kumára by Kālidāsa. trans. David Smith. Foreword by U.R. Ananthamurthy
6. Ramáyana I: Boyhood by Vālmīki. trans. Robert P. Goldman. Foreword by Amartya Sen
7. The Epitome of Queen Lilávati (volume one) by Jinaratna. trans. R.C.C. Fynes
8. Ramáyana II: Ayódhya by Vālmīki. trans. Sheldon I. Pollock
9. Love Lyrics by Amaru, Bhartṛhari & Bilhaṇa. trans. Greg Bailey & Richard Gombrich
10. What Ten Young Men Did by Daṇḍin. trans. Isabelle Onians. Foreword by Kiran Nagarkar
11. Three Satires by Nīlakaṇṭha, Kṣemendra, and Bhallaṭa. trans. Somadeva Vasudeva. Foreword by Mani Shankar Aiyar
12. Ramáyana IV: Kishkíndha by Vālmīki. trans. Rosalind Lefeber
13. The Emperor of the Sorcerers (volume two) by Budhasvāmin. trans. Sir James Mallinson
14. Maha·bhárata IX: Shalya (volume one of two) trans. Justin Meiland
15. Rákshasa’s Ring by Viśākhadatta. trans. Michael Coulson. Foreword by Romila Thapar
16. Messenger Poems by Kālidāsa, Dhoyī, and Rūpa Gosvāmin. trans. Sir James Mallinson
17. Ramáyana III: The Forest by Vālmīki.  trans. Sheldon I. Pollock
18. The Epitome of Queen Lilávati (volume two) by Jinaratna. trans. R.C.C. Fynes
19. Five Discourses on Worldly Wisdom by Viṣṇuśarman. trans. Patrick Olivelle 
20. Ramáyana V: Súndara by Vālmīki.  trans. Robert P. Goldman & Sally J. Sutherland Goldman
21. Maha·bhárata II: The Great Hall trans. Paul Wilmot
22. The Recognition of Shakúntala by Kālidāsa. trans. Somadeva Vasudeva
23. Maha·bhárata VII: Drona (volume one of four) trans. Vaughan Pilikian
24. Rama Beyond Price by Murāri.  trans. Judit Törzsök
25. Maha·bhárata IV: Viráta trans. Kathleen Garbutt
26. Maha·bhárata VIII: Karna (volume one of two) trans. Adam Bowles
27. “The Lady of the Jewel Necklace” and “The Lady Who Shows Her Love” by Harṣa. trans. Wendy Doniger. Foreword by Anita Desai
28. The Ocean of the Rivers of Story (volume one of seven) by Somadeva. trans. Sir James Mallinson
29. Handsome Nanda by Aśvaghoṣa. trans. Linda Covill
30. Maha·bhárata IX: Shalya (volume two of two)  trans. Justin Meiland
31. Rama’s Last Act by Bhavabhūti. trans. Sheldon I. Pollock. Foreword by Girish Karnad
32. “Friendly Advice” and “King Víkrama’s Adventures” by Nārāyaṇa. trans. Judith Törzsök
33. Life of the Buddha by Aśvaghoṣa. trans. Patrick Olivelle
34. Maha·bhárata V: Preparations for War (volume one of two)  trans. Kathleen Garbutt. Foreword by Gurcharan Das
35. Maha·bhárata VIII: Karna (volume two of two)  trans. Adam Bowles
36. Maha·bhárata V: Preparations for War (volume two of two) trans. Kathleen Garbutt
37. Maha·bhárata VI: Bhishma (volume one of two) Including the “Bhagavad Gita” in Context  trans. Alex Cherniak. Foreword by Ranajit Guha
38. The Ocean of the Rivers of Story (volume two of seven) by Somadeva.  trans. Sir James Mallinson
39. “How the Nagas Were Pleased” and “The Shattered Thighs” by Harṣa and Bhāsa. trans. Andrew Skilton
40. Gita·govínda: Love Songs of Radha and Krishna by Jayadeva. trans. Lee Siegel. Foreword by Sudipta Kaviraj
41. “Bouquet of Rasa” and “River of Rasa” by Bhānudatta. trans. Sheldon I. Pollock
42. Garland of the Buddha’s Past Lives (volume one of two) by Āryaśūra. trans. Justin Meiland
43. Maha·bhárata XII: Peace: “The Book of Liberation” (volume three of five) trans. Alexander Wynne
44. The Little Clay Cart by Śūdraka. trans. Diwakar Acharya. Foreword by Partha Chatterjee
45. Bhatti’s Poem: The Death of Rávana by Bhaṭṭi. trans. Oliver Fallon
46. “Self-Surrender,” “Peace,” “Compassion,” and “The Mission of the Goose”: Poems and Prayers from South India by Appayya Dīkṣita, Nīlakaṇṭha Dīkṣita, Vedānta Deśika. trans. Yigal Bronner & David Shulman. Foreword by Gieve Patel
47. Maha·bhárata VI: Bhishma (volume two of two) trans. Alex Cherniak
48. How Úrvashi Was Won by Kālidāsa. trans. Velcheru Narayana Rao & David Shulman
49. The Quartet of Causeries by Śyāmilaka, Vararuci, Śūdraka & Īśvaradatta. trans. Csaba Dezső & Somadeva Vasudeva
50. Garland of the Buddha’s Past Lives (volume two of two) by Āryaśūra. trans. Justin Meiland
51. Princess Kadámbari (volume one of three) by Bāṇa. trans. David Smith
52. The Rise of Wisdom Moon by Kṛṣṇamiśra. trans. Matthew Kapstein. Foreword by J.N. Mohanty
53. Maha·bhárata VII: Drona (volume two of four) trans. Vaughan Pilikian
54. Maha·bhárata X-XI: Dead of Night & The Women trans.  Kate Crosby
55. Seven Hundred Elegant Verses by Govardhana. trans. Friedhelm Hardy
56. Málavika and Agni·mitra by Kālidāsa. trans. Dániel Balogh & Eszter Somogyi

Loeb Classical Library: Books Owned

 I’ve been spending quite a bit of time the past two months working on improving on my college Latin (and teaching myself Attic Greek) and the Loeb Classical Library, with its parallel original/English translated text, has been a great use for me.  Since there are over 500 volumes in the series (and newer, revised translations are being released under the old series numbers or occasionally renumbered and/or divided), I think I will list the books I currently own, with the series number beside them (most of these are newish, but some are older editions I’ve bought over the years), and just add more as I buy more.  As is the norm with me, I’ll bold the books already finished, but the unread books that I own will appear in regular style instead of in italics like I normally do when listing books in a series.

9/14/2023 Update:  80 total volumes (44 Latin, 36 Greek)

1    Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica (Greek)

2    Appian I:  Roman History, Volume I (Greek)

3    Appian II:  Roman History, Volume II (Greek)

4    Appian III:  Roman History, Volume III (Greek)

5    Appian IV:  Roman History, Volume IV:  Civil Wars Books 1-2 (Greek)

6    Catullus, Tibullus, Pervigilium Veneris (Latin)

7    Cicero I:  Letters to Atticus I (Latin)

10  Euripides IV:  Trojan Women, Iphigenia Among the Taurians, Ion (Greek)

11  Euripides V:  Helen, Phoenician Women, Orestes (Greek)

15  Petronius, Satyricon; Seneca, Apocolocyntosis (Latin)

16  Philostratus I:  Apollonius of Tyana, Volume I:  Books 1-4 (Greek)

17  Philostratus II:  Apollonius of Tyana, Volume II:  Books 5-8 (Greek)

19  Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica (Greek)

20  Sophocles I:  Ajax, Electra, Oedipus Tyrannus (Greek)

21  Sophocles II:  Antigone, The Women of Trachis, Philoctetes, Oedipus at Colonus (Greek)

23 Terence II:  Phormio, The Mother-in-Law, the Brothers (Latin)

24  The Apostolic Fathers, Volume I (Greek)

25  The Apostolic Fathers, Volume II (Greek)

26  Augustine I: Confessions I:  Books 1-8 (Latin)

27  Augustine II: Confessions II:  Books 9-13 (Latin)

30  Cicero XXI:  On Duties (Latin)

31  Suetonius I:  Lives of the Caesars Books 1-4 (Latin)

32  Dio Cassius I:  Roman History, Volume I:  Books 1-11 (Greek)

33  Horace, Odes and Epodes (Latin)

34  John Damascene, Barlaam and Ioasaph (Greek)

35  Tacitus I:  Agricola; Germania; Dialogus (Latin)

36  Plato I:  Euthphro, Apology, Crido, Phaedo (Greek)

37  Dio Cassius II:  Roman History, Volume II (Greek)

38  Suetonius II:  Lives of the Caesars Books 5-8 (Latin)

39  Caesar II:  Civil War (Latin)

41  Ovid I:  Heroides, Amores (Latin)

42  Ovid III:  Metamorphoses Books 1-8 (Latin)

43  Ovid IV:  Metamorphoses Books 9-15 (Latin)

44  Apuleius I:  Metamorphoses Books 1-6 (Latin)

46  Plutarch I:  Lives, Volume I (Greek)

48  Procopius I:  History of the Wars, Volume I (Greek)

57  Hesiod I:  Theogony, Works and Days, Testimonia (Greek)

58  Marcus Aurelius (Greek)

63  Virgil I:  Ecologues, Georgics, Aeneid Books 1-6 (Latin)

64  Virgil II:  Aeneid Books 7-12, The Minor Poems (Latin)

72  Caesar I:  The Gallic War (Latin)

73  Aristotle XIX:  Nicomachean Ethics (Greek)

74  Boethius, Theological Tractates, The Consolation of Philosophy (Latin)

81  Procopius II:  History of the Wars, Volume II (Greek)

90  Xenophon III:  Anabasis (Greek)

91  Juvenal and Perseus (Latin)

92  Clement of Alexandria (Greek)

104 Homer I:  Odyssey I:  Books 1-12 (Greek)

105 Homer II:  Odyssey II: Books 13-24 (Greek)

107 Procopius III:  History of the Wars, Volume III (Greek)

108 Thucydides I:  History of the Peloponnesian War:  Books 1-2 (Greek)

111 Tacitus II:  Histories, Volume I:  Books 1-3 (Latin)

114 Livy I:  History of Rome, Books 1-2 (Latin)

116 Sallust I:  The War with Cataline; The War with Jugurtha (Latin)

117 Herodotus I:  The Persian Wars:  Books 1-2 (Greek)

124 Quintilian, The Orator’s Education:  Books 1-2 (Latin)

128 Polybius I:  The Histories, Volume I (Greek)

135 Claudian I:  Volume I (Latin)

139 David Rohrbacher (ed.), Historia Augusta, Volume I (Latin)

145 Aeschylus I:  Persians, Seven Against Thebes, Suppliants, Prometheus Bound (Greek)

146 Aeschylus II;  Oresteia, Agamemnon, Libation-Bearers, Eumenides (Greek)

151 Ovid VI:  Tristia; Ex Ponto (Latin)

153 Eusebius I:  The Ecclesiastical History I:  Books 1-5 (Greek)

154 Cicero:  On Old Age; On Friendship; On Divination (Latin)

166 Plato III:  Lysis, Symposium, Georgia’s (Greek)

170 Homer III:  Iliad I:  Books 1-12 (Greek)

171 Homer IV:  Iliad II:  Books 13-24 (Greek)

173 Procopius IV:  History of the Wars, Volume IV (Greek)

178 Aristophanes I:  Acharnians, Knights (Greek)

179 Aristophanes III:  Birds, Lysistrata, Women at the Thesmophoria (Greek)

180 Aristophanes IV:  Frogs, Assemblywomen, Wealth (Greek)

181 Lucretius, On the Nature of Things (Latin)

190 Basil I:  Letters, Volume I:  Letters 1-58 (Greek)

203 Josephus I:  The Jewish War, Books I-II (Greek)

207 Statius II:  Thebaid: Books 1-7 (Latin)

214 Seneca, Moral Essays I (Latin)

217 Procopius V:  History of the Wars, Volume V (Greek)

220 Lucan, The Civil War (Latin)

226 Philo, Volume I (Greek)

231 Florus, Epitome of Roman History (Latin)

232 Ovid II:  The Art of Love and Other Poems (Latin)

234 Plato IX:  Timaeus, Critias, Cleitophon, Menexenus, Epistles (Greek)

239 Augustine, Select Letters (Latin)

246 Bede I:  Ecclesiastical History, Volume I:  Books 1-3 (Latin)

248 Bede II:  Ecclesiastical History, Volume II:  Books 4-5; Lives of the Abbots; Letter to Egbert (Latin)

250 Tertullian, Apology,De Spectaculis; Minucius Felix, Octavius (Latin)

253 Ovid V:  Fasti (Latin)

254 Seneca, Moral Essays, Volume II (Latin)

262 Jerome, Select Letters (Latin)

265 Eusebius, The Ecclesiastical History II:  Books 6-10 (Greek)

268 Cicero, On the Nature of the Gods; Academics (Latin)

290 Procopius VI: Secret History (Greek)

294 Fragmentary Republican Latin I:  Ennius, Testimona, Epic Fragments (Latin)

300 Ammianus Marcellinus I:  History, Volume I:  Books 14-19 (Latin)

333 Varro, On the Latin Language I:  Books 5-7 (Latin)

334 Varro, On the Latin Language II:  Books 8-10 and Fragments (Latin)

344 Nonnos I:  Dionysiaca:  Books 1-15 (Greek)

347 Cicero V:  Brutus, Orator (Latin)

387 Prudentius I:  Volume I (Latin)

398 Prudentius II:  Against Symmachus II; Crowns of Martyrdom; Scenes from History; Epilogue (Latin)

402 Caesar III: Alexandrian War, African War, Spanish War (Latin)

411 Augustine, City of God I:  Books 1-3 (Latin)

412 Augustine, City of God II:  Books 4-7 (Latin)

413 Augustine, City of God III:  Books 8-11 (Latin)

414 Augustine, City of God IV:  Books 12-15 (Latin)

415 Augustine, City of God V:  Books 16-18.35 (Latin)

416 Augustine, City of God VI:  Books 18.36-20 (Latin)

417 Augustine, City of God VII:  Books 21-22, Index (Latin)

450 Seneca, Natural Questions I:  Books 1-3 (Latin)

453 Apuleius II:  Metamorphoses Books 7-11 (Latin)

467 Cornelius Nepos, On Great Generals; On Historians (Latin)

488 Aristophanes II:  Clouds, Wasps, Peace (Greek)

495 Euripides VI:  Bacchae, Iphigenia at Audis, Rhesus (Greek)

496 Homeric Hymns, Homeric Apocrypha, Lives of Homer (Greek)

497 Greek Epic Fragments (Greek)

498 Statius III:  Thebaid: Books 8-12, Achilleid (Latin)

534 Apuleius III:  Apologia; Florida; De deo Socratis (Latin)

552 Cato, Orations; Other Fragments (Latin)

Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library

 Ever since I decided a few months ago to return to reading for pleasure, I have been in the process of collecting books in a few series that interest me for historical, poetical, and linguistic reasons.  Below is the first of a half-dozen series of classics from across time and the world, the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library.  This series is published by Harvard University Press (which also publishes the Loeb Classical Library, the I Tatti Renaissance Library, and the Murthy Classical Library of India) and is still adding works from the medieval Roman Empire, medieval Western Europe in Latin, and pre-1066 Old English works.

The works I own will be marked in italics; those read will be bold.  I will update this list as new volumes are added.

Update (9/16/2023):  List updated through two forthcoming volumes scheduled for May 2024.  #84 will be the first volume to contain a bilingual edition of medieval Old Castilian and Old Aragonese.

1.  The Vulgate Bible, Volume I: The Pentateuch (Medieval Latin)

2.  The Arundel Lyrics. The Poems of Hugh Primas (Medieval Latin)

3.  The Beowulf Manuscript (Old English)

4.  The Vulgate Bible, Volume II, Part A: The Historical Books (Medieval Latin)

5.  The Vulgate Bible, Volume II, Part B: The Historical Books (Medieval Latin)

6.  The Rule of Saint Benedict (Medieval Latin)

7.   Old Testament Narratives (Old English)

8.  The Vulgate Bible, Volume III: The Poetical Books (Medieval Latin)

9.  Satires: Sextus Amarcius. Eupolemius (Medieval Latin)

10. Histories, Volume I: Books 1–2, Richer of Saint-Rémi (Medieval Latin)

11.  Histories, Volume II: Books 3–4, Richer of Saint-Rémi (Medieval Latin)

12. Miracle Tales from Byzantium (Byzantine Greek)

13. The Vulgate Bible, Volume IV: The Major Prophetical Books (Medieval Latin)

14. Apocalypse: Pseudo-Methodius. An Alexandrian World Chronicle (Byzantine Greek/Medieval Latin)

15. Old English Shorter Poems, Volume I: Religious and Didactic (Old English)

16. The History: Michael Attaleiates (Byzantine Greek)

17. The Vulgate Bible, Volume V: The Minor Prophetical Books and Maccabees (Medieval Latin)

18. One Hundred Latin Hymns (Medieval Latin)

19. The Old English Boethius (Medieval Latin)

20. The Life of Saint Symeon the New Theologian: Niketas Stethatos (Byzantine Greek)

21. The Vulgate Bible, Volume VI: The New Testament (Medieval Latin)

22. Literary Works:  Alan of Lille (Medieval Latin)

23. The Old English Poems of Cynewulf (Old English)

24. Accounts of Medieval Constantinople:  The Patria (Byzantine Greek)

25. The Well-Laden Ship: Egbert of Liège (Medieval Latin)

26. Ysengrimus (Medieval Latin)

27. Old English Poems of Christ and His Saints (Old English)

28. On Difficulties in the Church Fathers: The Ambigua, Volume I (Byzantine Greek)

29. On Difficulties in the Church Fathers: The Ambigua, Volume II (Byzantine Greek)

30. Saints’ Lives, Volume I: Henry of Avranches (Medieval Latin)

31. Saints’ Lives, Volume II:  Henry of Avranches (Medieval Latin)

32. Old English Shorter Poems, Volume II: Wisdom and Lyric (Old English)

33. The Histories, Volume I: Books 1–5, Laonikos Chalkokondyles (Byzantine Greek)

34. The Histories, Volume II: Books 6-10, Laonikos Chalkokondyles (Byzantine Greek)

35. On the Liturgy, Volume I: Books 1–2, Amalar of Metz (Medieval Latin)

36. On the Liturgy, Volume II: Books 3-4, Amalar of Metz (Medieval Latin)

37. Allegories of the Iliad: John Tzetzes (Byzantine Greek)

38. Poetic Works: Bernardus Silvestris (Medieval Latin)

39. Lives and Miracles:  Gregory of Tours (Medieval Latin)

40. Holy Men of Mount Athos (Byzantine Greek) 

41. On Plato's Timaeus: Calcidius (Byzantine Greek)

42. Old English Psalms (Old English)

43. The Rhetorical Exercises of Nikephoros Basilakes (Byzantine Greek)

44. The Old English History of the World (Old English)

45. Christian Novels from the Menologion of Symeon Metaphrastes (Byzantine Greek)

46. Poems: Venantius Fortunatus (Medieval Latin)

47. The Life of Saint Neilos of Rossano (Byzantine Greek)

48. Carmina Burana: Volume I (Medieval Latin)

49. Carmina Burana: Volume II (Medieval Latin) 

50. The Poems of Christopher of Mytilene and John Mauropous (Byzantine Greek)

51. Medieval Latin Lives of Muhammad (Medieval Latin)

52. Two Works on Trebizond: Michael Panaretos, Bessarion (Byzantine Greek)

53. Tria sunt: An Art of Poetry and Prose (Medieval Latin)

54. Saints of Ninth- and Tenth-Century Greece (Byzantine Greek)

55. Architrenius: Johannes de Hauvilla (Medieval Latin)

56. Allegories of The Odyssey: John Tzetzes (Byzantine Greek)

57. The History of the Kings of Britain: The First Variant Version (Medieval Latin)

58. Old English Lives of Saints, Volume I: Ælfric (Old English)

59. Old English Lives of Saints, Volume II: Ælfric (Old English)

60. Old English Lives of Saints, Volume III: Ælfric (Old English)

61. On Morals or Concerning Education: Theodore Metochites (Byzantine Greek)

62. Appendix Ovidiana: Latin Poems Ascribed to Ovid in the Middle Ages (Medieval Latin)

63. Anonymous Old English Lives of Saints (Old English)

64. Homilies: Sophronios of Jerusalem (Byzantine Greek)

65. Parisiana poetria: John of Garland (Medieval Latin)

66. Old English Legal Writings: Wulfstan (Old English)

67. The Byzantine Sinbad: Michael Andreopoulos (Byzantine Greek)

68. Fortune and Misfortune at Saint Gall: Casus sancti Galli, Ekkehard IV (Medieval Latin)

69. The Old English and Anglo-Latin Riddle Tradition (Old English/Medieval Latin)

70. The Life and Death of Theodore of Stoudios (Byzantine Greek)

71. Writings on Body and Soul: Aelred of Rievaulx (Medieval Latin)

72. The Old English Pastoral Care (Old English)

73. Animal Fables of the Courtly Mediterranean: The Eugenian Recension of Stephanites and Ichnelates (Byzantine Greek)

74. Biblical and Pastoral Poetry: Alcimus Avitus (Medieval Latin)

75. Miracles of the Virgin and Tract on Abuses, Nigel of Canterbury (Medieval Latin)

76. Augustine's Soliloquies in Old English and in Latin (Old English/Medieval Latin)

77. Life of the Virgin Mary, John Geometres (Byzantine Greek)

78. Saints at the Limits: Seven Byzantine Popular Legends (Byzantine Greek)

79. Jewel of the Soul, Volume I, Honorius Augustodunensis (Medieval Latin)

80. Jewel of the Soul, Volume II, Honorius Augustodenensis (Medieval Latin)

81. Medical Writings from Early Medieval England, Volume I: The Old English Herbal, Lacnunga, and Other Texts (Old English)

82. The Moralized Ovid, Pierre Bersuire (Medieval Latin)

83. Romanos the Melodist, Songs about Women (Byzantine Greek) (May 2024)

84. The Iberian Apollonius of Tyre (Old Spanish, Old Aragonese) (May 2024)

Old School Book Porn: Dante Alighieri’s La Divina Commedia, illustrated by George Cochrane

Last year, I contributed to a Kickstarter for a limited-edition illustrated edition of Dante’s most famous work, La Divina Commedia, that would feature illustrations on virtually every single page by illustrator George Cochrane.  I finally received my Anniversary Edition slipcased hardcover earlier this week and while I’m waiting until after I finish reading certain classic epic poems first, I plan on re-reading Dante, this time in the original Italian.  Thought there might be a few people who might be interested in seeing an image from this marvelously-constructed illustrated edition.