Abstract
This contribution reassesses the importance of Benedetto Varchi’s translation and commentary of Aristotle’s Prior Analytics in light of previously unknown materials, including a vernacular translation (provided in the appendix) and a brief Latin commentary. After providing a history of the reception of the Prior Analyitics, from Boethius’ translation to the mid-sixteenth century, the essay analyzes Varchi’s methodology in confronting Aristotle’s text and demonstrates that Varchi’s work is the result of reflections upon the Latin the vernacular translations. It then analyzes Varchi’s translation techniques, demonstrating that Varchi borrowed extensively from Boethius’ lexicon, and further, that there are striking similarities to Alessandro Piccolomini’s interpretations of Aristotle’s work.