London: printed by E[van]. T[yler]. and R[alph]. H[olt]. for Nath. Brooke; printed by J. Macock for Walter Kettilby,, 1672 & 1673. Both parts of Eachard's satiric rejection of Hobbes First editions of both the first and second part of the English Divine and Satirist John Eachard's witty refutation of Hobbes's philosophy, in the form of a dialogue between a thinly-veiled Hobbes and Eachard. "Philautus (Hobbes) is a megalomaniac know-all afflicted by the fear and selfishness Hobbes saw in human nature. Timothy, by contrast, has intelligence, common sense, and good humour. The colloquial language of both speakers makes the discussion lively and concrete - the same technique as employed in Contempt of the Clergy. Dryden, in his 'Life of Lucian', ranks Eachard with Erasmus and Fontenelle as modern exponents of the Lucianic dialogue: by this method, Dryden writes, he 'has more baffled the Philosopher of Malmsbury, than those who assaulted him with the blunt, heavy Arguments, drawn from Orthodox Divinity'. Eachard's continuation of the dialogue, Some Opinions of Mr. Hobbs Considered (1673), was less popular; unlike his other works it was not reprinted in the seventeenth century" (ODNB). The first part is appended with a response to critics of his 1670 work The Grounds and Occasions of the Contempt of the Clergy and Religion Enquired Into, a satire on the clergy for their lack of education and want of true vocation. Both books have the bookplate to inner front cover of the Fox Pointe Manor library of Howard and Linda Knohl, an impressive collection assembled in Southern California and specializing in 16th and 17th century English books. Two works, small octavo, Dialogue (155 x 91 mm); Second Dialogue (152 x 94 mm). Dialogue: Contemporary ruled sheep, neatly rebacked, blue speckled edges. Second Dialogue: Contemporary calf, neatly rebacked, covers panelled in blind. Housed together in a custom brown cloth solander box by the Chelsea Bindery. Both complete, Second Dialogue with initial and terminal blank. Both discreetly restored at extremities. Dialogue: loss to front free endpaper and at foot of binder's blank facing title, early ownership signature to initial binder's blank partly obscured, light worming in fore margin of 2B-2D rear occasionally glancing text, and to terminal endpapers. Second Dialogue: Contemporary inscription to initial blank, some loss and soiling to endpapers, loss at top and bottom fore corner of B1 glancing text, short closed tear to fore margin of P1 not affecting text. Very good, crisp copies. ESTC R24940 & R30964; Wing E57 & E64.
