Du Bartas His Devine Weekes and Workes. Translated: and Dedicated to the Kings Most Excellent Maiestie by Joshua Sylvester. Now Fourthly Corr: & Augm. Printed at London by Humfrey Lounes. [1613]
[together with]
The History of Judith, in Forme of a Poeme, Penned in French, by the Noble Poet, G. Salust. Lord of Bartas. Englished by Tho. Hudson. 1613 at London, Printed by Humfrey Lownes.
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A beautiful production, finely printed, with lovely wide margins and illustrated plates, printed just two years after the King James Bible.
A fascinating work including some contemporary English marginalia with interesting theological commentary right around the time of the publication of the King James Bible. For example, "What is Religion or faith worth thats not founded on Reason?" written in the margin of a section of text discussing ancient Greek philosophers (Plato, Anaxagoras, Democritus, Zeno, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, Epicurus, etc) in a rather Aristotelian manner.
Saluste du Bartas was a Huguenot, and served under Henry IV of France He is known as an epic poet. La Sepmaine; ou, Creation du monde (1578) was a hugely influential hexameral work, relating the creation of the world and the history of man. It was translated into many languages, including English, and formed the basis for Milton's Paradise Lost. It was followed quickly by La Seconde Sepmaine (1584) which Du Bartas did not manage to finish before falling fatally ill.
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Size: 154 x 190 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[t.p., B2, A3-B7, half title, 819pp. (C-3H5), 3H6-3K5, t.p., 3K7-3L4, 87pp. (3L5-3Q8), 3R1-3R3, 1ff. (printer's device).]
Contemporary boards stamped in gilt, sympathetically rebacked, very attractive on the shelf. Binding slightly rubbed, lacking original ties, else externally very good. Binding secure with both boards securely attached, no shelf lean. Tight back binding preserving the original endpapers, including some rather early binder's waste with some manuscript text in an early Latin hand with Greek on the verso (on vellum). Endpapers edge toned as commensurate with the calf binding. Without any attached bookplates. Some pencil inscriptions to front pastedown, light and faint. Ink ownership inscription on B2 dated 1759. Engraved title page ragged at edges with minor loss, more heavily toned. Text block generally excellent throughout, very clean and bright, with occasional contemporary marginalia in an English hand. A very good copy of this scarce work, particularly the second work bound in (History of Judith) which is very rare.
[ESTC S116452; OCLC 34832575; MMSID 9939313003804341; STC 21652].
