LE ROCQUEZ (Robert).

Le Miroir d'éternité, comprenant les sept aages du monde, les quatre Monarchies, & diversité des regnes d'iceluy. En la fin duquel sont contenus le general Jugement de Dieu, la peine des Reprouvez, & la gloire des Predestinez. Caen, De l'Imprimerie de Pierre Le Chandelier, 1589. In-8, lavaliered morocco, triple gilt fillet, ornate spine, interior lace, gilt edges (Hardy). Very rare first edition of this youthful poem by a poet and priest from Carentan (Normandy) for a perfect & lively cognoissance of this sovereign God. Dedicated to Prince François de Valois, it was published by his nephew many years after the author's death. The author gives to view the hystorial discourse of the whole old & new Testament, beginning with the eternity of God, the creation of the universe, & machine of the world, the nature & property of the Angel, & of man, & their ruin, all the most famous and memorable stories from the creation of Adam to the 16th century, the origin and dynasty of several monarchies, the foundations of several ancient cities, and most of the ioyeuses, & fructueux poësies, escrites & narrées au livre de la transformation des bees. The poet's prophetic vision of the Last Judgment occupies ff. 119-149. Printed in Caen. The typographical mark adorning the title is that of Pierre Le Chandelier: it is unknown to Silvestre, Marques typographiques, who reproduces only two other marks by this Norman printer. Title restored, with a few letters redone in ink on verso. Small restoration to the upper corner of about fifteen leaves at the end of the volume. Missing the last 4 leaves (Aa5-8), containing sonnets and other poetry, including 14 sonnets by Pierre Lombard. Frère, t. II, p. 219 ("Poème singulier"). - Diane Barbier-Mueller, Inventaire..., n°480.