The first edition was published in 1578 in Geneva. Brunet II, 1076: 'Cet ouvrage piquant a été édité à Genève, en 1578, et non à Paris ; selon plusieurs bibliographes. L'auteur y a prodigué son immense érudition, mais en même temps s'y est permis certaines plaisanteries un peu hardies, qui lui attirèrent une verte semonse du conseil de Genève, par suite de laquelle il jugea prudent de s'absenter... Il en existe deux autres d'Anvers, 1579 et 1583, in 16, qui ne sont guère moins rares que la première, et dont le prix est assez élevé.' ["This piquant work was published in Geneva, in 1578, and not in Paris; according to several bibliographers. The author lavished his immense erudition upon it, but at the same time permitted himself certain rather bold jokes, which brought him a sharp rebuke from the Geneva council, as a result of which he judged it prudent to absent himself... There exist two others from Antwerp, 1579 and 1583, in 16mo, which are hardly less rare than the first, and whose price is quite high."]
Full calf binding mid-19th century. Ornate spine with raised bands, in the style of a 17th-century binding. Rubbing. Missing the lower right corner of leaf 97 with loss of a few letters from the last word.
Satirical dialogues, mocking court behaviors, fashion in dress and language (the fashion of pronouncing French words in the Italian manner for example, or linguistic conventions about titles). Henri Estienne conceals himself under the name of Jean Franchet. The drollery and mockery are often pushed quite far, and the whole reads with the greatest delight. The two dialogues are preceded by poems addressed to courtiers no less droll and satirical.
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