12mo. (XV)(1 blank),365 (recte 363),(1),(4 blank) p. Calf 15 cm (Ref: cf. OiN 106; Not yet in STCV) (Details: Back gilt and with 5 raised bands. Gilt floral motives in the 4 compartments of the back. Engraved title, depicting Augustine leaning against a tree, in the sky 3 angels, one of them calling tolle lege, tolle lege. Printed in Gothic script) (Condition: Back rubbed; foot of spine slightly damaged; a few small wormholes visible in the frontcover; 5 pinpoint wormholes in first gathering, reduced in the second gathering to 3, and in the fouth to 2 wormholes, of which one is in the inner margin/gutter, sometimes nibbling at a letter. Front flyleaf removed. 3 names on the front pastedown) (Note: Aurelius Augustinus, bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D., was one of the most outstanding men in the whole history of Christianity and of literature. 'Of the most significant events of this great man's life we have the best possible testimony, his own, set forth in the very remarkable autobiography generally styled the Confessiones. (H.J. Rose, A handbook of Latin literature, London, 1967, p. 496) The Confessiones, comprising 13 books, was written ca. 400. In his youth Augustinus led a wicked and irregular life. 'In 386 came what is usually regarded (it was certainly so regarded by him) as his conversion. A child's voice bade him take up and read (tolle, lege), and opening a copy of the Pauline epistles at random, he hit upon what he regarded as an authorative and Divine message, Romans 13, 13-14'. (H.J. Rose, p. 497/98) His activity as a writer was enormous. § This Dutch translation of 1688 of the books 1-X of the Confessiones, the oldest autobiography of world literature, was first published in 1603. It was translated by Johannes Semmius. In 1604 followed a revised edition, printed in Antwerp on the presses of Nutius. An anonymous Jesuit priest compared the translation with a Latin edition and made many corrections. (door een Eerw. Priester der Societyt Jesu met het Latijn geconfereert ende tot veel plaetsen verbetert) In the short preface of the 1688 edition the publisher now states that the Belydenisse were translated by a Jesuit priest. (Voor-reden, p. A2 recto: door eenen Eerweerdigen P. er Societeyt Jesu) and that his translation is a corrected version of an edition which was previously printed by Hendrick Aertssens. This edition of Aertssens, the publisher goes on, was printed in small type, and now he offers a edition in big type, which is easier to read for the old. (Idem: gedruckt by Hendrick Aertssens met kleyn letter / ende als nu gerieffelijcker voor den ouderdom met grooter letter herdruckt ende gecorrigeert zijnde; niet twijffelende oft het sal U.L. aengenaem wesen) Hendrick Aertssens had published a translation of the Confessiones in 1636, in Antwerp. This edition of 1688 even repeats the approbatie of 1636. (Idem: Dese thien Boecken der Belijdenisse van S. Augustinus, uyt het Latijn in 't Duytsch overgeset, sullen profijteljck mogen gedruckt worden. Actum Antverpiae den 17 September, 1636) (Provenance: In ink on the front pastedown 'M.J. Baesten', or 'M.I. Baesten'. Then an illegible name, also an erased name. § Near the lower margin 'Norbardina De Greeff') (Collation: A-Q12 (leaf A8 verso and Q11 & Q12 blank) The page numering between the gatherings L and M is irregular, two page numbers have been skipped there; nothing is missing) (Photographs on request)