8vo. 827,(52 notes & index) (1 blank) p. Overlapping vellum 18 cm (Ref: VD16 ZV 22787; Hoffmann 2,317; Schweiger 1,157; Ebert 9960) (Details: Boards with blind-stamped double fillet borders; elaborate floral motive stamped in the center of the boards. Oval woodcut printer's device of Rihel on the title, depicting an emblematical representation of a winged and bare breasted Nemesis, holding in her right hand the reins, bid and bridle of a horse, and in her left a carpenter's square; Nemeis punishes excess. Greek text with opposing Latin translation. The German jurist and classical scholar of Dutch origin Hubertus (Obertus) Giphanius (Gifanius, van Giffen), 1534-1604, added a preface of 19 pages, 16 pages notes of his own, and compiled the index) (Condition: Vellum worn, spotted and soiled. Lacks all 4 ties; pastedowns detached. Ownership entry on the title. A few small inkstains. A pinpoint and not disturbing wormhole very near the outer margin of the first 14 gatherings. § Old ink numbers at every fifth verse of book Beta and of book Gamma up to verse 270. On a few pages these numbers are blurry and come through) (Note: The editor of this edition of the Odyssea adopted the Greek text which was previously published by the French scholar/printer Henri Estienne (Henricus Stephanus) in his 'Poetae Graeci Principes heroici carminis & alii nonnulli' of 1566, including his short remarks printed in the margins. § For the accompanying Latin translation the editor chose one that was published by Johannes Crispinus (Jean Crespin) in Geneva in 1567, the best of that time and more according to humanist taste. 'Given the subordinate position of the Greek language in Latin-based culture of the Renaissance, the literal Latin versions printed 'e regione' (i.e. on the left hand side) opposite the Greek text in Renaissance editions from the mid-sixteenth century onwards were indispensable aids (...), offering a close literal key to the original for those whose Greek was poor, or who were learning the language in schools and universities'. (R. Sowerby, 'The Homeric 'versio latina'', in 'Illinois Classical Studies', Vol. 21 (1996), p 162) Yet many early humanists despised the 'ad verbum' Homer translation, which Leontius Pilatus made for Petrarca. The next translation was also extremely literal, and was made by Andreas Divus (Andrea Divo). It was at its appearance in 1537 immediately criticized by Melanchthon and Camerarius. They argued that it was impossible to learn Greek with corrupted Latin, and that the translation should be shunned like the plague. (Idem, p. 177) In the preface to the 1567 edition Crispinus states that 'he has taken great pains to see that the version is more correct than in previous editions'. (Idem, ibidem) He refers to them as 'horridum et spinosum'. 'How poorly the Latin words correspond to the Greek', he adds. He then claims to have provided a version that, while following the original closely, is neither obscure nor disagreeable, having made use of the work of a scholar who has examined the better versions and made corrections of his own. (Idem, p. 178) A comparison shows that many of the awkwardly unidiomatic expressions have been eliminated. § VD16 gives 3 editions of Rihelius with exactly the same title, no. VD16 ZV 22787 of 1572, VD16 H 4699 of 1588 and VD16 H 4700 of 1592. We compared the digital copies. Our copy is that of 1572, including the huge printer's error in the heading of the introductory letter on page 3, GFNEROSO, instead of GENEROSO) (Provenance: In ink on the title: 'Hadr. Visscherus'. The owner was once Hadrianus Visscherus, protestant minister at Oude Nieudorp, 1599-1666. An engraved portrait of him dates from 1673. (See: geheugenvannederland.nl/?/nl/items/VUMCC01:RMCC-G00395) He was a theologian well versed in Latin and Greek. In his publications he returns to the Greek sources, and there are many citations of pagan Greek and Latin authors, Aristotle, Homer, Seneca, Ovid, Horace, Vergil and many others. He is also familiar with the original texts of the Church Fathers, he cites from Chrysostomus, Athanasius, Cyprianus, Tertullianus, Hieronymus and especially Augustinus. (Google, type 'Digibron' and 'Visscherus')) (Collation: +8, A-3H8, (leaf 3H8 verso blank)) (Photographs on request)