Nouvelles Poésies, ou diverses Pièces Choisies, tant en Vers qu'en Prose. by CERTAIN (Mademoiselle)

A Paris, chez Estienne Loyson, 1665. 12mo. 6 leaves. 84 pages. Full calf, decorated spine (period binding). Original Edition. A thick mystery surrounds the identity of Mademoiselle Certain, the author of this collection of poems (elegies, stanzas, sonnets, odes, chansons, etc.).), who seems to have frequented the Royal Court, as several of her pieces demonstrate ("Sur la beauté de Saint Cloud, pendant le séjour de la Cour", "A Monseigneur le Duc de Saint-Aignan", whom she refers to as her protector, "La Muse solitaire du Mont Saint Cloud, pour Son Altesse Royale", "Le dernier Carrosel ou l'agréable nuit de Versailles", etc.). "Mademoiselle Certain was young when she composed her poems; she married, and published them under her maiden name. Did she compose others, as she promised herself she would, and publish them under her female name? I don't know" (translated from Viollet-le-Duc). The collection includes an interesting piece entitled "L'Habile Egyptienne" (pp. 10-11). This octosyllable dedicated "Au Roy, déguisé" refers to the first performance of Molière's "Mariage Forcé", which took place on January 29, 1664 at the Palais du Louvre in the Queen Mother's lower apartment. This first performance saw Louis XIV appear on stage in person, disguised as an Egyptian and dancing. The poem evokes the king showing the Cross and then giving a purse to the young poetess. A good copy, modestly bound in contemporary style. Viollet-le-Duc, Bibliothèque Poétique, p.523. Worldcat cites only 4 copies - the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and three copies abroad (Princeton University, McKeldin Library Maryland Universities and Folger Library) - and attributes the work to the great harpsichordist Marie-Françoise Certain, which is impossible since she was born in April 1662.