Œuvres complètes , Vol. I: Eûmes en rime, première partie: Neuf Livres des Poemes by Jean-Antoine de Baïf (review)

Abstract

MLRy 99.1, 2004 191 in Renaissance tragedy, arguing that the depiction of the misfortunes of the great had a dual role, both specular and oracular, whereby imitation of the past was also prophecy ofthe future; Laurence Giavarini contributes a complex discussion of mimesis in the dramatic pastoral between 1607 and 1635; Helene Visentin shows how the pre? sentation of supernatural figures in prologues testifies to an aesthetic shift between the period of Jodelle and the 1630s, during which verbal evocations painting a vivid picture (ie spectacle du discours') gave way to stage spectacle achieved by the use of machinery; finally,in the volume's most substantial piece, Guy Spielmann addresses theoretical questions concerning the dichotomy between 'theatre' and 'spectacle', the latter exemplified here by the plethora of minor genres and 'irregular' productions which flourished in the last third of the seventeenth century. Spielmann argues that, whereas literary theatre is characterized by a narrative structure, a differentsystem of patterning, 'une syntaxe fondamentale spectaculaire' or 'syntaxe de l'effet', informs the dramatic output which has been marginalized by critics. The contributions by Spielmann and Visentin go some way towards justifying the title of this volume (which, given the name of the series, presumably derives from an academic confer? ence, but we are not told which). Overall, these essays, like Aristotle's Poetics, are as much concerned with Speech as with Spectacle. No matter. Though varied in length and approach, they are well informed and stimulating, and will be read with profitby specialists of early French theatre. University of Liverpool Alan Howe (Euvres completes, Vol. i: Euvres en rime,premiere partie: Neuf Livres des Poemes. By Jean-Antoine de Baif. Ed. by Jean Vignes, Guy Demerson, Perrine GalandHallyn , Anne-Pascale Pouey-Mounou, and Daniel Menager. (Textes de la Renaissance, 54) Paris: Champion. 2002. 1009 pp. ?75. ISBN 2-7453-0683-9. This represents the firstfruitsof the labours of a team of scholars working under the direction of Jean Vignes on an ambitious undertaking, the long-awaited nine-volume critical edition of Baif's complete surviving works, some hitherto unpublished. The Neuf Livres des Poemes were published in 1573 as volume 1 of the four-part Euvres en rime,since when the only edition has been that of Charles Marty-Laveaux (vol. 11 of Euvres en rime, 5 vols (Paris: Lemerre, 1881-90; repr. Geneva: Slatkine. 1966)), which has minimal annotation. After briefly outlining the principles governing the present project, Vignes chronicles Baif's life in relation to his work. There follow an introduction to the Euvres en rimeand one to the Poemes themselves, the formerlargely devoted to the organization of the collection, the latter dealing with structure within the Poemes, as well as chronology, the varied genres included, Bai'f's techniques of adapting his sources, and, most interestingly,his view of the Orphic role of the poet. A brief account is given ofthe versification and strophic forms; however, an evaluation of the poetic qualities would have been a welcome addition. The text is based on the 1573 publication, retaining the original spelling, but variant readings are given in the case of poems that had been previously published. One significant change has been made: the dedication to Charles IX ('Au Roy') has been incorporated into the firstbook of the Poemes, 'par souci de simplicite' (p. 529), despite the fact that in the original edition it is clearly separated from the Poemes and in fact functions as a preface to the Euvres en rime as a whole. This solution seems to me unsatisfactory as it obscures the status of the poem. That said, the critical apparatus is thorough and erudite. The individual books of the collection have been assigned to differenteditors, which leads to some unevenness in the style of annotation. For Book I, Guy Demerson, we are told (p. 13), 'a accepte de remanier son edition du Premier Livre des Poemes (Presses 192 Reviews Universitaires de Grenoble, 1975)'. This has involved replacing the orthography ofthe version of 'Le Premier des Meteores' printed in 1567 by that of 1573, but otherwise, apart from the mention of a certain number of more recent critical works, there has been little revision. The notes to this...