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[2], xl, 41, [1], 80, [4], 58, 61-70, 154, 23, [1], 148pp. Complete despite erratic pagination. With an engraved portrait frontispiece. [Bound with:] COWLEY, Abraham. The second part of the works of Mr. Abraham Cowley. Being what was Written and Published by himself in his younger years. And now Reprinted together. London. Printed by Mary Clark, for Charles Harper, 1684. Fifth edition. [8], 161pp, [1]. With an engraved frontispiece. Folio. Contemporary calf, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece, spine richly gilt. Heavily rubbed, particularly to spine with loss to head and foot, some splitting to joints. Booklabel of 'John Seward Roe' to FEP, slight shaving to each frontispiece and title-page of first work - with some loss to title text at head, marginal loss to leaf S of second work, lightly browned throughout, occasional spotting. Abraham Cowley (1618-1667), English poet and royalist agent. Achieving remarkable poetic success in his youth, Cowley's life was somewhat interrupted by the tumultuous 1640s. An avowed royalist, after his eviction from Trinity College, Cambridge, he pinned his fortunes to the King's cause. Following the court to Paris after defeat at Marston Moor, Cowley served as a secretary and agent to Queen Henrietta Maria's court-in-exile from 1644-54, a position terminated only by his arrest during a mission to England. The first collected edition of Cowley's poetry, arranged following his release from Cromwell's custody, appeared in 1656 and contained his Mistress, Pindarique Odes and epic life of King David, Davideis, in addition to an extensive selection of miscellaneous early verse. Subsequent printings, as here, appearing after the Restoration, would include his 'A Discourse by way of Vision, Concerning the Government of Oliver Cromwell', a meditation spurred by the death of the reviled Protector. ESTC R21015, R227057, Wing C6657, C6664A. Seller Inventory # AQ11736
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