Pierre de RONSARD. Les Amours... Together the fifth of his Odes. In-8, red morocco, gilt foliate central medallion on covers, 5 ribbed spine decorated in the same style, inner lace, gilt edges (Gruel). Barbier, MBP, II-9 // Tchemerzine-Scheler, V-418. 239-(32 f.) / a-p8, A-D8 / 105 x 166 mm. Extremely rare first edition. Pierre de Ronsard, born in 1524 near Vendôme, was one of the leading literary figures of the 16th century, and along with the Pléiade brigade of poets, of which he was the leader, was responsible for the poetic revival of the French language. Well-educated, he was attached as a page to several princes, including James V of Scotland and the future Henry II, but when he became deaf at the age of 18 as a result of illness, he abandoned the diplomatic career open to him to devote himself to poetry. He studied alongside Baïf under Jean Dorat and inspired Du Bellay to write his manifesto Defense et illustration de la langue françoise. He fell in love with a young girl whom he named Cassandre, and composed a number of sonnets for her. Showered with praise, praised as the leader of a new school that breathed variety, brilliance and new rhythms into poetry, he gathered around him, under the name Pléiade, Baïf, Du Bellay, Thyard, Jodelle, Belleau, Dorat and Pelletier Du Mans. He died in 1585. The Amours collection consists of 184 sonnets inspired by his love for Cassandre, followed by the fifth book of Odes and the Bacchanales, a versified account of an excursion Dorat made with his pupils to Arcueil. The last 32 leaves contain notated music composed by Pierre Certon, Claude Goudimel, Marc-Antoine de Muret and Clément Janequin. The edition is decorated with antique portraits of Ronsard and Cassandre facing each other, surmounted by verses by Baïf. This is the first time these portraits have appeared. A very fine copy. Book D restored at foot and in inner margin.