"L'un s'efforce a gaigner le coeur des {grands} Seigneurs Pour posseder en fin une exquise richesse; L'autre aspire aux estats, pour monter en altesse, Et l'autre, par la guerre alleche les honneurs. "Quand a moy, seulement pour chasser mes langueurs, Je me sen satisfaict de vivre en petitesse, Et de faire si bien, qu'aux Dames ie delaisse Un grand contentement en mes graves labeurs. "Prenez doncques en gre (mes Dames) ie vous prie, Ces pourtrais ouvragez lesquels ie vous dedie, Pour tromper vos ennuis, et l'esprit employer. "En ceste nouveaute, pourrez beaucoup apprendre, Et maistresses en fin en cest oeuvre vous rendre, Le travail est plaisant: Si grand est le loyer." Which, barring elegant diction and poetic rule, may be read thus:-- Whilst one man worships lordly state As yielding all that he desires-- This, fertile acres begs from fate; Another, bloody laurels fires. To dissipate my devils blue, Trifles, I'm satisfied to do; For surely if the fair I please, My very labours smack of ease. Take then, fair ladies, I you pray, The book which at your feet I lay, To make you happy, brisk and gay. There's much you here may learn anew, Which _comme il faut_ will render you, And bring you joy and honour too. Proceed we to the-- "Ouvrages de point Coupe," of which there are thirty-six. Some birds, animals, and figures are introduced; but the patterns are chiefly arabesque, set off in white, on a thick black ground. Then, with a repetition of the ornamented title-page, come about fifty patterns, which are represented much like the German patterns of the present day, in squares for stitches, but not so finely wrought as some which we shall presently notice. These patterns consist of arabesques, figures, birds, beasts, flowers, in every variety. To many the stitches are ready counted (as well as pourtrayed), thus:-- "Ce Pelican contient en longueur 70 mailles, et en hauteur 65." This pattern of maternity is represented as pecking her breast, towards which three young ones are flying; their course being indicated by the three lines of white stitches, all converging to the living nest. "Ce Griffon {contient} en hauteur 58 mailles, et en {longueur} 67." Small must be the skill of the needlewoman who does not make this a very rampant animal indeed. "Ce Paon contient en longueur 65 mailles, et en hauteur 61." "La Licorne en hauteur {contient} 44 mailles, et en longueur 62, &c. &c." "La bordure contient 25 mailles." "La bordure de haut {contient} 35 mailles." This is a very handsome one, resembling pine apples. "Ce quarre contient 65 mailles." There are several of these squares, and borders appended, of very rich patterns.