The art of making devises treating of hieroglyphicks, symboles, emblemes, ænigma's, sentences, parables, reverses of medalls, armes, blazons, cimiers, cyphres and rebus / first written in French by Henry Estienne ... ; translated into English by Tho. Blount ...

To my Noble Friend, M^r THOMAS BLOUNT, upon his Translation.

HOw could I style, or thinke my selfe a Friend To thee or Learning, should I not commend This curious Piece of thine? So full of wit As not to praise it, shews a want of it. Well may I terme it thine, so many things Added by thee, with rare Embeleshings. The subject lauds it selfe: the heavenly spheare The Elements, and works of Nature beare The matter of this Art; from whence to draw The life-conferring forme thou giv'st the Law. What Ensigne, Armes, or Action that aspires, But, to compleat it, an Imprése requires? What generous Soule will in a noble way His Mistresse Court, and not his wit display In some Devise? Let those who have but soule Enough to eate and drinke this work controule: Wits will applaud it, and the most refin'd Dislcose most Entertainments for the Minde.

J. W. Ar.