SONNET.

A decorative woodcut headpiece shows symmetrical scrolls of leaves with a flower at the center.

A decorative initial E is adorned with leaves and flowers. Behold the high Column that supported
That beautiful model of ancient memory:
Every figure, every mass, and structure,
And various forms of signs it contained.
What a thousand eyes, and a thousand and a thousand pens
Have seen and written with great labor,
In a brief dream is all explained here,
In a dream, I mean, that happened to the author.
O coarse minds, and men only in part:
And you who are intent on base profit,
For you these pages are heavy burdens.
O beautiful spirits and noble Frenchmen:
By God, see in these learned pages
How much talent and art are worth and can achieve.

By myself I am stone.

EXPLANATION OF THIS SONNET.

A decorative initial O features scrolls and leafy patterns. Now this is the very high column,
Mark and witness of noble antiquity:
Every stroke, every plan, every work beautiful and good,
And many a fragment is well applied there.
What a thousand eyes and hands have practiced
With great labor, is given in this book
Easily, explained through discourse
Under a brief dream, which the author ordains.
O thick spirits whom reason abandons,
And you who listen to miserable gain,
This book is such that its weight astonishes you.
But o Frenchmen, beautiful and prudent spirits,
See how much art and spirit can do in a person
When they are in harmony.

Heaven, not earth alone.

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TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS CONTAINED in the first book of Poliphile.

An ornamental woodcut headpiece matches the one at the top of the page.

A decorative initial P is set against architectural elements and leaves. Poliphile being asleep, dreams, and it seemed to him that he was in the Black Forest. Chapter I. page 1.

Being in distress, Poliphile prays, leaves the woods, then runs into a new fortune. Chap. II. page 2.

Poliphile relates how it seemed to him in a dream that he slept, and while sleeping he found himself in a valley enclosed by a great wall in the shape of a pyramid, upon which was seated an obelisk of marvelous height, which he looked at for a long time and with great admiration. Ch. III. p. 3.

Several great and marvelous works, namely a Horse, a reclining Colossus, an Elephant, and singularly a beautiful Gate. Ch. IIII. p. 6.

Description of the ornaments and enrichments of the work. Ch. V. p. 14.

Poliphile entered a little way inside the gate, looking at the beautiful ornaments of it: then wanting to return, he saw a great Dragon that wanted to devour him, for fear of which he began to flee into the hollow and subterranean ways: so that finally he found another exit, and reached a very pleasant and delectable place. Ch. VI. p. 17.

Poliphile relates the beauty of the region where he had entered, and how he found there a beautiful fountain, and five young ladies, who were greatly astonished at his coming, and invited him to go and enjoy himself with them. Ch. VII. p. 20.

Poliphile, made confident with the five young ladies, went to the baths with them: their laughter over the fountain, and for the ointment, he is led before Queen Eleutherilide the spirit of Liberty, in whose Palace he saw another beautiful fountain, and several wonders. Chap. VIII. p. 24.

Poliphile relates the excellence of the Queen, the place of her residence, with its magnificent preparation, the astonishment she had at seeing him, the good reception she gave him, together with the rich and sumptuous banquet, and the place where it was prepared, which has no second or equal. Ch. IX. p. 30.

Poliphile relates the beautiful ball that was held after the great banquet, and how the Queen commanded two of her young ladies to show him more fully the entire state of her Palace: also how he was instructed by her on certain doubts he had: then led to the three gates which he entered, and remained in the middle one with the amorous young ladies. Ch. X. p. 38.

Poliphile having lost sight of the lascivious young ladies who left him, there came to him a Nymph, the beauty and attire of whom are here fully described. Chap. XI. p. 49.

The beautiful Nymph arrived towards Poliphile carrying a burning torch in her hand, and invited him to go with her: he was seized by her love. Ch. XII. p. 50.