SONNET.

Decorative drop cap 'E' featuring the letter amidst ornate floral and foliate patterns within a square border.

Behold the tall Column The word Colonna is a pun on the name of the presumed author, Francesco Colonna. The poem treats him as the pillar supporting the weight of ancient knowledge. that supported
That beautiful model of ancient memory—
Every figure, every structure, and building:
And contained various forms of signs original: "segni." This refers to the mysterious hieroglyphs and symbolic ornaments found throughout the book..

What a thousand eyes, and thousands upon thousands of pens
Have seen and written with great toil,
Is all explained here in a brief dream—
A dream, I mean, that happened to the author.

O crude minds, who are only men in part:
And you who are intent on base profit,
These pages are heavy burdens to you The poem warns that the book is intellectually demanding and will not appeal to those interested only in money or shallow pursuits..

O pure spirits, and noble Frenchmen:
By God, see in these learned pages
How much genius and art are worth and can achieve.

EXPLANATION OF THIS SONNET.

Decorative drop cap 'V' with intricate scrolling acanthus leaves and floral motifs in a square frame.

See here the most lofty column,
Where the most ancient knowledge is recorded.
Every line, 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 coarse spirits whom reason abandons,
And you intent on miserable gain,
This book is such that its value original: "prix." This word carries the double meaning of the financial cost of the book and its intrinsic worth. astonishes you.

But O Frenchmen, fair and prudent spirits,
See how much can be achieved in a person
By art and spirit when they are in harmony.