An ornamental woodcut headpiece featuring a central circular floral motif flanked by scrolling acanthus leaves and two seated winged female figures, one on each side, holding objects resembling torches or cornucopias.

TO THE AFOREMENTIONED LORD OF HASTINGS, &c.

SONNET.

A decorative historiated initial 'A' depicting a figure, likely Neptune or a river deity, holding a trident and set against an architectural background with scrolls and floral ornaments.

JUST as a building whose elevated head
Stretches toward the sky, is honored to have
A marble plaque upon its brow, which shows a beautiful face
To the world, before one enters its glorious hall:

This book (whose drawings not only delight
The one who perceives them, but also have the power,
Through their diversity and grandeur, to move the spirit)
Is pleased by your name, with which its face is now adorned.

And if you permit your name to honor it,
Beyond the time that makes us, and then devours us,
Once you have finished your course, it shall be your victor:

Just like Hiero and the great Demetrius,
Who, by honoring these arts in Sicily and Asia,
Receive life and honor through them even today.
Hiero II of Syracuse and Demetrius I "Poliorcetes" were ancient rulers famed for their patronage of engineering and siege machinery.

original: "MUSA FOELICITAS ALTERA."

TO HIMSELF.

Likely referring to the book itself or the editor speaking in his own voice regarding his role in the project.

MY Lord, he who sees the engines engins|While today 'engine' refers to a motor, in the 16th century it meant any ingenious mechanical device or machine. of BESSON,
Unable to fathom the secret science
Of an art so subtle, regrets Besson himself,
Who should have given him a lesson on such instruments.

But since BEROALD has found the way
To explain these engines, there is no loss
In the death of Besson; his life is recovered:
Béroald now places us beyond all doubt.

With such vivid reasoning he explains these portraits original: "pourtraicts." Here referring to the technical illustrations or diagrams of the machines.
By the industrious art of his Mathematics,
That one understands the effects of all these engines.

Then he has consecrated his labor to your glory,
Worthy among the French of that happy memory
Which the success of these rare portraits deserves.

original: "HEUR DE LABEUR." A play on words typical of the era, where 'heur' signifies both happiness and good fortune/success.