PREFACE

The second part displays and explains various forms of leaping water through different kinds of pipes, siphons, or nozzles original: "epistomia" (called Auffätze in German meaning decorative attachments or spray heads). It presents these to the reader who loves such spectacles for further contemplation.

In the third part, many types of ingenious fountains follow, which are delightful to behold. These may still be seen throughout Italy, France, Britain, and Germany. They have been drawn with singular industry and each is illustrated with its own description.

Finally, the fourth part displays a great number of the most magnificent buildings, namely artificial caves or grottoes cryptae: vaulted underground chambers, often decorated with shells or stones to mimic natural caves, pavilions or colonnades, monasteries, and palaces which Europe has to show. A short description of each is likewise added, collected with as much diligence as possible from the various reports of different authors.

Furthermore, the number of illustrations in this fourth part has been increased with various divisions of gardens and pleasure grounds or topiaries original: "topiariis," referring to the art of clipping hedges into ornamental shapes. It also includes different forms for coffered ceilings and floors to decorate rooms, as well as many cleverly tangled labyrinths, created with singular effort.

Accept then, KIND READER, this laborious and expensive

A large, elaborate woodcut tailpiece ornament featuring symmetrical interlacing strapwork and scrollwork, embellished with floral and foliate motifs in a late Renaissance or Baroque style.