To dissipate my devils blue,
Trifles, I’m satisfied to do;
For surely if the fair I please,
My very labours smack of ease.
Take then, fair ladies, I you pray,
The book which at your feet I lay,
To make you happy, brisk and gay.
There’s much you here may learn anew,
Which comme il faut will render you,
And bring you joy and honour too.
Proceed we to the—
“Ouvrages de point Coupé,” of which there are thirty-six. Some birds, animals, and figures are introduced; but the patterns are chiefly arabesque, set off in white, on a thick black ground.
Then, with a repetition of the ornamented title-page, come about fifty patterns, which are represented much like the German patterns of the present day, in squares for stitches, but not so finely wrought as some which we shall presently notice. These patterns consist of arabesques, figures, birds, beasts, flowers, in every variety. To many the stitches are ready counted (as well as pourtrayed), thus:—
“Ce Pélican contient en longueur 70 mailles, et en hauteur 65.” This pattern of maternity is represented as pecking her breast, towards which three young ones are flying; their course being indicated by the three lines of white stitches, all converging to the living nest.
“Ce Griffon cõtient en hauteur 58 mailles, et en lõgueur 67.” Small must be the skill of the needlewoman who does not make this a very rampant animal indeed.
“Ce Paon contient en longueur 65 mailles, et en hauteur 61.”
“La Licorne en hauteur cõtiẽt 44 mailles, et en longueur 62, &c. &c.”