The following essay forms the introduction to a famous anthology of the seventeenth century, the Epigrammatum delectus a Port Royal textbook published at Paris in 1659. The essay was twice translated into French in the same century but the use of the text in France did not survive apparently the downfall of the Port Royal movement. It was however later adopted by Eton College where it was used in the sixth form. The text went through thirteen English editions between 1683 and 1762.