Shakespeare and the Emblem Writers / an exposition of their similarities of throught and expression, preceded by a view of emblem-literature down to A.D. 1616

A scholarly survey traces emblem literature and demonstrates recurrent imagery, mottos, and descriptive motifs shared with the plays and poems of the great dramatist. The author provides a historical overview of emblem books, close textual comparisons and translations of mottoes, and numerous emblematic devices reproduced as woodcuts and plates. Organized to aid collectors and students, the work catalogues authors and editions, annotates parallel passages and illustrative devices, and shows how emblematic thought and visual symbols supply memorable images and thematic echoes within the dramatic and poetic texts.