A rectangular decorative woodcut headpiece featuring a central human face mask surrounded by symmetrical scrolling foliage and floral motifs.

TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS IUNIO BOBALI, SON OF ANDREA, OF RAGUSA.

GIAMBATTISTA DELLA PORTA, NEAPOLITAN, SENDS MANY GREETINGS.

A decorative woodcut initial letter 'A' enclosed in a square frame featuring floral and vine patterns.

I could hardly restrain the other daughter, who was at home, Illustrious Iunio, now excited and rushing toward you: the immense praises which her sister brought back concerning her husband Della Porta is using an extended metaphor here. He personifies his books as his "daughters," and their patrons as their "husbands." The "sister" refers to an earlier, smaller edition of his work. have so filled her mind with a noble envy that, having broken every bond of restraint and propriety, she cannot control herself from crying out that she desires no other husband than you. To you, she says, if she were to be denied, she would rather grow old in her own home laribus original: "laribus." In Roman religion, the Lares were household gods; the term is used here as a classical way to say "within her own walls" or "at home." than risk the danger of others. Indeed, if they are compared to one another, she does not seem to herself less worthy than her sister. If that one probes the causes, this one produces the effects; if that one contemplates, this one—being active enough—proposes that those things which fell under contemplation should come into the light of men; and if that one is proud of discovery, this one, on account of her wondrous operations, does not The text ends mid-sentence at the bottom of the page; the "wondrous operations" refer to the practical experiments and results described in this expanded edition.