Egyptian Oedipus, Volume 1

statically placed upon the pinnacle original: fastigio. Kircher uses architectural metaphors to describe the Emperor's status. of such sublimity and the vehemence of their brilliance, you so dazzle my eyes and mind that—just as it is not possible to describe them sufficiently due to the narrowness of the page nor according to their merits (my strength and pen failing)—I consider that they should be celebrated more wisely by silence alone, or certainly only briefly pointed out.

This will be achieved, unless I am mistaken, even if with far from worthy praise, by this Oedipus Kircher refers to his book, Oedipus Aegyptiacus, named after the mythical riddle-solver. of mine, which, having long been promised to the Republic of Letters original: Reipublicæ Literariæ, the international community of scholars and intellectuals in the 17th century. and now released in full faith, I present to YOUR Most August sight. It was indeed fashioned by me with no small amount of careful study by lamplight original: lucubrationibus, specifically referring to scholarly work performed late at night.; yet it is destined to triumph in the Literary World by this glory alone: that it was drawn out by the force and efficacy of YOUR invincible mind.

The work is indeed conspicuous for as many symbols as there are mirrors of YOUR virtues; for as many mysteries as there are models original: ectypis, referring to a copy or an image molded from an original form. of the sublime actions of YOUR great Soul: where all the defenses of the inter-chained virtues, which are seen elsewhere scattered and spread thin among others, are perceived here gathered and packed together; so that those qualities which are found divided and, as if channeled through ditches original: inciles, irrigation or drainage channels., brought together original: corriuata, the merging of various streams of water. in many different people, are seen in YOUR one and the same breast without precedent, finished and made perfect by such a great embrace of things.

In others, that virtue which polishes character has shone; but that which informs the mind was lacking. In YOU, Greatest Caesar original: Maxime Cæsar, a traditional title for the Holy Roman Emperor., I see the faith and constancy toward the empire committed to YOUR care ad- The page ends with the catchword "ad-", likely leading to "adorned" or "administered" on the following page.