JEAN MARTIN, SECRETARY TO MY LORD

THE MOST REVEREND CARDINAL OF LENONCOURT.

TO THE READERS.

If you desire (my Lords) to understand in a few words what is contained in this work, know that Poliphilus says he saw in his dream admirable things, among which he describes many ancient remains worthy of memory, such as Pyramids, Obelisks, great ruins of edifices, the differences between columns, their measurements, pedestals, bases, and capitals The decorative top part of a column. with which they are adorned. Then the architraves, friezes, cornices, and frontispieces with their workmanship. A great horse, an Elephant of marvelous size, a Colossus, and a magnificent gate, with its ground plan, arrangement, moldings, and carved work. Afterward, how five beautiful Nymphs led him to the baths: and meanwhile he does not forget to mention an excellent fountain. Further, he describes the Palace of Queen Eleutherilide Her name is derived from the Greek word for "Liberty.": who for love of him has a solemn feast prepared, in which one can learn many things beneficial to human health. After, he specifies the diversity of precious stones, with their natural virtues: the means of cutting them: and the diversity of the pastime of a dance: and consequently depicts three gardens, of which one is of glass, the other of silk, and the third made into a Labyrinth. In the middle of this peristyle A courtyard surrounded by columns. is seated a pyramid engraved with Egyptian characters, which are called Hieroglyphic letters. Departing from there, he goes to the three gates, and enters the middle one, where he finds his beloved Polia, whose beauty, grace, and the fashion of her garments he expresses. This Polia makes him see four triumphs of the great Jupiter: then shows him the mortal ladies with whom the gods were in love: together with the beloveds of the Poets: and there one recognizes the affections and various effects of love. After follows the triumph of Vertumnus and Pomona Roman deities of seasons and fruit trees., together with the great god of gardens Priapus. with his sacrifices: and having said that, the author comes to describe a temple made of rich materials, and conducted by good industry, where many other sacrifices are made following the order of ancient religion and ceremonies. Which being completed, Polia leads her Poliphilus to the seashore to await the coming of the god Cupid: and meanwhile she persuades him to go see the antiquities that are in a destroyed temple: which he does: and finds there a great number of Epitaphs, at which he remains for a long time, until he comes to encounter a Hell painted in Mosaic work: looking at which, a sudden fear comes over him, which makes him depart from there, and return to his Polia: to whom he has no sooner arrived, than Cupid arrives in a Boat furnished with many exquisite things, and steered by six damsels trained in the office of rowing. Therein enter Poliphilus and his beloved: whereby Love suddenly sets sail, spreading his golden wings embellished with all colors. Love navigates them; the sea gods and goddesses, nymphs, Tritons, and other monsters do honor and reverence to Cupid, recognizing him as lord. Finally, this god descends on the Island of Cythera The sacred island of Venus., which the author describes
and distinguishes into small groves, gardens, rivers, and fountains, in such a way that he makes it more beautiful than the Elysian fields of which the Greek and Latin Poets have made such great mention. There the amorous Nymphs make several beautiful presents to Cupid, which he receives and accepts: then he goes on a triumphal Chariot to the middle of the Island, to the marvelous Theater situated in the middle of the Island, at the center of which is the fountain of Venus, surrounded by seven columns of precious stones. There the author recounts all the mysteries that were performed nearby, then how for the coming of the god Mars, he and his beloved were constrained to retire with the Nymphs, who led them to another fountain, near which was the sepulcher of Adonis, in commemoration of whom the goddess Venus has a funeral pomp A solemn procession. held every year, and she herself assists there, performing the office of Prioress. The Nymphs being seated around the foot of this fountain, they request Polia's pleasure be to tell them from what race she is descended, and how she became amorous, together with the discourse of her loves, and there ends the first book. In the second, this same Polia, to satisfy the request of the Nymphs, relates to them entirely her parentage, and does not fail to say how the city of Treviso was first built. Then she pursues the difficulty there was before she could condescend to become amorous, and then the happy success she has in her loves with several notable accessories. Poliphilus wakes up at the song of the Nightingale.

You may believe, my Lords, that beneath this fiction there are many good things hidden, which it is not permitted to reveal, and also you would have no pleasure if they were specified to you particularly: for you would never taste the flavor of the fruit that can be gathered in this reading: wherefore I will tell you nothing else of it, but rather refer the whole to the exercise of your studies. Nevertheless, to make known to you the name of the author of the first volume, and what must be followed from the beginning to the end, the capital letters enriched with Arabesque leaves, and those will instruct you in what you desire The first letters of each chapter in the original Italian edition formed an acrostic: POLIAM FRATER FRANCISCVS COLVMNA PERAMAVIT (Brother Francesco Colonna loved Polia dearly).. Regarding that of Polia, she herself explains it at the beginning of the second book, where she says she bears the name of the Roman woman who killed herself for having been violated by the son of a proud King Lucretia.: and not with the ancient nobility of her race, she dedicates her founder of Treviso to the domain of the Venetians.

You see, my Lords, that such a work has not had as good a destiny as its subject deserves, because it did not fall at the first stroke into the hands of the true French Cicero, who is Nicolas de Herberay, Lord of Essars, who made a Castilian Amadis speak Herberay was famous for translating the Spanish chivalric romance "Amadis de Gaula" into elegant French.: I do not know if those of our posterity will be able to follow him, much less would I say surpass him. In truth, if this book had at first sight fallen into his hands, and he had wished to employ his style for what it contains, it is my opinion that it would now be the pearl of all those that for twenty years have been communicated to us in this language: for as for those from before, I do not think much account should be made of them. Nevertheless, I still wish to testify that whoever the gentleman was who first translated it into our common speech, he is worthy...