DEDICATORY EPISTLE.

dedicated This completes the sentence from the previous page: "...judged [the books] most worthy to be dedicated to your illustrious Highness." it to you. Having undertaken the work, so that he might complete it as accurately as possible, he not only engraved the diagrams original: "schemata" himself with his own hand, but also acted as a proofreader corrector of the press In the 16th century, "correctors" were scholars or the authors themselves who checked the printed sheets for errors before the final run. for the work itself. Finally, when only the very last leaf of the work remained, he was snatched away from us by a sudden turn of events This refers to Bruno's departure from Frankfurt in 1591 to return to Italy, where he was eventually arrested by the Inquisition. and was unable to put the finishing touch original: "extremam manum," a Latin idiom for the final polish or completion of a work. to it as he had for the rest.

Therefore, he requested by letter that we should fulfill on his behalf and in his name what fortune did not allow him to do. Lest we should seem to have denied this duty to him in his absence, we dedicate, offer, and commend this book—which was intended for Your Reverend Highness original: "R. C. T." (Reverendae Celsitudini Tuae) by him and refined by our own labor. We humbly pray that you might kindly and graciously receive both the author’s gratitude and our own diligent efforts, and that you continue to support learning and the promoters of literature with the same favor you have already shown. That you may be able to do this happily for a long time, we pray from our heart to God, the Best and Greatest original: "Deo opt. max." (Deo Optimo Maximo), a standard formula for God, meaning "To the Best and Greatest God.", the source of all good things.