TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD FREDERICK OF ARAGON

SON OF THE KING OF NAPLES

Thinking many times within myself, my most illustrious Lord Frederick, which among the many and infinite praises of ancient times was the most excellent, I have judged one in particular to be the most glorious and almost unique above all others: that no illustrious or virtuous work, whether of the hand or of the mind, can be imagined for which there were not, in that early age, great rewards and noble honors prepared in both public and private life. For just as all rivers and springs are said to take their beginning from the Great Ocean, so it is understood that all the famous deeds and marvelous works of ancient men derived from this one excellent custom.

Honor is truly that which provides nourishment to every art; nor are the minds of mortals inflamed toward noble works by anything so much as by glory. To this end, therefore, the magnificent triumphsA "triumph" in ancient Rome was a spectacular civil ceremony and religious rite held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the success of a military commander. in Rome, the famous games of Mount Olympus in Greece, and the poetic and oratory certameA formal competition or contest of skill, from the Latin 'certamen'. among both peoples were celebrated with such great zeal. For this alone the chariot and triumphal arch, the marble trophies, the most ornate theaters, the statues, the palms, the crowns, the funeral orations—for this alone infinite other most wonderful ornaments were established; nor, indeed, did the graceful and high deeds performed with wisdom and [courage...]