Four Books on Human Proportion

A iiii

Albrecht, Albrecht Dürer, Geometry, the German language, original manuscripts original Greek: αὐτογράφων (autographon), diagrams original Greek: σχημάτων (schematon)

And, what would be most contrary to his nature, I know that it was not a failure to complete his measurements, but rather that whatever had been achieved was lost through the treachery of certain individuals. It was through them that the author’s commentaries were stolen, so that he never again wished to start that work over from the beginning. He did not fail to suspect—or rather, he had discovered—from where the drones original: "fuci"; a metaphor for plagiarists or lazy individuals who live off the work of others had flown in to steal his labors. But that best of men preferred to overlook it, even to his own detriment and pain, rather than forget his own mildness and gentleness by pursuing them. Therefore, we will not allow any of this referring to the stolen or corrupted versions to be blamed on Albrecht the author, as it would be unworthy of such a great artist.

A few small German papers also appeared some years ago, containing instructions on that subject that were poorly gathered and almost unsuitable. I do not have the heart to speak of them at present, but unless I am very much mistaken, the author of that edition has regretted it more than once. However, those works which we mentioned a little while ago—which are easily proven to be Albrecht’s own, not only because he prepared them for publication himself but also because they are excellent—you will receive from this source in a form much better, I believe, than from anywhere else.

This is not because we are more prepared in terms of erudition and learning than others, but because we are translating these works in his own workshop. Here, among the additions and corrections of his original manuscripts original Greek: αὐτογράφων and the variety of his drafts, we are working as if in the light of many things that must necessarily seem obscure to others, however learned they may be. His book on Geometry original: "Geometricus"; referring to Dürer's "Manual of Measurement" (Underweysung der Messung) will demonstrate this; a most learned man now has it in hand and will soon release it in a form much more elegant and explained than it is currently read. Indeed, it will contain the addition of no fewer than twenty-six diagrams original Greek: σχημάτων or figures. Furthermore, in rereading the version already released to the public, he had made it better and richer through innumerable corrections and refinements. As if sensing that he would not be the one to publish it again, he had left instructions on what those who would publish it should do regarding both the text and the figures.

Moreover, we will take care to see it printed in the German language original: "teutonica lingua" just as the volume was composed by the author, as soon as we are able. It is only fair that you receive these things with gratitude, returning thanks to the most burning desire of this singular man to contribute something to the public good through his inventions, and to our own labors and eagerness to spread to all people those things which seemed written for only one nation.