Dimostrationi Harmoniche

three Arts & Sciences in the knowledge of the good & the beautiful, which
they will find within them: for it can be said with truth, that
they have acquired it by means of Music. And although to me
it has been a laborious task to collect, arrange, & demonstrate
together the matters of this Science The author uses "Science" (Scienza) in the classical sense of a systematic body of knowledge, specifically the mathematical laws of sound.: which truly were set down
without any order: & also were not understood as they
ought to be understood: nevertheless with patience I have overcome the difficulty, &
conquered the fatigue with pleasure: so that, by the grace of God, I
have brought them to such a state: that if previously Music seemed to be de-
prived of its ancient honor: now with majesty & decorum, as most
noble, & as one of the principal among the other Sciences, it can
appear. Wherefore having to bring to light these labors of mine,
which treat the matters of so noble a Science, & one of the princi-
pal ones: to whom ought I to dedicate & offer them, if not to a Prince
most Illustrious & most Noble, such as is your Serenity? original: "Serenità uostra" — a formal title for the Doge of Venice. not oth-
erwise esteemed by me—for your untainted religion, for your
most innocent life, for your grave counsel, & for many other of your
excellent qualities—than those supreme Emperors were esteemed by
Vitruvius, Valerius, & Pliny. References to Vitruvius (architecture), Valerius Maximus (history), and Pliny the Elder (natural history), who dedicated their works to Roman Emperors. Seeing that by no other
means than that of your own valor: after many ranks of the
highest offices obtained in this Exalted Republic: you deserved to sit
in that sublime seat, in which already sat many most
Serene Princes: whose Piety & Religion toward God: accom-
panied by Love & Charity toward the Fatherland, were so powerful,
that for the City—which for about One Thousand One Hundred & Fifteen
years remains yet a Virgin & immaculate—they enlarged the
borders, & increased the Dominion: among whom are Tommaso, Pietro, &
Giovanni Mocenigo, The Mocenigo family was one of the most powerful Venetian "apostolic" families, producing several Doges. your ancestors & progenitors: of im-
mortal name for their illustrious deeds: to whom is added Your Sublim-
ity: who is not, nor shall be, in any way inferior to them. May
Your Serenity therefore look with the gaze of your clemency upon the devotion
of your servant toward you: & receive with a cheerful spirit the gift,
which he offers & dedicates to your great name: & make him worthy to be
kept in your good grace: for it will seem to him to have ob-
tained a great & singular benefit: which will continually keep it
alive in his memory: & with the Ancients (religiously speak-
ing