A decorative woodcut headpiece depicting symmetrical foliate and floral motifs with scrolls, centered around two reclining figures flanking a central ornament.

TO THE MOST SERENE PRINCE

GEORGE,

DUKE OF WÜRTTEMBERG

AND TECK:

COUNT OF MONTBÉLIARD

AND

SUPREME LORD IN HÉRICOURT,

BLAMONT, CLÉMONT, etc.

MY MOST MERCIFUL LORD.

An ornate woodcut decorative initial 'A' featuring architectural structures and scrolling vegetation within a square frame.

As it is made manifest by the hanging of the insignias of the most powerful men, Most Serene PRINCE, that villas and houses are under their protection, so are they defended from violence and impudence. And in hardly any other way—amidst the frequent encounters with the sinister-minded original: "Theonum," referring to Theon of Alexandria, used here as a metaphor for harsh or envious critics—can BOOKS enjoy free passage when they are sent out into the public Field of Fame. For the fastidious perversity of this age can hardly bear with a calm mind for anything to come forth under a name.

Festus, Pliny, etc.

The learned scrape at them, the unlearned gnaw at them, and the fools, dolts, and blockheads The author uses three specific Latin terms for types of fools: Blenni (simpletons), Bardi (stupid people), and Buccones (babblers) mock them; for each and every one, the descent is easier toward finding fault than toward imitation original Greek: πρὸς τὸ μωμᾶσθαι ἢ πρὸς τὸ μιμεῖσθαι. This was a common proverbial expression in the Renaissance to describe critics who can only criticize but not create.. Thus did the Virgils original: "Marones" and Ovids original: "Nasones" once greet Maecenas The famous Roman patron of the arts by that name. Thus did Quadratus, the Bishop of Athens and disciple of the Apostles, address the Prince Hadrian. And thus from then on, in every age, the ranks of writers have continually done; nor is it our intention to make those accepted rituals void.

And so, since they are in readiness to traverse the various regions of the world one after another—the NYMPHS of the Gardens, Meadows, Mountains, Forests, and of the Rivers and Springs—they now present themselves before your Throne, MOST SERENE PRINCE—