History of Serpents and Dragons

...duties of no common love toward him, and he had softened him with benefits, after the books on Ornithology original: "Ornithologiæ"; Ulisse Aldrovandi’s famous multi-volume work on birds were dedicated to Cardinal ALESSANDRO, your uncle—the Phoenix of the Purple-clad A reference to the red robes of a Cardinal, suggesting he was unique and supreme among his peers—and received by him with a most liberal hand. Soon after the death of Aldrovandi, my father, Marcus Antonius, through the illustrious legal consultant Francesco Angelelli—a most religious worshiper of your renowned name—obtained permission to publish another work by the same author on Digitated Quadrupeds original: "Quadrupedibus digitatis"; referring to four-footed animals with distinct toes or fingers under your most auspicious name. From the extensive proof of your love toward my father, you have encouraged the son (most kind patron) to renew the claims of our mutual service with this pledge. By this, foreigners and posterity alike will recognize that you are the greatest Maecenas A classical reference to Gaius Maecenas, the legendary patron of the arts under Emperor Augustus to us, shining upon the talents of this age like a salutary star.

Indeed, we confess (most beneficent Prince) and openly profess, that from the flowing clouds of your liberality, which you pour into the bosoms of the needy and the deserving, we have proven that to be true in you which the ancients falsely proclaimed regarding Luernius, the leader of the Celts: namely, that the tracks of your chariot produce gold and benefits for mortals. While we meditated on these things with a more attentive mind, we thought of no one among the most excellent heroes of this age to whom we more justly owed these commentaries on Serpents by that man of singular learning, Aldrovandi. The logic of our long-standing patronage, attested by the public monuments of our author, had already made these yours long ago. Indeed, bound to you by the tightest bond of service, we are hardly able to explain in words—much less in reality—with what devotion and ardor we venerate the spirit of your divine virtue; in honor...