P R E F A C E .

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...desire completing the word "quaerent" from the previous page them—not only those who occupy the lowest bench referring to students or the common public, but even those who hold the first place among the learned—I cannot but hope that this hodgepodge original: "farraginem," a term often used by authors to describe a miscellaneous collection of notes or excerpts of mine, such as it is, will not be entirely unwelcome to them. Learning is not acquired without the greatest study and sleepless nights. To think that men become learned by Divine Inspiration original: "Divino Afflatu," literally a divine breath or blowing upon is the mark of Fanatics; even a Poet is born in vain, unless Industry hard work is added to a noble Disposition. And hence it is that few are truly learned [whatever the Smatterers original: "Scioli," those with a superficial or pretentious smattering of knowledge may prattle], because they cannot endure the labor and the effort.

But so that you might perceive the greatest fruit possible from your reading, I have set before you a certain selection of Authors, and various judgments of the Most Learned men concerning them; which, if you diligently compare them among themselves, you will be able both to sharpen and confirm your own judgment, and you will never waste your oil and labor original: "oleum atque operam perdes," a classical idiom for wasting time and effort, referring to the lamp oil burned during late-night study in unrolling reading writers of no value.

For as pertains to the method of the work itself, it commends itself most on this account: that from it you may furnish yourself a Library original: "Bibliothecam"; for which purpose a Knowledge of Authors original: "Notitia Autorum" is especially useful and necessary. If this knowledge is lacking, it often happens that men are cheated of both time and money in purchasing books. Therefore, to meet this inconvenience, I have exhausted this labor original: "laborem exantlavi," a phrase implying a Herculean effort. For you have here, as it were, a certain Image of each Author: from which you may perceive...