TO THE MOST SERENE AND MOST HIGH

PRINCE AND LORD,

LORD FREDERICK LOUIS,

Decorative woodcut initial letter 'T' featuring scrolling floral and foliate patterns.To you, MOST SERENE PRINCE, I offer this book, which—to confess frankly—I had decided to dedicate openly to no mortal, but silently to Him alone Referring to God. to whom everyone owes everything; for throughout the entire time I spent composing it, and even longer, I most truly intended in my heart to keep my name secret. This is even evident from the style itself, which, being expressed in the first person as if the mind were speaking about itself (after the manner of those in meditation This refers to the "meditative" style of philosophy made famous by René Descartes, where the author writes from the perspective of their own internal thought process.), does not seem to allow for modestly presenting to the reader the identity of a person designating himself by his own name. But when those among my friends whom I knew to be more perfected original: "perfectiores"; likely referring to spiritual or intellectual maturity. later urged me with reasons to declare my name, I consented—even though there was no longer time to change the style of the discourse—because the work was produced candidly, without any desire to please or displease anyone. Just as the reasons of others impelled The Latin text ends mid-word with "impule-"; the catchword "runt" on the following page completes "impulerunt" (impelled).