Book of Rulers

Preface to the Reader.

pleasure/ and personal gain/ rather than the common good/ as sometimes tends to happen/ from which no small damage arises/ both in cities and lands/ or who otherwise rule aimlessly/ and trust and commit such great and important matters to luck and their counselors alone/ those one may let go.

But since these are greatly mistaken/ they may also see to it/ how they intend to answer for it in time/ which does not fail to arrive/ before God. For these matters require not only understanding/ art/ and wisdom/ but also the fear of God/ grace/ and blessing/ as well as great care/ toil and labor/ historical examples/ and other things besides. As indeed those well see/ know/ and experience/ who deal with these things daily. For they are certainly not appointed and required by God as rulers/ as if they were invited or called to a wedding or a church festival original: Kirchmeß; a traditional village fair or festival celebrating the consecration of a local church.. Like Stratocles and Dromoclides/ who invited one another to the "Golden Harvest"/ for so they mockingly named the Town Hall and the judge's seat Stratocles and Dromoclides were Athenian politicians known for their corruption; they viewed public office as a "harvest" to be gathered for personal wealth rather than a public service.. Rather/ they are bound in such offices to serve God/ and to help the poor. And let this be enough for the preface this time. One thing I must report to the reader/ that I have included several Latin sentences/ which are magnificent and good/ in this book. However/ because I was informed by some/ that they would gladly see these same sentences rendered in English/ I have to please them/ as much as possible/

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A large, circular decorative woodcut vignette featuring a symmetrical arrangement of scrolling floral vines and ornate foliage.