PREFACE 11

publication of Leonardo's Manuscripts, which is beyond debate today, required the help of time to triumph over all opposition. It was objected that since these manuscripts were unfinished works, often fleeting notes, their publication would be contrary to the author's intentions, and that the reader would not find his way in such a labyrinth, in which Leonardo himself would get lost.

That he did not intend all his writings for publicity is possible; but they should be left in obscurity only if they contained nothing that would bring honor to the master; and this is not the case. On the other hand, the office of the publisher consists precisely in introducing order and clarity into this seemingly confused variety. And can one suppose that by embracing the work as a whole, following the path of such an intellect, the thinker will not discover precious elements of observation? Might not the very errors of this precursor in the sciences reveal some mystery of the human soul and of its special character during the age of the Renaissance? Finally, the complete publication of the Manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci will provide new documents on the movement of sciences and prevailing opinions—in a word, on philosophy,

complete publication of Leonardo's Manuscripts, beyond discussion today, needed the help of time to triumph over all opposition. It was objected that these manuscripts being unfinished works, often fleeting notes, publishing them would be contrary to the author's intentions, and that the reader would not find his way in such a labyrinth, where Leonardo himself would be lost.

That he may not have intended all his writings for publicity is possible; but they should only be left in the shadows if they contained nothing to the honor of the master; and such is not the case. On the other hand, the office of the publisher consists precisely in introducing order and clarity into this seemingly confused variety. And can one suppose that by embracing the work in its entirety, by following the path of such an intelligence, the thinker will not discover precious elements of observation? Might not the very errors of this scientific precursor unveil some mysteries of the human soul and of its particular mode during the era of the Renaissance? Finally, the complete publication of the Manuscripts of Leonardo de Vinci will bring new documents on the movement of sciences and prevailing opinions—in a word, on philosophy—at one of the eras The text cuts off here, likely leading into a description of the Renaissance as a pivotal era in human thought.