Sire.

When Leonardo da Vinci original: "Lionardo da Vinci" breathed his last breath in the arms of that great King Francis Francis I of France (r. 1515–1547), who was Leonardo’s final patron., Your magnanimous Predecessor, I believe there was nothing for which he was so sorrowful as not having been able, due to the infirmity of old age, to offer him a testimony of his grateful soul for the kind benefits he had received from him. Therefore, by entitling this Treatise of his to Your Majesty, I am certain that I am fulfilling the will of this great man, whose spirit original: "l'ombra," literally "the shadow" or "the shade." seems to me to rejoice and applaud this thought of mine. France, by some unknown destiny, was the first to appreciate his writings, and as he