TO THE MOST GENEROUS AND HIGHLY HONORED LORD GUIDOTTO NAPIO, BOHEMIAN,

FROM CURZIO DI NAVO.

A decorative initial letter G contains a seated figure, perhaps a scholar or a saint, set within a landscape frame.

Truly great, my most excellent Lord, are the effects that are continually seen—and have been seen to follow throughout history—through the disposition of the almighty mother Fortune. For she possesses such power that, at her every whim, she may raise men to sublime heights or lead them to miserable hardship, without anyone being able to forbid her; it is entirely her own choice. Nor is there anyone who can boast of being able to resist her, except by soothing her with the best of some profound virtue In the Renaissance, "virtue" (virtù) implied not just moral goodness, but also skill, power, and the active ability of a person to shape their own destiny.. Among such men, I recognize you as one; for you do not fall short of the highly commendable memory of your father. He was not only cherished by Fortune because of his own virtue, but—never idle—he was no less shrewd in kindly embracing her than she was liberal in offering herself to him, as he sought with every effort the hidden secrets of the earth. Because Fortune favored him in this, he drew from it that infinite wealth of resources which you now possess with such happiness.

Therefore, taking this as my inspiration—since it has fallen to me to print this present Work on minerals, sophistic In this context, "sophistic" refers to alchemical processes or the "sophisticated" methods used to alter or imitate metals and materials. arts, distillations, compositions, and many other skillful qualities pertaining to these things (matters, certainly, that should not stay buried)—I have reasoned within myself that I would do the work an injustice if I did not provide it with a master whose shadow original: "ombra," here meaning patronage or protection would adorn it no less than the work is rich in itself.

Thus, looking through the great number of my many friends, I saw only you to whose virtue I ought most reasonably to address such a labor. This is both because I know myself to be most greatly obligated to you, and because I am encouraged by the living rays of the many generosities that I see shining all around your person. I hope that just as the excellence of precious metal, refined by the learned hand of the ingenious craftsman to a supreme polish, adds magnificence to a precious necklace, likewise your many magnificences will add credit and reputation to this work.

For this reason, I wish to pray that you deign to accept this with the same kindness that the inner depth of my great devotion invites me to cheerfully offer it to you. I am most certain that it will be of great use to you, and of the greatest honor and reputation to the work itself: to you, by your assiduous study of it, and to the work, by making it worthy of such a reader. Always love me, then, with that affection which my great devotion appropriately requires, resting most certain that I shall always be most ready to obey your commands.