TO THE MOST CHRISTIAN KING.

The page features a large, ornate rectangular woodcut border composed of symmetrical floral scrolls, vines, and stylized foliage. At the beginning of the text, there is a decorative drop cap 'G' inside a square frame that depicts a small landscape with a building and trees.

MOST GLORIOUS and Royal truly was the response of the very famous Athenian, Themistocles; Themistocles (c. 524–459 BCE) was a brilliant Athenian politician and naval strategist. Ramelli uses this classical anecdote to argue that true praise must be earned through merit. who, when asked what singular prize or what boastful voice he would most like to hear in the theater to praise his outstanding life, allowed it to escape from his wise mouth: That voice which was equal to his merits and his virtue pleased him above all others. From this he quietly suggested to the world that, just as false praises unjustly attributed to unworthy men endlessly blacken their lives, so too does well-earned glory, spread among the people by illustrious spirits, add a most brilliant splendor to undaunted and Heroic souls—such as that of your Most Christian Majesty. original: "Maestà uostra Christianissima" — "Most Christian" was the traditional hereditary title of the Kings of France.

I am therefore persuaded that you must accept my admiration and my bowing before the generosity of your Royal soul, your most clear prudence, your affable kindness, and the intrepidity of your divine valor. These flowering gifts, to claim the palmA symbol of victory and excellence since antiquity. for so many sublime virtues and honored ornaments divinely gathered in you, strive particularly to hold the greatest dominion within your most high spirit.

From this it happens that I—following the praised style of illustrious writers who are accustomed to consecrating the sublime offspring and glorious fruits of their most noble talents to the supreme Monarchs of the earth, as to true Deities and their singular Gods in this present life—and having regard for this divine conformity; whose heavenly favor has shaped Your Most Christian Majesty in the image of the eternal God in ruling and giving law to the most powerful and magnanimous great Kingdom of France; original: "Franza" I shall not dare (to avoid the reputation of a Timagoras with Darius, or an Aristippus with Dionysius) Timagoras was an Athenian envoy accused of excessive flattery toward the Persian King Darius. Aristippus was a philosopher known for being a sycophant to Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse. Ramelli is promising to avoid empty flattery. to enter into the spacious fields of your Royal pageantry and triumphant glories.

This is especially so because their height prevents not only the lowliness of my intellect, but even the most elevated spirits, from being able to reach even the shadow of those unheard-of merits which shine at all hours in your Royal person, to the great wonder of the world. I will therefore restrict myself to saying only that (a long time ago) being called and urgently solicited in Italy, in the name of Your Majesty, to transfer myself with an honored salary to the service of this...