An ornate woodcut headpiece featuring two seated male figures on the left and right, with a central figure holding a palm branch, surrounded by decorative scrollwork and reclining lions.

TO THE MOST BLESSED

AND MOST HOLY

OUR LORD

CLEMENT THE EIGHTH

SUPREME PONTIFF original: "PONT. OPT. MAX." — abbreviation for Pontifex Optimus Maximus, a title for the Pope meaning "Best and Greatest High Priest."

A decorative woodcut initial letter "C" depicting a seated ecclesiastical figure, likely a pope or saint, holding a book or tablet.

Why, among such a great abundance of Most Serene and Most Illustrious Princes who are found not only here in our Italy but indeed in the whole world, I should have judged that I should especially dedicate and name for you, CLEMENT VIII, Supreme Pontiff—the most merciful, most distinguished, and most celebrated of all Pontiffs who have reigned until now or shall ever reign in the future—these fruits of mine, these first Commentaries on Birds, whatever their worth may be. (They were, however, composed with much late-night study original: "multis vigilijs" — literally many vigils, referring to working through the night and at great expense. I have spent nearly all my resources on the illustrations—in which I have had the birds depicted and engraved from life original: "ad viuum" — a technical term in art and science for drawing directly from a living or fresh specimen—not only for inclusion in this single work, but likewise for others to be brought to light once this one has been published). Why, I say, I chose to dedicate this to you, was prompted by many men, and those most grave, especially several Most Illustrious Cardinals. Among these were Paleotti, of most happy memory, and, a few months ago, the Most Illustrious and Reverend Paravicini, a man of keen judgment, who suggested it when he visited my Museum At this time, a "Museum" was a private collection of natural and artificial wonders, known as a cabinet of curiosities, rather than a public institution.. Many other most weightly reasons also compelled me: first and foremost, that supreme pinnacle of dignity, the Pontificate itself, to which you were raised by the common consent of the purple-clad original: "purpuratorum" — referring to the College of Cardinals who wear red/purple robes, with GOD so decreeing, because of those most splendid virtues of yours, and your most distinguished deeds and actions in the whole world, which are to be eternally remembered. Added to this is your most burning zeal for all good disciplines, and especially for sacred literature, many passages of which are untangled and clarified in these works of mine; and also the incredible love and grace with which you embrace all learned men and those who cultivate them—as you did even when you were a Cardinal—and also that singular benevolence and readiness of mind toward me, of which the Most Illustrious and Reverend Cardinal Bandini is my most ample witness, having spoken to you on my behalf for the sake of assisting me. It is also added that it seems almost a peculiar trait of the citizens of Bologna that they have always been most devoted to the Papal name. But to turn back to you, there is first the antiquity of your family, celebrated by no obscure historians who have published books on the more noble families of Italy; for they proclaim a certain Hildebrand, a strenuous man, an unconquered leader, and most skilled in military matters, who, as a Duke of the Lombards, once invaded Italy, occupied many places in it, and un- The text cuts off mid-word ("indu-") and continues on the next page with "indubitanter," meaning "undoubtedly."