Incipit liber De anathomia humani Corporis

Here begins the book On the Anatomy of the Human Body

A large, ornate illuminated initial 'L' spans the first twelve lines of the left column. The letter is rendered in blue and red with gold highlights and floral motifs in the margins. Inside the 'L' is a coat of arms: a yellow shield featuring a black bird (possibly an eagle or griffin) with wings spread, set against a dark grey background.

Although we have had these things referring to the subject matter of anatomy scattered here and there in the writings of authors through the investigation of things, with excessive labor and no small solicitude I have dedicated my effort to ensure that, having examined various philosophers and the writings of authors, those things which are memorable regarding the natures of creatures and their properties, both in behavior and customs, might be found in one volume; and this is the one in which I have compiled them most briefly. Here, therefore, first, the Anatomy of the human body, its passions and their customs, is to be considered. Afterwards, a brief and useful treatise on the soul anima soul of individuals, as the Doctor treats more fully in the seventeenth book in the granatibus likely referring to a specific collection or encyclopedic section where I have distinguished. Then, the causes and species of diseases. Afterward, indeed, [we treat] of the nature of birds, of the volume possibly referring to a bestiary section, of sea beasts, of fish, and also of serpents, of trees, of herbs, of rivers, of stones, of metals, and those which concern them. Furthermore, of the seven planets and of the passions of the air, of winds, and of the pole and the moon, and of celestial bodies, and lastly of the four elements and their properties and their passions, to distinguish them aptly, applying the authors of Doctors, prophets, and poets.

Whence these are they who follow, having elegantly illuminated the work. First of all is Aristotle, who flourished as a more eminent author not only regarding the intrinsic, but also in all things pertaining to the discipline of physics. The second is Pliny, who, by the antiquity of his time and venerable authority, shone as a copious author among those who treated of things. The third, however, we place as Boethius, who, in his eloquence, was very admirable; in the book which he published on the wonders of the world, he inserted many things for the diligent seeker of natures. The fourth is Ambrose, or rather the prelate of Milan, who distinguished many things concerning the natures of beasts and birds in the book which is called the Exameron Six Days of Creation, and who is certainly first and second in this order of writing. The great Basil, in the book which he published on the six days of creation in the Greek tongue, placed individual sentences very well in his work. Regarding the first Ammiana? imperial, because of brevity, Ambrose does not mention him. The fifth is Isidore, bishop, who used it more diffusely in the fifth book of his Etymologies. In the sixth place, we place Master James of Vitry, formerly bishop of Acre, but now prelate of Tusculum and Cardinal of the Roman Curia—although we place him there in terms of his age—who wrote with elegant speech about the natures of things and the histories which occurred in transmarine parts in modern times, and he wished this book to be called the Oriental History. Elsewhere, not in the book of things, long ago I added many things about the natures of things.