One Hundred Liberal and Ingenious Games

great Woman is required; and I live secure that my hopes will not be in vain, being confirmed by universal testimony, and because you are esteemed as one of the greatest Queens original: "Reine"; an older Italian form influenced by the French 'reine'—fitting for the Queen of France. who ever set foot upon the throne of that Kingdom. It would not be a suitable gift for such great merits, if my unworthy work were not made worthy by one who so highly deserves it; I shall always judge it to be well-born and loftily placed, provided it finds a place among the greatness of your elevated thoughts.

Nor will it be difficult, as far as I understand, since you possess supreme kindness and gentleness joined with Royal eminence, and have learned from your divine predecessors, through marvelous ways little known to others, the virtue of bestowing favor, so as to crown yourself with glory and make yourself doubly happy for the sake of more lasting remembrance. What this Volume, which I present to you with all reverence, contains within itself will be clearly seen.

With a hundred letters that lead to the Games—or rather, are of their very nature—I sought to restore virtuous Women original: "honeste Donne"; in the 16th century, 'honeste' implied a combination of high social standing, modesty, and moral integrity., who have been unworthily pierced by fierce bites A metaphor for the "stings" of slander or the biting critiques of detractors., to their original prestige. Having introduced certain new forms of play, I endeavored to mix gravity with pleasantness, so that they might be practiced by any person, whether serious or lighthearted. Then I added a thousand doubts doubts: from the Italian 'dubbi', these were specific philosophical or topical questions posed at the end of a game to spark intellectual debate., ten for each Game, for no other reason than so that rare wits original: "pellegrini ingegni"; literally 'pilgrim wits,' referring to minds that travel beyond the common or ordinary to find refined truths. might rise to a thousand beautiful understandings, and through debating them, acquire immortality; I leave