A decorative woodcut headpiece depicts two winged figures reclining and blowing trumpets towards a central grotesque mask surrounded by scrolling foliage.

TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS,

LORD D. SCIPIONE

GONZAGA

An ornamental drop cap 'A' decorated with intertwining vines and leaves.
For a long time, my most devoted service has longed to present itself to Your Excellency with some offering proportionate to your merits, and not entirely unequal to the conditions of my profound homage. Finally, a work has come to my press which, due to the fame of the author and the ingenious discoveries of his art, is believed worthy of taking refuge in the hands of a qualified Prince, such as Your Excellency. You are a benefactor of the virtues, not so much for the habits of your noble intellect as for the memories of your most glorious House, admired at all times for the splendor of its letters and for being a tutelary deity to men of letters. Therefore, I believe there was no place more proper to place these industrious labors of Hero, so learnedly illustrated by another's pen and improved in this new edition, than under the patronage of Your Excellency; whose most worthy name alone was missing to provide the final titles of perfection to the volume that I present to you.