Two Books on the Manner of Making Earth Fortifications

...already composed three, my eyes were opened to the necessity of writing these two as being more necessary. Wherefore, leaving those aside, I gave myself to composing these, and thus I have finished them to the praise of God, the Best and Greatest Latin: "Deo Optimo Maximo". Since it seemed to me, as I have said, that they were more necessary to everyone than the first, being much easier to be understood, it also seemed to me that they should properly be brought to light before those others. And although I knew that in both those and these I had not, by a long shot, satisfied the importance and dignity of such a subject, and that therefore I was certain to be torn by the bites of those who are accustomed—either out of envy or malice—to blame the things of others, I was nevertheless certain that good men would accept my labors in good part, whatever they might be, having regard for my very good intention and remembering that one does quite a lot who strives to add form and perfection by writing about some noble and worthy art that has not been attempted before. To do this, all that remained for me in order to satisfy myself completely and to make them all the more welcome to the world was to dedicate them to some great personage, from whose name and virtues they might receive that favor which the Sun is accustomed to give to fruits after they have been produced and nourished by the earth. Therefore, thinking to myself to whom I should dedicate them, I found no one from whom I could hope to achieve this in every respect better than Your Excellency. Because, in addition to the certainty I have that, adorned on their front with the name of such a Prince, they must acquire name and authority in the opinion of men, I am also certain that even if I were not praised for anything else in this work of mine, I shall undoubtedly be praised for judgment for having consecrated it to a Lord who, alongside his other infinite rare qualities that make him a true Prince, is also most knowledgeable in this art. For it is well known how, in the wars that took place not long ago in Italy, he left no means that he considered necessary for the liberty and safety of his peoples that he did not attempt, and did not put successfully into execution with his highest praise; a thing which cannot be done without the subject of knowing how to fortify intervening. Nor, because I know this to be a low gift and of little value in respect to the high merit of Your Most Illustrious Lordship, do I refrain from sending it to you, for your great and universally praised kindness makes me sure that you will accept it with that good spirit with which I send it...