TO THE READERS, GIACOMO Lanteri, Greetings.

A woodcut depicts a decorative initial 'S' containing a scholar or philosopher seated at a desk with an open book, surrounded by intricate scrolling foliate patterns.

It is usually very dear to all those who work voluntarily and with good purpose in any matter, benevolent readers, that the labor they have begun succeeds to a good end, and to the purpose for which it was started; and this is especially true of writers. Because I have set myself to write this book, which treats of earthen fortifications, with the intention of being useful to you; it seems quite appropriate that I tell you of my desire that the instructions I have written may be of use and benefit to you as well. And because nothing dearer than this can happen to me, I pray you to accept this second labor of mine, born from the desire to be useful and beneficial to you, with whatever candor of spirit with which I offer it to you. And although I judge that it should not bring you any harm or displeasure, I do not wish to refrain from telling you that I am certain I cannot pass through this without the serpentine tongues of those who know how to do nothing good, other than to blame the labors of others, biting me bitterly. To them (since I do not care for them) I am not about to answer anything at all. And although this cannot fail to cause some trouble to my mind, being blamed wrongly (by whomever it may be) will be by far less grave if I see that having labored for you in this manner is pleasing to you. Let them say whatever they like, for I am not about to withdraw myself from any labor where I see that I can be useful or beneficial to you with it. It will only displease me not to be able to do more, so as to be able to provide you with much greater utility and benefit. But since more power than that which I have is not granted to me, accept my good spirit and my good will in exchange for that which I would wish to be able to do, so that from my labors there might come to you utility and benefit in infinity. And if you do not have from my writings that delicious and delicate food that your minds might desire, you will enjoy this until the Illustrious Signor Giovanni Giacomo Leonardi, Count of Monte l’Abbate, makes you see in this matter a volume (as far as those who have read it report, and as I judge it to be) rather miraculous than otherwise, in which there will be nothing lacking that one could desire on this subject; to whom truly, both for this and for infinite other never-sufficiently-praised works, the world will be grandly obligated beyond measure.