The Pneumatics of Hero of Alexandria

...it has delayed until the present to come to light, because for certain reasons it was not possible to have before last year, neither the figures nor some ancient texts remaining in his inheritance. Without the help of these, it did not seem to me that I could surely resolve many, and many places of this Author, part obscure and part incorrect, that were found both in the Greek texts of Rome and Bologna, and also in the very translation of Commandino; because he, having been prevented by death, could not give it the final hand. Besides that, I have also delayed willingly, because Hermolao Barbaro A 15th-century scholar and diplomat, after having hinted in some places of his commentary on Vitruvius that he was thinking of doing this same labor on Hero that I have done, finally in the commentary on chapter 13 of book 2, said openly that he had put this same work into our language. Thus, if such a translation of his had appeared in the hands of men, I would not have permitted this one of mine to be seen, loving better that it should remain hidden than come into comparison with that of so great a man. Just as it has not hindered me at all to put it out, but rather increased my courage, to have seen another one printed already two years ago. Now, such as it is, may Your Serene Highness be served to accept it and appreciate it, if for no other reason, at least as a sign of my ready devotion toward you, and deign to do me the grace of giving it a place among the infinite number of books,