Elegantiarum Linguae Latinae Libri Sex

[...volume of elegances], to be dedicated to one endowed with the utmost elegance. Regarding this work, my most sweet Fullonius, I have this to promise you: that I have recently emended it in so many places that I hope this labor of ours will be of no small assistance to studious youths. For I applied such diligence that, by the authority of almost all the codices that Valla himself cites as witnesses, I have restored an integral and genuine reading. Had this been left by me as it was—corrupt—it could have discouraged the minds not only of those youths but also of every learned man. But if those who printed it with their types before us had used the same diligence, as they ought to have done, they would surely have attained much more praise, and we would have had less labor to perform. However, there is no reason for me to recount to you the passages we have corrected, for they are nearly infinite, and you will be able to perceive them easily for yourself if you compare these of ours with others. We have certainly omitted not a few things which, although they were not entirely approved of, we preferred to leave to the judgment of scholars rather than seem too diligent by changing an old and accepted reading. I only grieve greatly that at the very time when I most needed to be present for the printing of the work, I was forced to be away for a month and more. The result of this was that, in my absence, the negligence—or rather, the ignorance—of the printers corrupted quite a few things. When these become apparent during your reading, I would like you, and all others, to view them with fairness and good will. As for you, my Laurentius, receive this little gift from me in the meantime, such as it is, so that if I understand that our work is approved by you and by learned men, you might eventually expect greater and perhaps better things as I advance in age, and I might think that I have reaped no mediocre fruit from my industry.

Fare well, and love us, as you do.

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A circular stamp mark is visible on the right side of the text block, partially obscuring the words "vallen" and "sis".