On Animals (De Animalibus)

...destroyed in a short time, or treasures of gems and gold, to which the heirs of one's enemies very often succeed; and that you reject pleasures which extinguish the light of the soul, and seek the one pleasure of literature, which can illuminate the soul, and find rest in it. And so, we all rejoice that we have such a pontiff, and everyone, whether citizen or foreigner, strives according to his strength to contribute something by which he might increase both the praise of your virtues and the pleasure of your mind; for we not only venerate and observe the one whom we love as a father for his merits, but we also willingly think that the fruits of our studies should be dedicated to him. Therefore, some dedicate one thing, some another. I desired to translate into the Latin language the books of Aristotle the philosopher, which he had written concerning the nature of animals, thinking that I would do a thing pleasing to you if these books were committed to Latin letters with pure industry and were explained more elegantly and integrally than has been done by others until now. I saw that interpreters had erred greatly, both through ignorance of the language and through ignorance of Aristotelian discipline. Therefore, I thought it was my duty, if there were any capability in me by which I could present these things better, to undertake the task and strive to accomplish something more worthy according to my strength.

I have indeed labored vehemently in this matter, since I could take no help from those who wished to interpret the same works. For either they said in Greek what Latin men desire to hear in Latin, or they assigned the names of other things to others improperly, or they ineptly fashioned new ones themselves. Truly, they have corrupted the meaning of the author everywhere, so that concerning the argument of their interpretation, no one is so unlearned that he does not seem able to judge more correctly about the matters of nature than Aristotle. They could not even apply a genre of speech that could be read, not to mention one worthy of the eloquence of Aristotle. And if there was anything that could not be overturned from all truth due to its own very easy cognition, it can scarcely be understood even because of the uncultivated, harsh, and inept language of the interpreter. I would bring forward the writings of those interpreters in this place, and I would criticize them by enumerating their errors one by one, were I not to be too long on a matter that is not in doubt, especially before you, most learned prince, who, as you previously condemned their interpretation for your own singular judgment—even as a doctor—and desired a better one, so now, having been made prince, you act more accurately so that these things might finally be explained and, together with the sentiment of their author, receive the light of the Latin language.