On Animals (De Animalibus)

What then, when even the Latin copies themselves, with whose help we strive to be aided, are no less to be corrected than the Greek? For what utility of the books of Pliny would be sufficiently brought to an interpreter, unless they were amended and corrected? For many centuries before our age, the work of that author which is inscribed "On Natural History" lay useless, namely because of the innumerable errors of the scribes. For although it was sought for the authority of both the writer and the things written, and was copied by many, yet it could not be read, not even by the most learned men, so faulty and corrupt did it have. Latin men were certainly deprived for a long time of the great fruit of those books, although now, through the notable learning and singular industry of Joannes Andreas, Bishop of Aleria, the reading of those books has been made easy, and their imitation as well; for he was the first to correct these books and render them useful. If he had undertaken this duty in correcting other books as well, the labor left to writers and interpreters would certainly be either nothing or far less. But since other duties of your most happy principate and of the republic have diverted this man from private literary studies, a situation has occurred that is without doubt more difficult for everyone. But for me, that difficulty accumulates labor which does not concern those interpreters who speak difficult things in Greek but overturn easy things with improper Latin words, but rather those who do not leave the same things unconsidered which the ancient authors passed over with a certain negligence that is not easily excused, such as the question which occurs concerning the "Thos" quadruped, and the panther, the "dyasipus," the lynx, and many others. But whether I have been able to accomplish anything worthy either of my own great labor or of your desire, you will be my judge and censor. I certainly had the desire to contend, not with those interpreters whom it is no business to defeat, but with Aristotle himself, so that the books which he had written for Alexander the king, his own prince, with no less industry than learning, I might render into Latin for you, my own prince, no worse. But whether I have accomplished what I had set out for myself, you shall see.

You have indeed in this codex eighteen books; namely, nine on the History of Animals, four on the Parts, and five...