TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS

AND MOST REVEREND LORD

LORD FRANCESCO

PERETTI

MOST EXCELLENT ABBOT PRINCE.

ULISSE ALDROVANDI, by far the single best of all natural philosophers, here brings forth his Serpents for you. They are indeed Serpents, yet not poisonous in their strike, not lethal in their bite, not consumptive in their spittle or breath, nor fatal in their gaze, such as sandy Libya produces for the Africans; but they are harmless, tame, and fruitful: because Wisdom has nurtured them in the garden of the Muses, upon the grass of Apollo. And although all of them, like the Scytale clothed in multiform colors, shine forth with a singular variety of objects and erudition to the point of wonder; nonetheless, they would creep in the dark upon the ground, stained by the mire of envy, did they not look toward you (most ample Prelate), the leader of the Muses, who would not disdain to cherish with your patronage a family of soothing snakes. The most learned author has long since [dedicated] the great-souled Lion of the PERETTI family to his literary devotions to [your]