Alberti Magni De Vegetabilibus Libri VII

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... [as he could not] satisfy himself, he delayed the work and returned to historical studies?, from which [he produced] that work of the History of Botany from the year 1854 onward; although he was entirely occupied, he was not in the least idle?, but he handed over to me the work to be completed and attempted to collect the resources of the greatest men by which our edition might be made [more] accurate. In this matter, however, we met? and in that same year, alas! My guide and most cherished friend passed away?.

Then I [pondered] whether I should complete this work with my own strength and how it should be published. However, moved by piety toward my friend, so that his labors would not perish, nor be in vain, and [mindful of] the extreme confidence he had placed in me, and so that the work would not be withdrawn from botanists again, I carried it to the end with my own strength, although I was neither sufficiently skilled in the long-neglected field, nor well-versed in the codices read by Albertus. Yet I would not have been able to complete the work I had undertaken if not for the favor and liberal assistance of the Royal Library in Berlin. With whose help the resources of the work...