Epitome of the Complete Works of Galen

(which is hateful in such a short life), some recoiled from reading him. Truly, so that all might enjoy him according to their wish, I have contracted all the works of that man into a certain concise compendium, yet one quite succulent, with such fidelity and diligence that I have omitted nothing at all from those things that could help the readers. Moreover, I have most accurately restored many things that were depraved and perverted in the codices, both Latin and Greek. From these our studies, it has pleased me to publish the greatest part under the splendor of Your Excellency, most Illustrious Prince, namely forty commentaries of Galen, which contain within themselves all the differences of diseases and the general methods of curing them. I truly hope that since you are the promoter and nurturer of the best talents among all the Princes of Italy, and you always shine upon them like a certain propitious star, all students might be inflamed to read them even from the preface of your name alone. Indeed, all learned men everywhere so look up to, honor, and venerate Your Highness, both because of other clearly royal virtues and especially because of that most ardent love of wisdom with which it is always ignited, that they pronounce with one voice that they owe as much to you as they do to the Muses themselves—an opinion in which, I believe, they are not in the least hallucinating. For not only students, but even all arts and sciences, if they do not owe a greater debt, certainly owe no less a debt to those who, by fostering them with their munificence, so that they might grow steadily, [help them reach] the highest summit of their dignity.