TO THE BENEVOLENT READER

A decorative drop cap 'A' is set within a square frame featuring elaborate floral and foliate scrollwork.Many years have now passed, BENEVOLENT READER, since the learned hands of the most illustrious JACOBUS GOLIUS—who, while he lived, was Public Professor of Mathematics and Oriental Languages in the renowned Dutch city of LEIDEN—applied themselves to reviewing from its source, that is, the Arabic language, and illustrating with appropriate annotations, the Astronomical Elements of the most celebrated of the ancient authors, ALFRAGANUS, a work truly excellent in the noblest branch of learning, and in no need of our praise or recommendation. And not without reason could Alfraganus congratulate himself that, after so many centuries as a guest on foreign shores, he had found a man by whose singular cultivation he might be received not only in the vernacular speech, but also, through a faithful interpreter, might be transcribed for the common circle of the learned with new industry, under the happy omen of eternity; as surely as GOLIUS