Mathematical Garden

Whatever has proceeded from you has happened to me most gratefully: I have decided that the mathematical work composed by me, whatever it may be, should be dedicated to you, not, by Hercules, to return some favor to you, but so that I might leave behind my respect for you and my judgment concerning your ornaments, testified both before others, if any perhaps happen to read this, and before you. And those who are fair will not take it amiss, I hope, that I treat those very things which the most learned mathematicians have already encompassed in many books, since to those things which have been invented by others, something of our own is added: and we have followed (unless we are deceived) a more clear order, a more certain method, and more convenient ways of teaching: so that a completely new face and a new form of the art may emerge, prepared and adorned not so much for our own glory as for the benefit of others. For we have taken care that, while we hand down the truest precepts, verified by the antiquity of many ages, they could be grasped without error by the slower, and even most easily by the quicker. For it is of great importance (as you know) in what way, by what reason, and with what words we attempt to teach, so that obscurity may be either avoided or removed, and the labor and annoyance of reading may be diminished and lightened. What you are going to judge about the matter itself, I am clearly ignorant: I trust that my intention and effort will be approved by you. However, do not despise the earlier parts of the work on the account that they contain certain trite things, and things almost unknown to none of those who have learned letters: for from them the beginning had to be made, so that we might progress to higher things. First, therefore, is present what they call a Calendar, in which the Golden Number, the Sunday letter, and most other things are contained. There follows the true place of the Sun in the Zodiac for each day of the year, with a calculation adapted to the meridian of Verona and to the year of Christ 1562, to which we have annexed a certain series of time from sunset distributed into hours, minutes, and parts of hours, for investigating the degree ascending by day and by night, and for discovering night hours with the help of the stars. Next is shown at what hour of each day the Sun rises, and at what hour it occupies the meridian. Finally, certain stars are described corresponding to specific days, to which adhere these syllables signifying that those stars rise in the morning with the Sun, or set in the evening, or conversely, set in the morning, or rise in the evening. ma. ri. morning rise ma. se. morning set ev. se. evening set. To which we have also added their own numbers, so that their names, magnitudes, longitudes, and many other things can be found more easily in the table. After the Calendar follow its explanations together with all kinds of utilities and doctrines, which can be elicited from astronomy, which we have divided into six treatises. Therefore, if this labor of ours will have helped the studies of others, I will never regret it, and if it has brought you any pleasure or utility, I will rejoice vehemently that I have undertaken it. Farewell.