This page is the dedication. It is addressed to Johann Joachim von Seckendorf and his son, Ernst.

A decorative woodcut headpiece features scrolling foliage and flowers, with two cherubs flanking a central shield.

TO THE NOBLE AND

GENEROUS MAN, LORD JOHANN JOACHIM von Seckendorf in Ioxburg, Weissen-

dorf, & Trautskirchen, &c., Father,

AND TO THE

MOST NOBLE AND VIRTUOUS

Most adorned young man ERNEST von SECKEN-
DORF, &c., Son, who is happily keeping watch over the liberal arts at the Gymnasium of Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber: Andreas Libavius, Doctor of Medicine and Imperial Poet, &c., dedicates and presents these poems as a monument to them both.

To the Reader, Greetings.

I would have suppressed these poems, kind reader, had not grave causes compelled me to publish them; if I do not reveal them to you, do not take it amiss. Regarding the rest, you know that God, the Giver of all good things, is to be celebrated with songs; heroes, and especially the Emperor of unconquered majesty, by whose favor I hold the poetic laurel, are to be praised according to their merits; and the fatherland, friends, arts, and virtues are to be adorned, so that others, invited by such piety and heroic deeds, may be encouraged to strive more fervently for similar praise and to embrace honesty of conduct. I have not brought everything I composed into the light, lest you be burdened with excess baggage; indeed, some I have entrusted to others in such a way that I have lost possession of them entirely. And so, even though I searched for some at the request of friends, because they appeared nowhere, I was forced to omit them. In those that are published, I have taken diligent care not to be troublesome to any good person. But if, contrary to expectation, someone has been offended, let the spoken be unspoken. Farewell.

ANDREA