A decorative horizontal woodcut ornament at the top of the page, featuring two central roses flanked by scrolling foliage and floral motifs.

PREFACE.

Just as the judgments of men, due to confused notions of things, have not usually been the same regarding the very same matters, even those that are excellent and useful by their own nature, so it has always been from the memory of all mankind that judgments have varied regarding books and the libraries that arise from their abundance. There have not been wanting those who believed that no benefit or utility redounds to the human race from such costly collections of numerous volumes and codices, and indeed, they did not doubt that they bring the most certain detriment to the republic. For they believe that the body is exhausted by fatigue and, what is greater, that spirits are enervated, and that their manly fortitude, strength, and magnitude are not only weakened and broken, but thoroughly extinguished by the constant reading of books.