Observatio & demonstratio cometae aetherei, qui anno 1577 et 1578 constitutus in sphaera veneris, apparvit, cum admirandis eius passionibus, varietate scilicet motus, loco, orbe, distantia à terrae centro, &c. adhibitis demonstrationibus geometricis & calculo arithmetico, cuiusmodi de alio quoquam cometa nunquam visa est

And he did so that the memory of him might not perish. Nevertheless, it is a common fault of most that they have turned away from the true path of achieving immortality, and thus the memory of many has perished, for death comes even to stones and marble. When saner peoples understood this, they taught that true eternity consists not in those things that adorn the body, but in those that polish the mind, and which also contribute to the use of the whole of human life. Hence, the liberality of Alexander the Great, by which he spent 800 talents for Aristotle to investigate the nature of animals and other sciences beneficial to the human race, is celebrated with greater praise than the fact that he conquered the whole world in a short time. Yet, not content with this, he wept when he heard from a certain philosopher that there remained many other worlds which he could not subdue.

Alfonso, King of Spain, who through his liberality illustrated many arts, especially the mathematical, and who is reported to have spent 40,000 gold pieces on the construction of celestial tables of motion, is much more alive today than are others who, having slain many thousands of enemies, expanded their dominion on land and sea, whose names and deeds all posterity ignores. Thus, the inventors of arts and crafts have earned eternal names.

However, in the Holy Scriptures, the true method of pursuing eternity is shown: not only the life to follow, obtained through the Redeemer, but also that of this age (of which I speak at present), namely through the holiness of life, keeping the true worship of God with all one's heart, and entrusting those sincere and uncorrupted teachings to the coming generation. Hence, the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles always live for us. Hence, before the end of the world, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, and others who sought the Lord God with their whole heart and restored true worship do not grow old. Nor without merit were they praised perpetually, since through their doctrine and writings we too are led to the way of truth.

Yet this method of transmitting memory to posterity, though today, alas, it resides in the hearts of few, God nevertheless, who cares for the Church liberated by His own blood, has reserved for Himself some who labor vigorously in whatever conduces to the glory of His name and the salvation of the Church, and who secure for themselves an everlasting memory. Among these, Most Illustrious Prince, most clement Lord, Your Highness, insisting on the paternal footsteps, certainly holds not the last place. For since the Most Illustrious Duke Christopher, your progenitor, whose noble name no duration of time will ever obliterate, out of the duty of a prince, not only looked to the present state of the Churches and Schools of his age, but also, so that he might provide for posterity, applied the first care and arranged seminaries and storehouses from which those might emerge who would be substituted in the places of the deceased, and thus the true doctrine of the Gospel would be handed down to future men as if from hand to hand: Your Highness, whom the pious prince left a worthy heir to the Duchy, does not decline from this paternal zeal; rather, with an equal, if not more ardent affection, you procure whatever serves the emolument of the Schools and the Church of God.