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FRANCISCI BEROALDI

AD LECTOREM

PRÆFATIO.

PREFACE OF FRANCISCUS BEROALDUS TO THE READER.

Decorative drop cap J featuring a floral motif.Jacques Besson of Dauphiné, a most ingenious mathematician of the King of the Gauls, so that he might draw from the most abstruse fountains of mathematical and mechanical arts, and cultivate those things which could most contribute to the Republic and satisfy the studies of the more distinguished minds; wished to scorn many inconveniences of life, to undergo many dangers, to undertake the longest and most difficult travels, to consume his entire age, to refuse no study or labor: which if he had wished to avoid, and fortified only by the authority of the Ancients and interpolated meditations from an early age, had intended to acquire fame for himself; he would not have attained that knowledge of abstruse things which he professed with all his strength for the utility of all. But among the monuments of a man of sublime genius and ingenious thoughts, constructed with wonderful artifice, the Theater of immense labor shows itself to be visited; filled with Instruments and Machines that are both pleasant to look at and most useful in operation. He hoped to add more Tables to this work for the sake of the studious, and to append an explanation that would teach those less exercised in mathematics. But since the memory of past labors, and the difficulty of those which he saw had to be undertaken; having very often placed the man in a precarious state of life, called him back from his project; fearing that this part might perish with him, he found certain most distinguished Artisans, and took care to have them engraved on copper plates, which we offer to you. But while he was attempting both the explanation of this laborious Theater, and an appendix of new inventions, and some other works of no inferior note; namely, the invention of geometrically proportionally consequent lines; the Elements of converting oblique magnitudes into straight ones, in two books; and in the third, the exercises of both, all discovered and devised with such keenness of genius, that indeed the most skilled in mathematics would affirm that nothing more useful had ever existed in mathematics: he ceased to live for himself and for others for whom he was born. Meanwhile, we wish all to be warned, that no picture of Instruments, no picture of Machines in this work, has been produced unless it is new and discovered by the labor of Besson (even if some, instructed by his familiar conversation, have not been ashamed to circulate certain things not very different) and also proven by experience, and furthermore propped up and surrounded by the firmest reasons and necessary arguments, both from mathematics and from physics: so that we dare affirm it is not the work of an idle or delicate man, or one educated in the shade: but of him who has endured many hard things, and has spent his greatest faculties: and to speak briefly, he will seem to labor under the disease of envy and ingratitude (unless he gives better things), to whom a work adorned with so many distinguished Machines and Instruments has not satisfied. But, most beloved Reader, since utility and delight are proposed as the scope for all human sciences; I thought it fair if I added some clear declaration to these Machines, whose Figures bring not small pleasure; so that those who are delighted not only by books, for the ornament of museums, but also by receiving emolument, may enjoy these. Wherefore if you are helped by this labor of mine, I will not only render these things which pertain to the Machines more lucid; but I will also briefly explain those things which pertain to the theory of mathematics; not in a vulgar way, but with God favoring, so that not only those who do not seem entirely incapable of these arts can perceive something briefly; but also so that the learned may be delighted. But lest I detain you longer, you will observe these things, if you wish to attain the meaning of my declaration: Namely, that I have established the East on the outer margin, the West on the opposite and inner one, the North at the head,