GIROLAMO

CARDANO, PHYSICIAN, TO ANDREAS

Never have I turned anything over in my mind so much, most learned Andreas, as how I might commend to posterity the names of those who deserve well of the liberal arts original: "bonis literis," literally "good letters," referring to the humanities and scholarly learning. Furthermore, I have applied a certain special diligence if such individuals have joined kindness to their erudition. For this reason, since I understand that you possess a no small knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin literature, but also of Mathematics, and since I have always found you to be most kind, it seemed that this work of mine could be dedicated to no one better than to you. From you, it can be corrected (if my hand, overstepping the command of my mind, has erred), read with pleasure, understood, and then indeed recommended with authority. This example, unless I am mistaken, others will also follow, and they will dedicate their works only to those learned in the specific art they treat. Accept, therefore, this perpetual testimony of my affection for you and your kindness toward me, as well as of your own excellent erudition. And although you are the kind of person whose own virtue makes you known to all, nevertheless—since Alexander and Caesar, though most famous for their deeds, desired to be inscribed in the monuments of others, and since Plato, who founded those marvelous works by his own merit, still desired to be praised in the writings of others—I hope this service of mine, such as it is, will not be unwelcome to you. For in these matters a certain fortune holds sway, and better things often perish while the worse are preserved. Whatever your judgment of this work may be, I am certain that I must fulfill my duty. And I wish it were possible to show, by a more illustrious example, my spirit toward all who possess that brilliance of mind which I have always recognized in you toward the scholars of our time. But perhaps a better occasion will be given; even if it is not, I would not want this one, whatever it may be, to be lost to me. Farewell. January 9 original: "v. Idus Ianuarias," the fifth day before the Ides of January., 1545. Pavia original: "Papia," the Latin name for the city of Pavia in Italy, where Cardano was a professor..