To Master Symphorien Champier

...that I might prove my spirit and my loyalty to you—to you, I say, the living image of virtue. It was not without the best of reasons that you were promoted to such excellent honors; indeed, you are a great ornament to those honors, rather than they being an ornament to you. But who could wonder that you are so greatly devoted to virtue, which is (as they say) baked into the very roots of your lineage? It is certainly a great help toward virtue to be born of good and famous parents. For young men who possess any natural talent are accustomed to emulate the dignity of their ancestors so that they do not seem to degenerate, and they aspire to the happiness of their fathers' praises. Thus the name of Philip spurred on Alexander; thus the fame of Julius Caesar excited Octavius. Thus, finally, Pyrrhus The son of Achilles, also known as Neoptolemus. was courageous because of the image of his father, Achilles. original: "Pyrrhus Achilleides erat animosus imagine patris." A reference to Ovid or similar classical sentiment regarding hereditary bravery.

You also, most distinguished father, although you embrace and love virtue under the guidance of God and nature and by your own striving efforts, are nevertheless moved in no small way by the images of your ancestors. To equal their character and virtue is as difficult as it is beautiful and most praiseworthy. Truly, you have not only equaled your ancestors, but by daring and by doing, you have grown and brought them even greater luster. And although concerning you and your ancestors...