Gleanings in Dialectics

Aldus Manutius to the studious youth. Greetings.

If, as the poet says, it is true that he is happy who has been able to know the causes of things, you, studious ones, will be too happy because of such a great abundance of good books, as there has never been at any time. For on all sides instruments for acquiring the liberal arts are present to us. You already have from us many Greek volumes, both in dialectics and in philosophy, so that, unless you fail yourselves, you can easily turn into most learned men and know the causes of things. Moreover, you do not lack excellent teachers, such as the ancient age produced, who may benefit you greatly by teaching and writing. Among them is Laurentius Maiolus of Genoa, a man especially learned and of wonderful talent. For he, hired at public expense in Ferrara, teaches philosophy with the highest praise. He is so endowed with good character that he is dear to everyone in that city, and especially to the divine Hercules d'Este Duke of Ferrara (1431–1505), a notable patron of the arts., who favors talented people in a wonderful way. And since he always writes accurately on something in the liberal arts and medicine, both for the sake of exercising his talent and especially to educate you, he sent these to me to be printed: things indeed very worthy of being known, but, as was fitting, not at all adorned with elegance. Therefore, I first refused and asked him to polish them, since he could perform that task as well as possible (for he is indeed learned in both Greek and Latin), and then send them to me. But since he pressed me kindly, now in person, now by letters, that they be printed even in this state, because he was compelled to publish them to satisfy his demanding students and friends, I finally accepted that I would do what he asked. I did so all the more eagerly because I did not doubt that they would be greatly beneficial to you. I have therefore appended his letters below, by which he asked me, so that you may know from them why he hurried to publish these for you with less elegance. It is therefore your task to unfold the night-work of such a great man with constant hand, until you do not regret how much you have progressed. Farewell.

A circular institutional stamp from the National Central Library of Florence. It depicts a central heraldic shield containing a cross, surmounted by a crown, and surrounded by the text "BIBLIOTECA NAZIONALE FIRENZE" National Library Florence.