The page is aged with some foxing and darkened paper, though the text remains clearly legible.

must I let those judge according to their five-foot-wide understanding, as then of this lineage, some Stultiores Meletide foolish Meletides (a proverbial simpleton)—recently crawled out from behind the stove—scurrilous brothers, whose understanding stretches barely three steps beyond the donkey's rump; especially Mr. Nasutus the sharp-nosed/cynical one, Thersis and a few other Sesoli, Zoilisten Zoilists/envious critics and Momisten mockers, (whom I will name and make more recognizable in my next-coming treatise,) have pointed their long ears excellently over my matters, sharpened their poisonous adder-tongues, and endeavored excellently to pelt the same through their devilish snake-spirits with childish and foolish vices, libels, and offal-talk, which I, however, will not let trouble me, then as the highly wise Roman moral-teacher Cato writes:

A mind conscious of right laughs at the lies of fame,

But rather, I have published and urged this little work—set up for God's honor and the youth's learning—for the benefit of my highly inclined reader who is in need of this knowledge, in defiance of them, the slandering mouths. The rest I leave until then to the Recompenser of all good and Avenger of all evil (whose dearest son had to suffer a level of this from the parishioners of Hell), comforting myself with Plinio Pliny: that the utility of helping is to be preferred to the grace of pleasing.

Herewith I wish to include the highly inclined reader in the grace-protection of the Almighty, for all self-choosing bodily and soul-prosperity, but myself in your well-inclination and favor-inclination; waiting longingly to prove myself,

Alhardus Moller/