Dedicatory Letter.

If you encounter so many and various subjects attached together that it does not seem that there is only one science In the 16th century, "science" (scientia) referred broadly to any organized body of knowledge or branch of learning. here, but rather a mixture—where it tastes of Dialogue, where of Comedy, where of Tragedy, where of Poetry, where of Oratory; where it praises, where it vituperates; where it demonstrates and teaches; where it has now the character of the Physicist original: Phyſico; here meaning a natural philosopher who studies the physical world., now of the Mathematician, now of the moralist, now of the logician—in conclusion, there is no kind of science that does not have some of its scraps here. Consider, My Lord, that the dialogue is historical original: hiſtoriale; Bruno suggests that while the dialogue is philosophical, it is also a narrative "history" of an actual event—a dinner party in London., wherein occasions, movements, passages, encounters, gestures, affects, discourses, proposals, responses, purposes, and absurdities are reported. By submitting everything to the rigor of the judgment of those four Referring to the four interlocutors of the dialogue: Theophilus (the philosopher), Smitho (the English gentleman), Prudenzio (the pedant), and Frulla (the jester)., there is nothing that cannot come to the point for you with some reason.

Consider also that there is not an idle word: because in all parts there is something to harvest, and to unearth things of no mediocre importance, and perhaps more so where it least appears. As for that which presents itself on the surface: those who have given us the occasion to create the dialogue—and perhaps a Satire and Comedy—have a way to become more circumspect when they measure men with that same yardstick with which one measures velvet A metaphor for judging a person's worth based on their expensive clothing or outward status rather than their character., and balance souls with a scale meant for metals.

Those who will be spectators or readers, and who will see the way in which others are touched, have the opportunity to become wise and learn at another’s expense. Those who are wounded or stung will perhaps open their eyes, and seeing their own poverty, nakedness, and unworthiness—if not for love, then at least for shame—they might correct or cover themselves, if they do not wish to confess.

If it seems to you that our Theophilus and Frulla touch the backs of certain "supposed" original: ſuppoſiti; likely referring to people who "suppose" themselves to be important or learned, but are not. people too heavily and rigidly, consider, My Lord, that these animals do not have such tender hides;