Dedicatory Letter

...ings most perfectly to life; nonetheless, we are not accustomed to despise the portrait and the representation of them. Moreover, I am certain that your noble mind will direct the eye of consideration more to the gratitude of the affection with which it is given, than to the gift of the hand that offers it to you. This work is directed toward you, who are closer and show yourself more propitious and favorable to our Nolan The Nolan: A nickname Giordano Bruno used for himself, referring to his birthplace, Nola, near Naples., and therefore you have made yourself the most worthy subject of our respects in this climate, where merchants without conscience or faith easily become Croesuses Croesus: The King of Lydia, legendary for his immense wealth; here Bruno implies that in England, unscrupulous merchants gain unearned riches.; and the virtuous without gold are not unlike Diogeneses Diogenes: The famous Cynic philosopher who lived in poverty in a tub, emphasizing virtue over material wealth.. To you, who with such magnificence and liberality have welcomed the Nolan to your roof, and to the most eminent place in your house; where, if this land—instead of sending out a thousand grim giants Bruno often referred to the pedantic scholars of Oxford as "giants" or "pedants" who lacked true intellectual light.—produced as many Great Alexanders Alexander the Great: The Macedonian conqueror who, according to legend, sought out the philosopher Diogenes., you would see more than five hundred come to court this Diogenes, who by the grace of the stars has no one but you who might come to block the sun original: leuar il sole; a reference to the famous anecdote where Diogenes asked Alexander the Great to step aside so as not to block his sunlight.—if indeed (so as not to make him poorer than that Cynic rogue) fortune sends some direct or reflected ray into that hole you know of. It is consecrated to you, who in this Britain represent the height of so magnanimous, so great, and so powerful a King Referring to King Henry III of France, whom Castelnau represented as ambassador., who from the most noble breast of Europe, with the voice of his fame, makes the farthest hinges of the earth resound. He who, when he growls in anger like a Lion from his high cave, brings mortal fear and horror to the others—powerful predators of these forests—and when he rests and is quiet, sends forth such a glow of liberal and courteous love that it inflames the nearby Tropic, warms the frozen Bear The Bear: Refers to the constellation Ursa Major, symbolizing the cold northern regions., and dissolves the rigor of the Arctic desert, which revolves under the eternal guardianship of fierce Boötes Boötes: A northern constellation often called the "Herdsman" or "Bear-Driver.". FAREWELL.