Book of the Magistrates of the Athenians

by which they defended the rights of others without any prejudice. One will see how they were in procuring those things that would be found in honor and utility for their happy Republic. One will see the orders they had for Magistrates, which, just as they are admirable and full of infinite judgment, so also have they been imitated by the Romans and are imitated by this most immortal and well-instituted Republic of ours, which excels others in counsel and prudence just as the sun with its brightest rays occupies all other eternal and celestial lights. This, therefore, I send under the name of Your Lordship to the world, as something I know to be so venerable among everyone that there will be none who would be bold enough to answer me. Furthermore, I do not know to whom such a gift would be more suitable than Your Lordship. Nor does it occur to me to recount the reasons in this place; suffice it to say only that the undefeated Guidobaldo Guidobaldo II della Rovere, most deserving Duke of Urbino, makes you privy to his secrets, and uses you as an instrument of his immortal intellect. I know he is such a personage; and were I not to know the infinite humanity of Your Lordship, I would not have had the daring to set myself to such an enterprise. If you give me courage for it with your courtesy, let the blame be given not to me, but to your gentle nature, which inclines everyone to love you. I, therefore, in gifting this volume to you, gift you my service, and humbly I commend myself to Your Lordship, to whom may God long increase years and contentment. On the 28th of July, 1544.