Pauli Iovii Novocomensis opera quotquot extant omnia

Decorative initial letter N.IN the great and varied labors of my studies, ALEXANDER FARNESE, most eminent Senator, when I had reached a certain maturity of age and learning, the most abundant and noble fruit of all my vigils was proposed to me: that by publishing the monuments of my intellect, I might arrive at certain praise, since this seemed both honorable to the living and illustrious to the dead, provided that envy were plainly extinguished. Therefore, I strove vehemently, believing that this would not be lacking to me if such authority were added to our writings by the recommendation of men, so that they might be able to instruct and delight posterity with illustrious examples, copiously and gravely, and with dignity. I thought I had achieved this, with the gods kindly favoring my ingenuous labor, for the most part when I composed a History of the events of the whole world, having begun from the arrival of Charles VIII, King of France, in Italy, in an unbroken series up to this present year, in which we waver in a weak or certainly untrustworthy peace, and from the inveterate dissension of Princes, we forebode more deadly things, unless Pope Paul III, your grandfather, might opportunely assist matters with his pious wisdom and divine virtue. But although those things which we have written are judged to abound in precepts for all the chances of human life and for the discipline of military affairs, and to be of great benefit, it cannot be that they greatly delight when the fortune of this deadly century has been such that even for those who did not see them, they can in no way be read without the greatest sorrow and tears. For who, unless he is hardened and plainly barbaric, would not mourn Italy, burning in long-term war, stripped of her ancient dignity, despoiled of her liberty and wealth, and finally the City of Rome herself surrounded by wicked arms, the Prince of sacred things captured, and utterly overturned? Since we see no end to these evils and no hopeful peace, we must bravely and wisely bring about an oblivion of these most bitter things, and assume it as a healing medicine to soothe the pain. Therefore, having set aside histories and having composed my mind to cheerfulness, we shall not inaptly turn from the path of my former studies, and we shall turn ourselves with a softer style to a most pleasant labor of writing, so that we might bring pleasure not only to students, but also to delicate people languishing in leisure, through the novelty of a most pleasant and beautiful work. This, indeed, had long been thought out and weighed by me, and at the entreaty of friends, after having obtained rest from heavier duties at this turning point of life, I reserved it for tranquility and leisure as one truly retired. But you applied certain torches to my resting and sluggish genius, certainly most worthy of my desire and your virtue, when you judged that I should be adorned with an honorable priesthood, which I had desired in my homeland rather than hoped for. Therefore, the empires and regions of the whole known world, the wealth, talents, and deeds of Kings, the customs of nations, men famous for military virtue or letters, and finally the gifts and miracles of the earth, told in an illustrious order, shall be dedicated to your name, restoring to antiquity, for my part, even new names, which might seem laborious and difficult even to the most learned. Nor would I wish to be thought to have undertaken the duty of a generally obscure and difficult work by rashness and boldness rather than by a sure hope of strength and reason, since, being abundantly instructed in the aids of many arts and having lived in the light and pleasant familiarity of the greatest Popes and supreme kings, and finally relying on the memory of almost all the things of our age, we carry a sufficiently ample and clear light for ourselves even while we walk through darkness. This I would surely attribute to the majesty of the Roman City.