what is lowly, nor, because you are great, trample upon the lesser.
What is sought might not be in the offering, indeed

²⁰the intention is measured in the giving. Good will colors
what is discarded, dignifies what is worthless. A generous spirit
makes insignificant gifts equal to those that are great.

II. WORDS OF THE AUTHOR

¹An unskilled and simple mind feared the beginning,
amazed at the work's endeavor; it was in awe of its middle and end.
The sun blocked the stars; the noble theme confounded
the mirror of mental powers. Who expects delightful fruit

⁵from a dry tree, looks for the waves of a river
from hard marble, or hopes for delights from a poor table?
Because it is a thoughtless thing,
as lacking a word, needing sense, an impulse might inspire
glorious deeds, and the light of a new lamp

¹⁰might extol in poetic verse, where the Muse Maro would
go no further, and the tongue of any poet would become numb.^a
The intellect's powers grow faint, the sinful mind curbs
the tongue because it considers it profane for someone sordid
to extol the virgin's glories, the defiled the undefiled,

¹⁵the impure the pure,
the bulrush to speak about the flower.
But because fervent devotion prompts a thought,
that error might repeat, so that it comes to light,
I proceed with this work. I call upon the Author of all light

²⁰to rain upon, soak with a heavenly dew, and,
once the cloud of vices has taken flight, enlighten my mind.
May the light of light, the splendor or mirror of the Father,

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¹⁵Hec humili depicta stilo tua gratia, queso,
Dignetur penetrare tue dulcedinis aures;
Nec, quia summa decent te summum, spernere debes
Infima; nec, quoniam magnus, calcare minora.
Non quid in oblatis sit queritur, immo ferentis

²⁰Pensatur votum; que sunt abiecta colorat,
Vilia nobilitat affectus, parvaque mangnis
Munera muneribus equat generosa voluntas.

II — Verba a[u]ctoris

Principium metuit, operis fastigia mirans,
Mens rudis et sinplex, medium finemque veretur.

²⁵Sol celat stellas; confundit nobile thema
Ingenii speculum. Quis fructus poscat amenos
Arbore de sterili, vel quis de marmore duro
Fluminis exquirat undas, de paupere mensa
Speret delitias? Etenim temeraria res est,

³⁰Ut sermone carens, sensu mendicus, in eius
Almificos actus spiret, lumenque novelle
Lanpadis extollat metris, ubi musa Maronis
Sisteret, et quevis torperet lingua poete.
Languent ingenii vires, mens feda reatu

³⁵Offitium lingue frenat, censetque prophanum,
Virginis ut sordens maculis insignia promat,
Incestus castam, pollutus sorde carentem
Personet eloquio, scirpus de flore loquatur;
Set quia conceptum mentis, quem culpa relegat,

⁴⁰Quod fluat in lucem fervens devotio cogit,
Hoc opus aggredior. A[u]ctorem luminis omnis
Invoco, quod mentem celesti compluat inbre,
Imbuat, illustret, vitiorum nube fugata;
Adsit et huic studio lumen de lumine, Patris

⁴⁵Splendor seu speculum, sapientia, forma, figura;