The introduction to the book addresses potential readers with humility, acknowledging that it may not gain universal praise. It criticizes the common attitude of disregarding the value of knowledge found in books and the unwillingness to learn from those outside one's own field. The author uses colorful metaphors to illustrate the challenges of presenting a work on humanity and morals, highlighting the struggle between perceived high art and the practicalities of acquiring true understanding.
TO THE READER
This is to give our readers an understanding, not to assume that we shall gain great thanks from everyone. For in a book that involves key material about humanity and morals, it is easy to entangle and misrepresent. We may have very few modest readers. It seems that among humans, there is a persistent lack; those who are most concerned with something tend to do the least about it. Many artistic spirits, who have not achieved perfection, lack the understanding that reading and knowing everything is critical.
It is the illusion of many artists that what appears in the mind and in the management of hands is not found in books. Or if they thought someone might benefit from it, they would still hesitate to learn from someone who is outside of the practical exercise of the craft, unless they have thoroughly seen their work. It seems difficult for them to think that someone on land, outside of a ship, can better understand the navigation courses than someone inside it.
What then can we expect of such a disposition? Perhaps just as a lazy person who is more willing to paint us with disdain from their muck than to appreciate our work. As much as we try to keep the respect for an arrogant anatomist, there is fear that an uncouth doctor would prefer to baptize us with a urinal.
A degenerate farmer may think to find offense here, for although he is proficient in language, customs, or in the beauty or form of a roasted rooster, he will not learn that it is necessary to be ugly and unpleasant so that the beautiful and fine may be revealed.
These playful formulations that adorn the head with embellishments and frills—indeed, frippery upon frippery—will likely wish to toss a mirror or ointment jar at our heads, not allowing their faces to be unfashionably ornamented. Hence we record that young women can be graceful with all kinds of trinkets and poorly judged adornments.
Translation Notes:
Kours en voortgang: Refers to navigation courses and progression.
Pisglas: Literally a urinal, used here metaphorically and humorously to signify something unpleasant.
Ontleeders Vilmes: References to 'anatomist's films,' implying something dissected or scrutinized.