Original "copy from negative supplied by Cadiz" (E. Whitaker)

Also known as Hieronymus Sirturus.

Hieronymus Sirtalis e Societate Iesu benigno inspectori S.

Nemo me iure reprehenderit, quod editis tot iam doctissimorum hominum lunae descriptionibus, poluerim ipse nouam hanc euisdem sideris faciem describendam curauerim; nam quominus tot eruditi oris me laboris acquisiuerim, illud in causa fuit, nempe animaduerti eram lunam ipsam, etiam cum pleno orbe micat, non eodem sibi uultu constare, sed turmis in modum agitari, et quodam oris sui uertigine laborare; quo factum est, ut priores illi selenographi, non tam suo fortasse, quam lunae uiuo inimitabili caligauerint, ac proinde nouam aliquam circa le diligenri lunae delinere, certis: siue enim est, quodam notabili nutu feliciter laborauit, ut omnem in dulci iucundum politia praeparerint. Hoc me igitur ad hanc, nec in animum, ut ueror, cum quoad eius fieri posset ac uisibilem, et suo cum facie lunae delinereatur. Tam quid sim supra ceteros affequutus, non est, cur multis hic uerba faciam; ad oculos modo, iube ipse, qui quis hic nostra spectat, cum aliis laborare uolueris; neque uero id, quantulum demum cuique sit operis, diligentiis meum mea, sed singulari etiam Eustachij de Diuinis industriae refero acceptum, cuius in optica crystallo uel horum elaborando subtilissimis conatibus Malamici in uniuersi multum le debere non negant. Iuuat ego optici instrumenti adiutus ad rem suam aggredior, ac multa, quae omnium oculis uisa sunt, uerum depraehendi; non tam enim, neque enim far lud, aut exit uiuam lucidis uelocitate sideris lucere omnia) atque diligenti opera cuiusdam e nostra Societate fideliter expressenda curauit. Quae ita ipse delinere uideri, omnia cum fide ex ipso lunari globo tanquam exemplari transcripta sunt, aliis tamen te manum uelim, non me uerum omnium plenissimum nec hoc dare, neque enim solem uiuo sunt omnia, sed quidam mentis proxime uertitur lacri lunus, ac peculiaris anni MDCLI. Iunium, his notis tibi labores, oriri ent, uere, ac Dale. Iacob' Thourno Sculp. Sup. permissu.

English Translation:

To the kind Inspector Hieronymus Sirtalis of the Society of Jesus, S.

No one may rightly reproach me because, after so many descriptions of the Moon published by very learned men, I have taken care to have this new image of the same star engraved; for the reason I undertook this labor was precisely this: I noticed that the Moon herself, even when she shines with her full orb, does not always present the same face, but is agitated as if by troops, and suffers a kind of vertigo in her appearance. Thus it happened that earlier selenographers were perhaps not so much mistaken in themselves as blinded by the living, inimitable haze of the Moon itself. And therefore I undertook to draw a new and more careful delineation of the Moon...

...Whether I have achieved more than the others, there is no need to speak at length here; let the eyes themselves judge, whoever looks at our work. In this I also owe a great deal to the singular industry of Eustachio de Divini in optics, whose very subtle efforts with crystal lenses many do not deny have greatly benefited universal learning. Aided by this optical instrument, I therefore approach the task, and I have carefully observed many things that have appeared to the eyes of all.

I have taken care that these things, which I myself have seen and drawn, should be faithfully copied from the lunar globe itself as from a model, and expressed with diligent work by a certain member of our Society.

All these things were transcribed with faith from the lunar globe as from an exemplar. However, I would not wish to give everything with my own hand, nor could I give the fullest account of all things, for not everything is visible at the same time, but certain parts of the mind turn nearest to the lunar light... in the year MDCLI [1651], in the month of June...

Engraved by Giacomo de Rossi with superior permission.