Page:Ludovico Guicciardini - Description of the Low Countries.djvu/4

 age. Omnes assidue libros scribut, neq; ulla ætate tanta scribentiu & differentiu copia, tanta scientium atque eloquentiu suit inopia. The autority of which two grave authors together with mine owne opinion concurring with their judgement in this point, caused me a long time to forbeare the publishing of this Epitome of mine. But on the other side when I conidered, first that the subject of this booke containeth matter of state and government, which as saith Aristotle Eth.2. Principatum tenet in omnibus artibus. Secondarilie, that I shoulde but fight under the shielde of another man as Homer writeth of Teucer, Iliad.8. And thirdly, that the originall published by the author himselfe, is by the judgment of all the Politiques of this age esteemed as a pearle of peereles price.