I think it is good that such remarkable things as these,which may never have been heard of or seen before,should come to the attention of many people instead of being buried away in the tomb of oblivion.Because it might turn out that someone who reads about them will like what he reads,and even people who only glance lightly through this book may be entertained.
Pliny says along these lines that there is no book--no matter how bad it is--that doesn't have something good in it.And this is all the more true since all tastes are not the same:what one man won't even touch,another will be dying to get.And so there are things that some people don't care for,while others do.The point is that nothing should be destroyed or thrown away unless it is really detestable;instead,it should be shown to everybody,especially if it won't do any harm and they might get some good out of it.
If this weren't so,there would be very few people who would write for only one reader,because writing is hardly a simple thing to do.But since writers go ahead with it,they want to be rewarded,not with money but with people seeing and reading their works,and if there is something worthwhile in them,they would like some praise.Along these lines too,Cicero says:"Honor promotes the arts."
Does anyone think that the first soldier to stand up and charge the enemy hates life?Of course not;a craving for glory is what makes him expose himself to danger.And the same is true in arts and letters.The
young preacher gives a very good sermon and is really interested in the improvement of people's souls,but ask his grace if he minds when they tell him,"Oh,what an excellent sermon you gave today,Reverend!"And So-and-so was terrible in jousting today,but when some rascal praised him for the way he had handled his weapons,he gave him his armor.What would he have done if it had really been true?
And so everything goes:I confess that I'm no more saintly than my neighbors,but I would not mind it at all if those people who find some pleasure in this little trifle of mine (written in my crude style)would get wrapped up in it and be entertained by it,and if they could see that a man who has had so much bad luck and so many misfortunes and troubles does exist.
Please take this poor effort from a person who would have liked to make it richer if only his ability had been as great as his desire.And since you told me that you wanted me to write down all the details of the matter,I have decided not to start out in the middle but at the beginning.That way you will have a complete picture of me,and at the same time those people who received a large inheritance will see how little they had to do with it,since fortune favored them,and they will also see how much more those people accomplished whose luck was going against them,since they rowed hard and well and brought their ship safely into port.
