Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arido modo pumice expolitum ?
Corneli ,tibi : namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas
iam tum ,cum ausus es unus Italorum
omne aevum tribus explicare chartis ,
doctis ,Iuppiter ,et laboriosis .
quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli ,
qualecumque ,quod ,o patrona virgo ,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo .

To whom do I gift ( this ) charming new little book
polished up just now with dry pumice ?
Cornelius ! ( I gift it ) to you : for you were accustomed
to think that my nothings were something
already then ,when you alone of the Italians dared
to unwind the entire eternity in three scrolls ,
learned ones ,by Jupiter ,and laborious .
for which reason have for yourself whatever ( kind ) of a little book this ( is ) ,
whatever nature ( it is ) ,which - O Virgin patroness -
may it remain perennial more than one generation .