THE AUTHOR'S DEDICATION
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TO
HER SACRED IMPERIAL MAJESTY
MARIA TERESA OF AUSTRIA
EMPRESS OF GERMANY, QUEEN OF HUNGARY, BOHEMIA, &c. &c.
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Among the various arguments I revolved in my mind, inducing me to hope, that Your Sacred Majesty, according to your great condescension, would vouchsafe to receive favourably this Work of mine, which is proud to shelter itself under your august name, and humbly to crave your gracious patronage and protection; among all these arguments, I say, none has encouraged me to much as the consideration of your sex, to which Your Majesty id so great an ornament, and which, by good fortune, happens to be mine also. It is this consideration chiefly that has supported me in all my labours, and made me insensible to the dangers that attended so hardy en enterprise. For, if at any time there can be excuse for the rashness of a Woman, who ventures to aspire to the sublimities of a science, which knows no bounds, not even those of infinity itself, if certainly should be at this glorious period, in which a Woman reigns, and reigns with universal applause and admiration. Indeed, I am fully convinced, that in this age, an age which, from your reign, will be distinguished to latest posterity, every Woman ought to exert herself, and endeavour to promote the glory of her sex, and to contribute her utmost to increase that lustre, which it happily receives from Your Majesty; who, having diffused, on all sides, the fame and admiration of your actions, have obliged Mankind to apply to you, with much greater reason, what has been said of some of the antient Cæsars; - that, by the justice and clemency of your Government, you are an honour to human nature, and near resemblance of the divine. To those who, zealous for the glory of our sex, shall faithfully transmit to posterity the memory of your deeds; to those (I fay) I must leave to commemorate, how each accomplishment of the mind is united in Your Majesty with the most engaging gracefulness of person; to those I shall leave the arduous task to describe, the strength of your understanding, the extensiveness of your genius, but, above all, that signal fortitude, that invincible courage and constancy of mind, by which your derived fresh vigour, as it were, from your perils and persecutions themselves; and, after having been so severely tried by the hand of Providence at the beginning of your reign, gave at last so happy a reverse to your affairs. Neither will they fail to celebrate the engaging sweetness of your temper, your humane and compassionate disposition, nor that generous condescension with which, amidst the hurry and tumult of arms, your cherish and protect the arts and sciences; being duly sensible how greatly these redound to the public welfare; and that by these minds of men forcibly excited to the pursuit and practice of every social virtue. Hence it was, that the Sciences so early took possession of your mind, and that you became well acquainted with the whole circle of them. And though the busy cares and interruptions of Empire may have withdrawn you from your more studious applications, (Heaven having thought it too small a commendation for you, to be called the most knowing and learned Woman of your age,) yet fill your love of truth is not the less fervent; so that whoever employ themselves in the search of it, are sure to meet with distinguishing marks of your approbation.
Vouchsafe, therefore, Madam, to cast a favourable eye on this Performance of mine, not only as a work which comprehends the highest attempts of the human understanding, but also as the greatest tribute it was in my power to offer, to the glory of your auspicious reign; a reign which seems to revive the memory of former heroines, only to render your magnanimity, prudence, and good fortune, the more eminently conspicuous by the comparison. And if the Volume of Music, which my Sister has had the honour of presenting to Your Majesty, has been so fortunate as to excite your voice to melodious accents; let this be so happy as to have the desired effect, of employing sometimes the sagacity and penetration of your understanding,. As nothing more remains, but to implore of Heaven a long and happy continuance of your glorious reign, for the felicity of many nations subject to your command; I therefore prostrate myself, with all humility, at the foot of your Throne, and am
Your Majesty's
most humble,
most obedient,
and faithful servant,
Maria Gaetana Agnesi