De nobis ipsis silemus: De re autem quae agitur, petimus: ut homines eam
non opinionem, sed opus esse cogitent; ac pro certo habeant, non sectae
nos alicuius, aut placiti, sed utilitatis et amplitudinis humanae fundamenta
moliri. Deinde, ut suis commodis aequi . . . in commune consulant . . . et
ipsi in partem veniant. Praeterea, ut bene sperent, neque Instaurationem
nostram ut quiddam infinitum et ultra mortale fingant, et animo concipi-
ant; quum revera sit infiniti erroris finis et terminus legitimus. ¹

About myself I am silent. But regarding the matter at hand, I ask people
to consider it not an opinion, but a work; let me assure them that I en-
deavor to lay the foundation not for any sect or dogma, but for the ben-
efit and greatness of humanity. Moreover, I ask that people, in their own
interest, [give up the rivalries and prejudices regarding opinions and] be
mindful of the common good; [and that] they themselves, [being now
freed and protected by the safeguards and aids I have provided against
errors and impediments in the methods,] also take part [in the tasks that
remain]. Finally, I ask them to have confidence, and not to imagine and
construe my Instauration as something [unending or] infinite and su-
prahuman, when it is in fact unending error's end and proper boundary.
(All translations given in footnotes are my own, though I do not say so
on each occasion.)]

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