Polycarpus, Prologus

Cologne, Dombibliothek 126, fol. 3r

Ivo of Chartres, Prologue

In quo prudentem lectorem praemonere congruum duximus ut, if forte quae legerit, non ad plenum intellexerit, vel sibi invicem adversari existimaverit, non statim reprehendat; sed quid secundum rigorem, quid secundum moderationem, quid secundum iudicium, quod secundum misericordiam dicatur diligenter attendat.

In this we have been led to caution the prudent reader that if perhaps he should read some things that he may not fully understand, or judge them to be contradictory, he should not immediately take offense.  Instead he should diligently consider what pertains to rigor, to moderation, to judgment, or to mercy.