Having, most illustrious lord, seen and considered the experiments of all those who pose as1 masters in the art of inventing instruments of war, and finding that their inventions differ in no way from those in common use, I am emboldened, without prejudice to anyone, to solicit an appointment of acquainting your Excellency with certain of my secrets.
1. I can construct bridges which are very light and strong and very portable, with which to pursue and defeat the enemy; and others more solid, which resist fire or assault, yet are easily removed and placed in position; and I can also burn and destroy those of the enemy.
2. In case of a siege I can cut off water from the trenches and make pontoons and scaling ladders and other similar contrivances.
3. If by reason of the elevation or the strength of its position a place cannot be bombarded,2 I can demolish every fortress if its foundations have not been set on stone.
4. I can also make a kind of cannon which is light and easy of transport, with which to hurl small stones like hail, and of which the smoke causes great terror to the enemy, so that they suffer heavy loss and confusion.
5. I can noiselessly construct to any prescribed point subterranean passages either straight or winding, passing if necessary underneath trenches or a river.
6. I can make armoured wagons carrying artillery, which shall break through the most serried ranks of the enemy, and so open a safe passage for his infantry.
7. If occasion should arise,3 I can construct cannon and mortars and light ordnance in shape both ornamental and useful and different from those in common use.
8. When it is impossible to use cannon I can supply in their stead catapults, mangonels, trabocchi, and other instruments of admirable efficiency not in general use — In short, as the occasion requires3 I can supply infinite means of attack and defense.
9. And if the fight should take place upon the sea I can construct many engines most suitable either for attack or defense and ships which can resist the fire of the heaviest cannon, and powders or weapons.
10. In time of peace, I believe that I can give you as complete satisfaction as anyone else in the construction of buildings both public and private, and in conducting water from one place to another.
I can further execute sculpture in marble, bronze or clay, also in painting I can do as much as anyone else, whoever he may be.
Moreover, I would undertake the commission of the bronze horse, which shall endue with immortal glory and eternal honour the auspicious memory of your father and of the illustrious house of Sforza.
And if any of the aforesaid things should seem to anyone impossible or impracticable, I offer myself as ready to make trial of them in your park or in whatever place shall please your Excellency, to whom I commend myself with all possible humility.
illustrious adj. 显赫的
emboldened adj. [旧] 胆敢
solicit v. 请求
acquaint v. 告诉
your Excellency [敬语] （公爵）阁下
siege n. 围困
prescribed adj. 指定的
subterranean adj. 地下的
serried adj. [旧] 紧密排列的
infantry n. 步兵
ordnance n. 军需品
ornamental adj. 装饰用的
commission n. 委托，委任
endue v. [文] 赋予
immortal adj. 不朽的，不死的
eternal adj. 永存的
auspicious adj. 吉利的
aforesaid adj. 前述的
humility n. 谦恭
中译 达·芬奇致米兰大公书
显贵的大公阁下，我对那些冒充作战器械发明家的人所进行的试验作了观察和思考，发现他们发明的东西与平常使用的并无两样，故此斗胆求见阁下，以便面陈机密，但对他人不抱任何成见。
一、我能建造轻便、坚固、搬运便利的桥梁，可用来追逐和击败敌军；也能建造更坚固的桥梁，足以抵御敌军的炮火和进攻，并很容易运送和架设；我也能焚毁、破坏敌军的桥梁。
二、在围攻城池之际，我能切断护城壕的水源，还能制造浮桥、云梯和其他类似设备。
三、一个地势太高或位置有利，因而无法用炮火轰击的据点，只要地基不是建在石头上，我能摧毁它的每一个碉堡。
四、我还能制造一种既轻便又易于搬运的大炮，可用来投射小石块，犹似下冰雹一般，其中喷出的烟雾会使敌军惊惶失措，进而遭受沉重损失，并造成巨大混乱。
五、我能在任何指定地点挖掘地道，无论是直的或弯的，不出半点声响；必要时可以在护城壕和河流下面挖。
六、我能制造装有大炮的铁甲车，可用来冲破敌军最密集的队伍，从而打开一条向敌军步兵进攻的安全通道。
七、在必要情况下，我能建造既美观又实用的大炮、迫击炮和其他轻便军械，不同于通常所使用者。
八、不能使用大炮时，我能代之以弹弓、投石机、陷阱和其他效果显著的器械，不同于通常所用者——总之，必要时我能提供不胜枚举的进攻和防御器械。
九、倘若在海上作战，我能建造多种极其适宜于进攻和防守的器械，也能制造可以抵御最重型火炮攻击的兵船以及各种火药和武器。
十、在太平年代，我能营造公共建筑和民用房屋，还能疏导水源，自信技术绝不次于他人，而且保君满意。
此外，我还善于用大理石、青铜或陶土雕塑；在绘画方面，我也绝不逊色于当今任何一位画家。
我还愿意应承雕塑铜马的任务，它将为您已故的父亲和声名显赫的施福萨家族增添不朽的光彩和永恒的荣誉。
如果有人认为上述任何一项办不到或不切实际的话，我愿随时在阁下花园里或您指定的其他任何地点实地试验。谨以无限谦恭之忱，向阁下问安。
原来如此！
达·芬奇三十三岁那年，离开故乡佛罗伦萨（Florence）往米兰（Milan），致函当时统治米兰的施福萨（Lodovico Sforza, 1451-1508），自荐以求官职，获录用后，追随了施福萨十六年。
在信中，达·芬奇列出自己的多项技能，从建造作战用的桥梁，到制造新奇的武器，表现出他创新的意念和精细的思考。同时，他也考虑到太平时代的需要，自荐能营造公共建筑以至雕塑装饰。他的自信与他的天才同样引人注目。
妙笔生花
本信用了很多正式语句 (formal language) 以示恭敬，例如：
most illustrious lord（可简约为 sir）
I am emboldened to...（可简约为 I venture to...）
solicit an appointment of acquainting your Excellency（可简约为 find a chance to tell you, sir）
immortal glory and eternal honour（可简约为 lasting honour）
auspicious memory（可简约为 fond memory）
illustrious house（可简约为 well-known family）
增值英语
1 all those who pose as masters in the art...
句式 pose as (v-phr.) 指“扮成某样子”：
The spy posed as a reporter and gained entry into the summit meeting. 间谍装成记者，得以进入高峰会场。
2 ...a place cannot be bombarded
bombard (v.) 的意思是“轰炸，炮击”：
The enemy bombarded the city before dawn. 敌军在天亮前炮轰了该城。
bombard 也可用作比喻轰炸式的发问：
The reporter bombarded the President with hostile questions.
那个记者像发连珠炮一样对总统提出不友善的问题。
116
3 If occasion should arise, I can... / In short, as the occasion
requires I can...
句式 If occasion should arise,... 或 should the occasion arise,... 或 as the occasion requires,... 指“在必要情况下；如（情况）有需要的话”(= If there is a need ...)：
You may borrow my car should the occasion arise. 有需要的话，你可借用我的汽车。
Call for emergency assistance as the occasion requires. 在必要情况下请召唤紧急支持。
4 本篇有不少近义词：
跟“攻击”有关的词包括：
siege (n.) 围攻；assault (n./v.) / attack (n./v.) 攻击，袭击；bombard (v.) 轰击；demolish (v.) 摧毁。
其他近义词还有 besiege (v.) 围攻；destroy (v.) 毁坏；smash (v.) 砸碎。
与“建设”有关的词包括：
make (v.) 制造；construct (v.) 建造。
其他近义词还有 implement / carry out (v.) 推行；undertake (v.) 执行；utilize (v.) 运用；use (n./v.) 利用。