ðə bˈʊk bɪɡˈɪnz wɪð ɐ pɹˈɛfəs, ɪnðə fˈɔːɹm əvə mˈɛsɪdʒ tə hɪz sˈʌn sˈeɪsɑːɹ, fˈɑːloʊd baɪ ðə sˈɛntʃɚɹiz ðɛmsˈɛlvz.
The book begins with a preface, in the form of a message to his son César, followed by the Centuries themselves.