Authors/Oswald Crollius
From Theatrum Paracelsicum
< Authors
Personal Bibliography
Dedications, Prefaces, Postfaces
- Dedicatory Letter, 1608, Oswald Crollius to Christian I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg; Latin
- Source: Oswald Crollius, Basilica chymica, Frankfurt am Main: Claude de Marne and Johann Aubry (heirs), 1609, sig. (:)2r–(:)5r [BP.Crollius.1609-01]
- Crollius emphasizes the long-standing custom of presenting new books to princes and noblemen, who are deemed most deserving of receiving and understanding profound mysteries. This practice is portrayed as a means of safeguarding the work from the slander of envious detractors, under the protective patronage of a distinguished figure.
He positions Prince Christian not only as a worthy recipient of his work due to his high status and virtues but also highlights the Prince's intellectual capacity and discernment, qualities that make him an ideal protector and patron of scholarly endeavors. The letter touches on themes of wisdom, virtue, and the pursuit of knowledge, suggesting that Christian's understanding and appreciation of the divine, natural, and self-knowledge place him among the rare and commendable leaders of their time.
Furthermore, Crollius alludes to the broader intellectual pursuits of the age, including the study of Kabbalah, magic, and theurgy, as noble endeavors that align with the pursuit of true wisdom. He expresses hope that his work, under Christian's patronage, will contribute to the recognition and celebration of the ineffable goodness, wisdom, and power of the Holy Trinity. The letter concludes with a flourish of praise for the Prince, invoking a spiritual and intellectual journey towards a higher unity and knowledge, and bestowing blessings and honor upon Christian as a patron of the arts and sciences.
- Crollius emphasizes the long-standing custom of presenting new books to princes and noblemen, who are deemed most deserving of receiving and understanding profound mysteries. This practice is portrayed as a means of safeguarding the work from the slander of envious detractors, under the protective patronage of a distinguished figure.
Notices, Editorial Remarks etc.
Poems
- Poem, Oswald Crollius to Bernard Gilles Penot; Latin
- Source: Tractatus varii, de vera praeparatione et usu medicamentorum chymicorum, ed. Bernard Gilles Penot, Frankfurt am Main: Johann Feyerabend for Peter Fischer, 1594, sig. K8v [BP.Penot.1594-01]
- The poem promises the revelation of alchemical secrets once known only to sages like Hermes Trismegistus. It suggests that the reader, if sufficiently insightful, will gain access to profound wisdom and hidden truths about nature.
