Dedication, 1572-03-15, Michael Toxites to Georg Hund von Wenkheim
| Author: | Michael Toxites |
| Recipient: | Georg Hund von Wenkheim |
| Type: | Dedication |
| Date: | 15 March 1572 |
| Place: | Hagenau |
| Pages: | 10 |
| Language: | German |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2011 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Paracelsus, De Lapide Philosophorum, Drey Tractat, ed. Michael Toxites, Straßburg: Nicolaus Wiriot 1572, sig. ¶2r-¶6v [BP140]
|
| CP: | Not in Kühlmann/Telle, Corpus Paracelsisticum |
| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Abstract: | The writer discusses the the Philosopher's Stone, which is a valuable treasure given to humans by God that can purify human blood and cure all illnesses. It can also purify metals, making impure and incomplete metals complete. The writer compiled what Theophrastus Paracelsus left behind on the Philosophical Stone in a booklet for comparison with other writings. The writer emphasizes the importance of preserving one's health, which is more valuable than silver and gold, and encourages the search for understanding the mystery of the Philosophical Stone with the help of God's blessing. However, the physicians of the writer's time do not want to accept that Theophrastus is somewhat severe in this booklet, as he only refers to the sophists who have no attachment to the truth, and he does not regard them in any way. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
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[sig. ¶2r] Dem Hochwürdigsten Fürsten vnnd Herren/ Herrn Georgen/ des Hochmeysterthumbs inn Preüssen Administrator/ vnd Meyster des Teütschen Ordens in Teutschen vnd Welschen Landen/ meinem Gnedigsten Herren.
Hochwirdigster Fürst/ Gnedigster Herr/ Es tragen E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] sonder zweiffel gnedigsts wissen/ wie das alle gůtte ding das glück in der Welt haben/ bey hoch vnnd nider stands Personen/ das sie der merer theyl vngeacht/ etwan gar veracht bleiben/ Vnd wiewol ich vil exempel dessen darthon möchte/ Dieweil aber auß Hochem Fürstli- [sig. ¶2v] chem verstand E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] solches besser wissen/ dann ich es schreiben kan/ So will ich allein von dem Lapide Philosophico allhie reden/ der bey dem mehrer theil nicht anderst/ dann mit dem nammen bekannt ist.
Dann wiewol er das höchste kleinot ist/ das dem menschen von Gott dem Herren verlihen ist/ ausserhalb der ewigen seeligkeit/ daher jn[c1] dann auch Theophrastus in disem ersten Tractatu, von wegen des menschlichen leibs/ ein Balsamum nennet/ jedoch bleibt er vnder dem banck ligen/ vnd seind wenig leüt/ auch vnder den Gelehrten vnd hochuerstendigen/ die nit/ wann man dessen gedenckt/ darüber lachen/ als wann es ein lär[e1] gedicht/ vnd [sig. ¶3r] traum/ oder keinem menschen zůergründen were.
Von disem Lapide haben vil Gelehrter leüt geschriben/ in vilerley spraachen/ einer besser/ klärer/ vnnd verstendtlicher dann der ander/ die laß ich alle in jrem werdt bleiben.
Dieweil aber Theophrastus Paracelsus/ was er bey den alten gefunden/ in vil weg verbessert/ auch vil ding gar auff ein newe weiß geschriben hatt/ So hab ich/ was er de Lapide Philosophico nach seim todt verlassen/ in diß büchlin zůsammen setzen wöllen/ damit alle die so es lesen/ ein vergleichung erstlich seiner schrifften/ vnnd dann auch mit den andern haben mögen.
Das Manual ist zů vor nye [sig. ¶3v] außgangen/[c2] de Tinctura Planetarum ist ein mal getruckt worden/ aber vnuolkomen vnd imperfect/ vnd ist das beste außgelassen worden/ wie man ex collatione sehen wirdt.
Es wöllen etlich/ das diser Tractatus Tinctura Planetarum nit Theophrasti sey. Dieweil ich aber glaubwirdig bericht/ das Theophrasti handt schrifft dises büchlins bey einem Bauren vorhanden/ hab ichs perfect/ vmb des Arguments willen/ zů den andern zweyen hieher zůsetzen/ nicht vnderlassen wöllen.
So vil dann das Argument tugend/ vnd würckung Lapidis Philosophorum belangt/ bekennen alle Philosophi/ das er zwo tu- [sig. ¶4r] genden an jme habe: Erstlich das er des menschen geblüt auff die höchste gesundtheit tingiere/ vnd alle kranckheiten vertreibe/ darum er dann auch dem menschen von Gott dem Allmechtigen fürnemlich gegeben/ vnnd von Theophrasto in dem Manuali der rechte Balsamus genent worden ist. Die ander tugendt vnd würckung geht auff die metallen/ damit die vnrainnen/ vnuolkomne metallen gereinigt/ vnnd volkommen werden/ Dann was des menschen leib tingiert/ das tingiert auch die metallen/ vnd ist eins so leicht als das ander/ Was aber die Philosophi/ vnnd auch Theophrastus metalla imperfecta nennet/ das zaigt er an in libro Ve- [sig. ¶4v] xationum, vnnd in Tractatu de Mineralibus, so ich vor diser zeyt in truck außgehn lassen/[b1] vnd werden in disem vil betrogen die vermeinen auß Bley/ Zyn/ Eisen/ Kupffer &c. Gold vnd Sylber zů machen/ wissen nicht das die selbigen metalla jr form vnd perfection zů vor haben/ vnnd das andere metalla imperfecta sein müssen/ die zů der transmutation gehören.
Vmb der ersten tugendt willen/ solten billich alle Medici mit höchstem fleiß sůchen/ ja alle Fürsten vnd Herren sůchen lassen/ damit man den verstand dises Mysterij Lapidis Philosophici möcht erlangen/ mit ernstlichem gebett zů Gott dem Herren/ dessen gaab ist er/ der laßt jm ein so hochen [sig. ¶5r] schatz nit abötten/ sonder gibts denen/ die jhn fleissig darumb bitten/ die da sůchen vnd anklopffen/ vnd ein gůtten fürsatz haben/ das sie dem nächsten damit zů der ehren Gottes dienen wöllen/ Derhalben kompt gar selten einer zů dem begerten endt dises wercks/ dabei man die fürsehung Gottes klärlich spüret/ der den mißbrauch diser herrlichen gaaben keins wegs gestattet/ sonst ist vns Gott der Herr nicht so vngnedig/ das er zů diser zeytt niemands zů dises hohen mysterij erkanntnus kommen lassen wölle.
Es würt aber keinen so schlecht ankommen als er meint/ Es will erstlich darzů gehören erfarenheit deren ding/ so darzů von nö- [sig. ¶5v] ten/ alls erkanntnus der natürlichen ding/ vnnd des fewrs/ darumb arbeit vnd übung dar zů gehört/ zů dem andern aber fürnemlich Gottes segen/ den wir durch ernstlich/ vnd vnablessig gebett erlangen müssen.
Dieweil dann dises arcanum Lapidis vns fürnemlich darumb von Gott gegeben worden/ dz wir langes leben dardruch erhalten vnnd alle kranckheytten vertreiben mögen/ So hab E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] ich diß büchlin Theophrasti de Lapide Philosophico darum wöllen zů schreiben/ das E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] gnedigst wöllen bedencken/ was für ein vnaußsprechlichen schatz das sein würde/ so dises arcanum in das werck gerichtet würdt/ dann was hochers[c3] mag [sig. ¶6r] dem menschen widerfaren/ dann die gesundtheit/ on welche das lang leben/ mehr ein täglich sterben/ dann ein leben ist/ was kan der mensch außrichten/ so er mit kranckheiten überladen ist? wie vil zeyt/ vnnd weil/ wie grossen kosten wendet man an ein bergwerck/ dsa doch allein zů den leibs narung gehört/ wie vil mer solten wir sorgfeltig sein/ die gesundtheit zů erhalten/ die über alles sylber vnd gold ist? Das wölle E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden] gnedigst bedencken/ vnnd diß klein Büchlin in gnaden auffnemen/ vnd wider die verächter schutzen vnd schirmen/ damit der alten Philosophorum studium, ein mal wider ahn tag kämme/ Dann die selbigen nichts mehr vnd fleißiger gesůcht [sig. ¶6v] haben/ dann gsundtheit/ vnnd langes leben/ welche zwey nach der säligkeit/ des menschen höchster schatz sein sollen.
Es wöllen sich aber die Medici nostri temporis nicht annemen/ dz Theophrastus in disem büchlin ettwas hefftig ist/ dann er allein die Sophistas meinet/ vnd die keins wegs die der warheit anhangen/ acht nicht/ das jemand werdt darwider sein/ so die abusus gescholten werden/ welches dann allwegen Theophrasti propositum gewesen ist. Datum Hagenaw den xv. Martij. M. D. LXXII.
E[uer] F[ürstlich] G[naden]
Vnderthenigster Michaël Schütz/ genant Toxites, Medicinæ Doctor.
Apparatus
Word Explanations
- ↑ lär] leer; https://fwb-online.de/lemma/ler.s.4adj
Corrections
Bibliography
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT on 25 March 2023. Attention: This translation is a machine translation by artificial intelligence. The translation has not been checked and should not be cited without additional human verification.
To His Most Reverend Prince and Lord, Lord George, Administrator and Master of the German Order in German and Romance Lands, my most gracious lord.
Most Reverend Prince, Gracious Lord, without doubt Your Grace is aware that all good things have fortune in the world among high and low status persons, though the majority of them are often overlooked or even despised. While I could give many examples of this, Your Grace's high princely understanding undoubtedly knows better than I could write. Therefore, I will only speak of the Philosophical Stone, which is known by no other name to most people.
Although it is the most valuable treasure that God has bestowed upon humans, second only to eternal salvation, which Theophrastus calls a balm in this first treatise on the human body, it remains hidden and few people, even among the learned and highly knowledgeable, take it seriously, often laughing as if it were a silly poem, a dream, or something that no one can truly comprehend.
Many learned people have written about this Stone in various languages, with some being better, clearer, and more understandable than others, but I will leave them all in their original language.
However, since Theophrastus Paracelsus improved on what the ancients had found and wrote many things in a new way, I have compiled what he left behind on the Philosophical Stone in this booklet so that those who read it can compare his writings with others.
The Manual has not been published yet, and the Tinctura Planetarum has been printed once but is incomplete and imperfect, with the best part omitted, as can be seen from comparison.
Some believe that this Tractatus Tinctura Planetarum is not Theophrastus's work. However, since I have credible information that Theophrastus's handwritten copy of this book was found with a farmer, I did not want to omit it for the sake of argument and add it to the other two.
Regarding the virtues and effects of the Philosophers' Stone, all philosophers acknowledge that it has two virtues. Firstly, it purifies human blood to the highest degree of health and cures all illnesses, which is why it is primarily given to humans by Almighty God and is rightly called a balm by Theophrastus in the Manual. Secondly, it purifies metals, making impure and incomplete metals complete. What it does for the human body, it does for metals, as easily as one does the other. However, what the philosophers and Theophrastus call imperfect metals is explained in the book Vexationum and in the Tractatus de Mineralibus, which I published before this time. Those who believe that they can make gold and silver from lead, tin, iron, copper, etc., are deceived because those metals have their own form and perfection, and other imperfect metals are needed for transmutation.
For the sake of the first virtue, all physicians should diligently seek, and all princes and lords should encourage the search for, the understanding of the mystery of the Philosophical Stone, with earnest prayer to God, who is the giver of this gift. He does not withhold such a great treasure from those who earnestly seek and knock, and who have the intention to serve their fellow human beings and bring honor to God. Therefore, very few reach the desired end of this work, and we clearly feel God's providence, who does not allow the misuse of these magnificent gifts. However, God is not so unkind as to deny anyone the knowledge of this high mystery at this time.
But no one should be discouraged, as it requires experience and knowledge of natural things and fire, as well as hard work and practice. Above all, it requires God's blessing, which we must obtain through earnest and unwavering prayer.
Since this arcanum of the Stone was primarily given to us by God so that we may have long life and cure all illnesses, I have written this booklet on Theophrastus's Philosophical Stone so that Your Grace may kindly consider what an unspeakable treasure it would be if this arcanum were put into practice. For what can be more beneficial to humans than health? Without it, a long life is more like daily dying than living. What can one achieve if one is burdened with illnesses? How much time and money do we spend on mines that only provide us with food for the body? We should be much more careful in preserving our health, which is more valuable than silver and gold. Your Grace should kindly consider this and receive this little booklet with grace, and protect it against the despisers, so that the study of the ancient philosophers may once again come to light. For nothing has been sought after more diligently by them than health and long life, which are second only to salvation as the highest treasure of humankind.
However, the physicians of our time do not want to accept that Theophrastus is somewhat severe in this booklet, as he only refers to the sophists who have no attachment to the truth, and he does not regard them in any way. Anyone who is against the misuse is not his target, which has always been Theophrastus's intention. Given in Haguenau on the 15th of March, 1572.
Your Grace's most humble servant,
Michael Schütz, also known as Toxites, Doctor of Medicine.
