Dedication, 1583-06-08, Jonas Kitzkatz to Hans Gangolf von Witzleben and Hans Adam von Wirsperg
| Author: | Jonas Kitzkatz |
| Recipients: | Hans Gangolf von Witzleben Hans Adam von Wirsperg |
| Type: | Dedication |
| Date: | 8 June 1583 |
| Place: | no place [Eger] |
| Pages: | 5 |
| Language: | German |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2965 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Paracelsus, De antimoni tractatus, ed. Jonas Kitzkatz, Hof: Matthäus Pfeilschmidt 1583, sig. A2r-A4r [BP195]
|
| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Abstract: | This dedication is directed to two noblemen with an interest in alchemy and natural secrets. It introduces a treatise "De Antimonio," and emphasizes its virtues and insights, reflecting the author's association with the learned traditions of alchemy and philosophy. Kitzcatius praises the wisdom contained within and laments those who misconstrue the teachings, leading to poverty and misunderstanding. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
| Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Jonas Kitzkatz |
[sig. A2r] Denen Gestrenngen/ Edlen vnd Ehrnuesten Hanss Gangolffe von Witzleben/ zu Höchstat/ Vnd Hanss Adam von Wirsperg zum Altendeich/ Meinen gönstigen lieben Herrn Geuattern/ vnd in sonders Beförderern.
Es schreibet/ Gestrenge/ Edle/ vnd Ehrenuehste/ gönstige Herrn Geuattern/ vnd Beförderer &c. vnser Author inn seinem Tractetlein De spiritibus Planetarum, Daß seine Theorica/ welche gehet aus dem Liecht der Natur/ So auch jrer bestendigkeit wegen/ nimmermehr kan verkeret werden/ im 58. Jare/ sollen wiederumb anfahen zu grünen/ Vnd die Practica/ so darauff folget/ werde sich wunderlich/ vnd vnglaublichen erzeigen/ Also/ daß es auch der gemeine Man vnd Pöfel verstehen möge/ was Theophrasti Kunst/ gegen anderen gewesen sey.
Ob nun solches diese abgeflossenen Jar hero beschehen/ ist offenbar: Sonderlichen aber denen/ welche [sig. A2v] durch seine allerhand nach sich verlassenen Scripta/ viel heimligkeiten erfahren/ vnd Wunderthaten damit volbracht/ vnuorborgen.
Wie hart aber vnser Theophrastus sich bey seinem Leben/ wider seine Sophistischen adversarios schrifftlichen eingelassen/ vnd jre ex proprio cerebro fingirten Scripta widerfochten/ Jn deme/ daß sie denen Künsten/ vnd erfarungen der Alchemey/ der Magey/ der Philosophey/ vnd dergleichen/ So die Smaragdische Tafel begriffen/ nicht nachgefolget/ So viel mehr/ vnd höher würde jhn/ wenn er jtzund auff Erden kommen solte/ im hefftigsten perturbiren vnd auffbringen/ auch zu schrifftlicher Vindict vnd Rach verursachen/ wenn er vnter anderer Authoritet seine eigenen/ durch grosse Müh vnd vielfaltiges reisen/ an sich gebrachte Opera vnd Schrifften/ ediret sehen würde/ Welche doch/ alldieweiln ein jeder Producent/ jhme das Beste zum Stich behalten/ propter obscurorum characterum & verborum incompræhensibilium præfigurationem, nicht allein dem Authori zu schmalem Rhumb/ Sondern auch sonsten dieser zeit in præiudicium tertij zugelangen pfleget. Daher sich dann der arme vn- [sig. A3r] uorstendige Hauff/ vff anreitzung der Landbetrieger/ vnd Convitiatoren der Alchemey/ daruon ich ein sonderliches Tractetlein in newligkeit außgehen lassen/ vnterfangen/ sich derer herrlichen Kunste/ welche in medio vitæ, allein an den vniversal Autorem & Monarcham arcanorum gelanget/ durch solche producta zuerkunden. Aus welchem erfolget/ daß jhrer viel (so da nicht verstanden/ was der Chaballisten gewonheit/ vnd der Astronomorum gebrauch/ Auch weder von Gott in die Spagiric geborn/ Noch von der Natur zu des Vulcani wercken erkorn/ Oder zu Mundes eröffnung/ in die Alchimistische Kunst erschaffen worden) dardurch arm geworden/ vnd fast an Bettelstab gerat/ Darfür doch vnser Author in vielen seinen Schrifften trewlich warnen thut/ Alldieweiln die Materia der rechten Tinctur/ das gröste Perlein vnd Edelster Schatz ist/ der nach des Allmechtigen eröffnung/ vnd aller Menschen betrachtung/ auff Erden sein magk/ Welches nicht so leichtlich/ wie die Landfahrer vorgeben/ mit Feusten erhaschet/ sondern mit sinnen ergründet werden mmuß/ Wie denn solch Arcanum, Lilia Alchimiæ, & Medicinæ, welche die Philosophi streng gesucht haben/ genennet wird.
[sig. A3v] Dieweiln dann/ gönstige Herrn Geuatter/ vnd Junckern/ der zeit ich Basileæ studiret/ mir von eine guten Freunde/ vnter andern auch diß des Autoris Tractetlein De Antimonio, eiusdemq́ue virtutibus/ communicirt worden/ Vnd ich gleichwoln in vielen seinen Scriptis befunden/ daß er sich auff solches referiren thut/ Als hab ich nicht vnterlassen wöllen/ Ob jemand mit deme gedienet sein möchte/ dasselbig in medium zu proferiren/ damit durch diß/ allerhand andere verdunckelte vnd in seinem Namen publicirte Schrifften/ desto besser declarirt vnd erleuttert würden.
Auff daß aber nun diß meines Principalen klein/ doch vieluermögend Wercklein/ in desto besserer/ vnd so viel höherer Authoriet acceptiret/ vnd für den Convitiatoribus/ welche güldene Berge in Köpffen tragen/ vnd wol mit keiner Hand in die Kholen geraten/ sicherer sein vnd bleiben möchte/ Als hab ich/ in betrachtung/ daß E[uer] G[estreng] vnd E[hrenvesten] als der recht Natürlichen Arcanen sonderbare Liebhabere/ zu solchen vnd dergleichen Mysterien sehr geneigt/ solches vnter derselben Adelichen Namen/ in Druck verfertigen wöllen/ Verhoffend/ E[uer] G[estreng] vnd E[hrenvesten] werden solches für [sig. A4r] mennigliches vngebürlichen anlauffen/ in gönstigen Schutz nemen. Vnd daß dieses in gutem von mir beschehen/ gleicher gestalt vormercken. Et quoniam brevitas, dum nihil de proprio omissum sit, multum placet, Econtrà prolixitas in multis nocet, Sonderlichen/ weiln sequentia vnsers Authoris vleis vnd trewes Wolmeinen/ viel besser/ als ich bey mir zubefinden/ erklären. Demnach habe ich für vnnötig geachtet/ diese von sich selbsten eingezogene ding/ vorsetzlichen zu prolongiren.
Wil derwegen E[uer] G[estreng] vnd E[hrenvest] in göttlichen Schutz vnd gnedigste Vorwarnung/ hiermit trewlichen befolhen haben. Datum den 8. Junij/ Anni 1583.
E[uer] G[estreng] vnd E[hrenvest] Dienstwilliger Geuatter vnd Gönner.
Ionas Kitzcatius ll[egum] candidatus vnd Burger in Eger.
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 14 August 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 the Noble, Noble and Honorable Hanss Gangolffe von Witzleben, of Höchstat, and Hanss Adam von Wirsperg at Altendeich, My favorable dear Sirs, Godfathers, and special Promoters.
Our author writes, Noble, Noble, and Most Honorable, gracious Sirs, Godfathers, and Promoters, etc., in his treatise De spiritibus Planetarum, that his theory, which comes from the light of nature and for its constancy can never be turned away, will begin to flourish again in the 58th year, and the practice that follows will show itself wondrously and unbelievably, so that even the common man and rabble may understand what Theophrastus's art has been against others.
Whether this has happened in the past year is evident, especially to those who, through his various surviving writings, have learned many secrets and performed miracles with them, unhidden.
But how fiercely our Theophrastus, during his life, engaged in written arguments against his Sophistic adversaries, and fought their fictitious writings conceived from their own minds, that they did not follow the arts and experiences of alchemy, magic, philosophy, and the like, as encompassed by the Emerald Tablet. Even more, and higher, would he be now fiercely disturbed and provoked, and caused to literary defense and revenge if he should come to Earth now, and see his own works and writings published, which he brought upon himself through great labor and multiple journeys. These, however, since every producer retains the best for themselves, due to the obscuration of characters and incomprehensible words, not only encroach on the author's limited room but also typically prejudiced a third party at this time. Hence, the poor ignorant crowd, at the instigation of the country deceivers and vilifiers of alchemy, about which I have recently published a special treatise, undertake to acquaint themselves with these magnificent arts, which in the midst of life, only reach the universal Author & Monarch of secrets through such products. From which it follows that many of them, who did not understand the habit of the Kabbalists and the use of the astronomers, neither were born of God into Spagyric, nor chosen by nature for Vulcan's works, or created for the opening of mouths in alchemical art, became poor through it and almost came to a beggar's staff. For this, however, our author faithfully warns in many of his writings, since the material of the right tincture is the greatest pearl and most noble treasure that can be on Earth according to the revelation of the Almighty and the consideration of all people. Which is not so easily seized by force, as the vagrants pretend, but must be fathomed with senses, as such Arcanum, Lilia Alchimiae, & Medicinae, which the philosophers have strictly sought, is named.
Since then, gracious Sirs, Godfathers, and Gentlemen, during the time I studied in Basel, this treatise of the author, De Antimonio, and its virtues, was communicated to me by a good friend among other things, and I have nevertheless found in many of his writings that he refers to such, I have not wanted to refrain from putting the same into public, if anyone might be served by it, so that various other darkened writings published in his name might be better explained and clarified through this.
But in order that this small, yet powerful work of my principal might be accepted with even better and much higher authority, and be and remain safe from the scoffers, who carry golden mountains in their heads, and probably never get their hands into the coals, I have wanted to put it into print under your noble names, considering your noble and honorable love for the true natural secrets, being very inclined to such and similar mysteries, hoping that your nobility and honor will protect it against any undue intrusion, and notice that this has been done well by me. And since brevity pleases much, as long as nothing of one's own is omitted, and on the contrary, prolixity harms in many cases, especially since the following examples of our author's diligence and sincere good intention explain much better than I find in myself, I have therefore deemed it unnecessary to intentionally prolong these self-explanatory matters.
I therefore want to commend your nobility and honor to divine protection and gracious forewarning with all faithfulness. Given on the 8th of June, in the year 1583.
Your Noble and Honorable Willing Godfather and Patron,
Ionas Kitzcatius, candidate of law, and citizen in Eger.
