Dedication, 1589-01-03, Johann Huser to Ernst Kurfürst von Köln

From Theatrum Paracelsicum
Author: Johann Huser
Recipient: Ernest of Bavaria, Prince-Elector-Archbishop of Cologne
Type: Dedication
Date: 3 January 1589
Place: Glogau
Pages: 5
Language: German
Quote as: https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=1080
Editor: Edited by Julian Paulus
Source: Paracelsus, Bücher vnd Schrifften, ed. Johann Huser, vol. 1, Basel: Conrad von Waldkirch 1589 [BP216]
Translation: Raw translation see below
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[sig. A3r] Dem Hochwürdigsten in Gott/ Durchleüchtigsten/ Hochgebornen Fürsten vnd Herrn/ Herrn Ernesto, Erwehlten vnd bestettigten zu Ertzbischoffen zu Cöln vnd Churfürsten: Bischoffen zu Lüttich: Der Stifft Münster/ Hildeßheim vnd Freysingen Administratori: Fürsten zu Stabel/ Pfaltzgrauen bey Rhein: In Ober vnd Nider Bayern/ zu Westphalen/ Engern vnd Bullion Hertzogen: Marggrauen zu Francimont/ Grauen zu Loe vnd Horn/ etc. Meinem gnedigsten Churfürsten vnnd Herrn.

Hochwürdigster in Gott/ Durchleuchtigster/ Hochgeborner Churfürst/ Gnedigster Herr: Wie hochnöttig vnnd nutzlich die Kunst der Artzney Menschlichem Geschlecht sey/ ist vnnöttig mit vielen worten zuerzehlen: Wie hoch auch allwegen gelehrte vnd erfahrne Artzte gehalten worden/ bezeuget nicht allein die Heydnische/ sondern auch die Göttliche Geschrifft: denn was kan im Liecht der Natur vber die Artzney höhers erfunden werden?

Nun stehet aber dieselbe nicht/ wie etliche andere Künste/ in Worten/ sondern in den Wercken der Gesundmachung: Weil aber dasselbige bey jr vielen vergessen/ vnnd einem Artzt gnug zusein/ vermeinet worden/ so er von den Kranckheiten/ wie dieselben von etlichen alten Griechen vnd Arabern beschrieben/ disputiren vnd weitleufftig reden könne/ es volge das Werck der Gesundmachung darauff/ oder nit (ohnbetracht das Newe zeit/ Newe Kranckheiten vnd Künst herfür bringet:) Jst die Artzney nach vnd nach in solchen [sig. A34] Abfall kommen/ daß sie schier bey menniglichen verachtet/ vnnd darfür gehalten worden/ daß darinnen gar keine gewißheit zu befinden sey. Als nun solches zu vnseren Zeiten etliche tieffsinnige Männer erwogen/ haben sie den dingen mit ernst nach getrachtet vnnd nachgesucht/ vnnd auß Erforschung des Rechten vhralten Grunds befunden/ daß der/ auff welchen dieser zeit die Artzney gebawet/ an vilen ohrten jrrig sey: Vnter welchen fürnemlich Theophrastvs Paracelsvs, Edles Teutschen Geblüts Einer gewesen/ welcher dem waren Grundt der Artzney am embsigsten nachgesucht/ vnnd durch die Gnade Gottes denselben erlangt/ vnd darauß die gantze Philosophey vnd Medicin restauriret hat.

Weil aber gemelter Paracelsus bey seinem Leben/ auß viler verhinderung/ auch wegen vielfaltiges Reisens/ seine Scripta nicht hat Publiciren können/ sondern dieselben hin vnd wider zerstrewet/ hinter sich verlassen: Seindt dieselbigen von etlichen der Spagyrischen Artzney Liebhabern eins theils hin vnd wider zusammen gebracht/ vnnd andern dieselbigen in Truck zuverfertigen gegeben worden/ welche auß Vnfleiß/ zum theil auch auß Neydt/ die hochnützlichen Scripta des Hochbegabten Thewren Paracelsi, nicht allein gar mendosè Trucken lassen/ sondern auch an viel ohrten gar verkehrt/ vnd gantze folia vnd periodos, &c. außgelassen haben. Als ich nun solchs durch Collationirung etlicher Exemplarien gegen den Originalen/ so ich bey mir gehabt/ befunden: Hab ich von etlichen viel Jahren her gewünschet/ das dieses Thewren Teutschen Philosophi vnd Medici Scripta möchten genuinè getruckt werden: Jst aber biß anhero/ auß viler verhinderung nachblieben/ biß so lang E[uer] Churf[ürstlich] G[naden] solch mein Jntent vermeldet vnnd fürbracht worden/ welches Sie Jhr gnedigst wolgefallen lassen/ vnnd darauff sich aller gnedigsten Befürderung/ auch nottürfftigs Verlags zu solchem Werck erbotten: Wie dann E[uer] Churf[ürstlich] G[naden] nach der Göttlichen/ auch die Warheit des Natür- [sig. A4r] lichen Liechts/ auß hoher angeborner Fürstlicher Natur zu fürderen/ jederzeit geflissen seind: mich auch darauff vor dreyen Jahren[n1] zusich gegen Bonn erfordert/ vnd jhr vorig gnedigst Erbieten würcklich geleistet haben.

Darauff ich dann durch Ober vnd Nider Teutschlandt/ zum theil in eigner Person/ zum theil auch durch andere/ die Originalia Paracelsi, höchstes fleisses inquirirt/ vnd einen guten theil derselben zusammen gebracht/ beide was zuuor schon getruckt/ auch etlichs theils so noch nicht getruckt worden. Doch werden von etlichen Mißgünstigen etliche Bücher noch verhalten: viel sind jhr auch in solcher langer zeit her/ nach absterben Theophrasti &c. vntergangen/ vnnd vonn Vnuerstendigen zerrissen worden. So viel ich aber zusammen gebracht/ hab ich auffs trewlichst vnd fleissigst mir müglich/ vnd so viel sein können/ in ein fügliche ordnung verfaßt/ vnd dieselben vnder E[uer] Churf[ürstlich] G[naden] Patrocinio in Truck verordnet: Mit Vnderthenigster bitt/ dieselb wöllen Jhr diese Paracelsi Scripta, vnd meinen hierinn angewendten fleiß vnd mühe Gnedigst gefallen lassen/ vnd die Warheit Natürlichs Liechts/ so darinnen gründtlich begriffen/ wider die Obtrectatores vnd Maleuolos, deren nicht wenig sein werden/ schützen. Dann jhr vil seind/ welche seine Vehementiam, so er in etlichen seinen Büchern/ wider sein Gegentheil braucht/ zum höchsten tadlen/ vnd jn derowegen verwerffen. Wenn man aber ansihet/ wie hoch er von etlichen seiner Profession Aduersarijs, auch mit Gifft/ (allein darumb/ das er mehr inn Gesundtmachung der Krancken præstiret dann sie) verfolgt ist worden: Jst er wol deßhalben entschuldigt zu halten. Haben sich derowegen Gelehrte vnd trewe Medici dieser zeit/ dessen nichts anzunemben/ was er wider etliche vngeschickte/ neidige vnd geitzige Medicos zu seiner zeit geschrieben/ vnd jhnen fürgeworffen hat.

Etlichen mißfelt auch hefftig an jhm/ das er nicht Lateinisch/ sonder mehrertheils nur Teutsch geschriben:

Auch das er einen so rauhen/ vnd vnrhetorischen [sig. A4v] Stylum führet/ sonderlich inn den Ersten Büchern: Jtem daß er ettlicher Wörter bißweilen impropriè gebraucht: Vnd dann letztlich viel Newe vnbekandte Wörter in seinen Büchern einführet.

Die solten aber bedencken/ daß die Teutsche Sprach eben so wol ein Hauptsprach ist/ als Lateinisch/ Griechisch oder Arabisch/ vnnd billich: sonderlich weil die Monarchia der Teutschen/ nichts geringer zu achten ist/ als der andern Eine. So haben auch die fürtrefflichsten Scribenten/ Griechische vnd Lateinische/ inn keiner andern dann inn jhrer Muttersprach geschrieben: Ja auch die Griechen/ jhre angeborne Dialectos, ob sie schon gegen andern grob geachtet/ behalten/ welches jnen doch niemandt verarget. Also hat es auch Theophrasto Paracelso als eim Teutschen/ ex Eremo Heluetiorum oriundo, die Philosophiam vnd Medicinam Teutsch zu beschreiben/[c1] gefallen. Fürs ander/ seinen harten Stylum belangendt/ vnnd daß er nicht allweg so eigentlich auff die proprietatem verborum gesehen: Entschuldigt jhn billich sein rauhes Vatterlandt/ vnd sonderlich die barbaries seculi, darinnen Er gelebt/ da man wolredens nicht so groß geachtet/ als jetziger zeit: So hat er auch mehr auff die Res ipsas (wie augenscheinlich inn jhm zusehen) dann auff die Wort gedancken geben. Was aber die Newen Wörter/ deren er sich hin vnd wider gebraucht/ betrifft/ hat Er/ (wie auch andere gethan/) nouis Inventis noua Nomina zugeben/ wol macht gehabt.

Es wöllen jhn auch andere der Religion halben gern suspect machen/ weil er an etlichen Ohrten wider ettliche Mißbreuche redet: darinn jhm aber/ meines erachtens/ auch vngütlich geschicht: Dann was seinen Glauben anlangt/ ist kundtbar vnd bewußt/ das Er sich von der H[eiligen] Catholischen/ vnd Römischen Kirchen nicht abgesöndert hat/ sondern in derselben Gehorsame verblieben: Wie jhm dessen das Ertzstifft vnnd Statt Saltzburg (da er Anno 1541. Catholisch vnd Christlich verstorben/ vnd Ehrlich begraben worden) Zeug- [sig. B1r] nuß geben kan. Da aber je etwas in diesen seinen Scriptis solte gefunden werden/ so wieder die alte Catholische Religion were/ so Subscribier ich hierinn weder jm noch andern/ sondern vnterwerffe mich der Kirchen/ als einer trewen Mutter/ gehorsamlich.

Es haben wol ettliche vermainet/ das dieselben Jnuectiuen/ vnd was vndeutlich oder impropriè, &c. von jhme gesetzt/ in dieser Edition möchten außgelassen vnd geendert werden: So hab ich doch auß vielen vrsachen (sonderlich damit mir nicht wie andern/ als hette ich meines gefallens in seinen Büchern zugesetzt vnd außgelassen/ schuldt gegeben würde) diß zu thun bedencken gehabt. Der gutte jnterpretirt alles zum besten/ vnd wer die Warheit liebet/ leßt sich nicht solchs dauon abschrecken noch abwendig machen: Wie dann auch E[uer] Churf[ürstlich] G[naden] auß hohem Fürstlichem verstand/ (welches ich dann vnderthenigst bitten thue) Jhr derohalben Theophrastvm Paracelsvm nichts desto weniger gnedigst wöllen gefallen lassen: Welche ich hie mit Göttlichem schutz vnd schirm zu langem vnd gesundem leben/ zu friedlichem Regiment vnd aller Wolfart/ derselben aber mich vnderthenigst zu Gnaden/ befehlen thue. Datum Grossen Glogaw in Schlesien den dritten Januarij deß Tausent/ Fünffhundert/ Neun vnd Achtzigsten Jahrs.

E[uer] Churf[ürstlich] G[naden]

Vnderthenigster/ Gehorsamster Diener

Ioh[annes] Huserus.


Apparatus

Notes

  1. vor dreyen Jahren] i.e. 1586


Corrections

  1. beschreiben] corrected from: beschriben



English Raw Translation

Generated by ChatGPT on 26 February 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 Most Reverend in God, Illustrious, High-born Prince and Lord, Lord ERNEST, Elected and Confirmed as Archbishop of Cologne and Elector, Bishop of Liège, Administrator of the Sees of Münster, Hildesheim and Freising, Prince of Stavelot, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke in Upper and Lower Bavaria, of Westphalia, Engern and Bullion, Margrave of Francimont, Count of Loo and Horn, etc. My most gracious Elector and Lord.

Most Reverend in God, Illustrious, High-born Elector, Gracious Lord: How important and useful the art of medicine is to the human race is needless to recount with many words: How highly learned and experienced physicians have always been held, is attested not only by the pagan but also by the divine scripture; for what can be discovered about medicine in the light of nature that is higher?

However, the art of medicine does not consist, like some other arts, in words, but in the works of healing. Because many have forgotten this and believed that it was enough for a physician to be able to discuss and speak at length about illnesses, as they were described by some ancient Greeks and Arabs, it follows that the work of healing may or may not follow (regardless of the fact that new times, new diseases, and new arts have emerged). Medicine has gradually fallen into such disrepute that it is considered by many to be completely uncertain. When some thoughtful men in our time considered this, they earnestly sought and searched for the truth and, through the investigation of the correct fundamental principles, found that the foundation on which medicine is currently based is erroneous in many respects. Among those who pursued this quest with the greatest diligence was THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS, a noble German by birth, who most diligently sought the true foundation of medicine and, through the grace of God, obtained it and restored the entire philosophy and medicine from it.

However, during his lifetime, Paracelsus was hindered by various obstacles, including extensive traveling, from being able to publish his writings, which were left scattered about. Some enthusiasts of the Spagyric art of medicine have partially collected and published these works, and others have printed them with many errors and even omitted entire pages and sections. When I discovered this through collating several copies against the originals that I had with me, I wished for many years that the genuine works of this noble German philosopher and physician could be printed. However, this intention was delayed due to various hindrances until your most gracious Electoral Highness has now announced and offered to promote and publish this work. As your Electoral Highness is always dedicated to promoting the divine and the truth of natural light from your high, innate princely nature, and as you also requested me to do so three years ago near Bonn, and your gracious offer has been duly fulfilled.

Then I traveled through Upper and Lower Germany, partly in person and partly through others, diligently seeking out the original works of Paracelsus and collecting a good portion of them, both those previously printed and some that had not yet been printed. However, some envious individuals are still withholding some books. Many of them have also been lost over the long period since Theophrastus' death, and have been torn apart by the ignorant. But with great care and diligence, I have assembled what I could and arranged them into a suitable order, and have arranged for them to be printed under the patronage of Your Electoral Highness. I humbly request that Your Grace will kindly approve of these writings of Paracelsus and the diligence and effort that I have applied to them, and protect the truth of natural light, which is thoroughly contained therein, against the detractors and the malevolent, of whom there will be no small number. For there are many who condemn his vehemence, which he employs in some of his books against his opponents, and reject him accordingly. However, when one considers how fiercely he has been persecuted by some of his professional adversaries, even with poison, simply because he has achieved more in healing the sick than they have, he is well excused. Therefore, learned and faithful doctors of this time, who have nothing to reproach him with, have defended him against some incompetent, envious, and greedy doctors of his time whom he has criticized in his writings.

Some also vehemently criticize him for not writing in Latin, but mostly in German. They also criticize his rough and un-rhetorical style, especially in the first books. Additionally, he sometimes uses certain words improperly, and finally, he introduces many new and unfamiliar words in his books.

They should consider that the German language is just as much a main language as Latin, Greek, or Arabic, and rightly so, especially since the monarchy of the Germans is no less important than that of the others. Even the most excellent writers, Greek and Latin, wrote in no other language but their own mother tongue. Even the Greeks kept their native dialects, even though they were considered coarse compared to others, but no one faulted them for it. Therefore, THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS, a German, born in the wilderness of the Helvetians, chose to describe philosophy and medicine in German. As for his hard style and his not always paying close attention to the propriety of words, one should excuse his rough homeland, especially the barbarism of the times in which he lived, where such matters were not held in as high regard as they are today. He also gave more thought to the things themselves (as is evident in him) than to the words. Regarding the new words he used here and there, he had the right to introduce new names for new inventions, as others have done.

Others also want to make him suspicious for religious reasons because he speaks out against certain abuses in some places. However, in my opinion, this is also unjust to him, because as far as his faith is concerned, it is well-known and evident that he has not separated himself from the Holy Catholic and Roman Church, but has remained obedient to it. The Archbishopric and City of Salzburg, where he died Catholic and Christian in 1541 and was honorably buried, can testify to this. If anything in his writings were found to be against the ancient Catholic religion, I neither subscribe to him nor to others but submit myself obediently to the Church as a faithful mother.

Some have suggested that the same injunctions and anything unclear or improperly stated, etc. set by him may be omitted and changed in this edition. However, I have considered many reasons for not doing so (especially so that I am not accused like others of having added or omitted things in his books according to my own liking). The good interpreter interprets everything for the best, and whoever loves the truth is not deterred or turned away by such things. Just as Your Electoral Highness, from your high princely understanding (which I humbly request), graciously deigns to accept THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS nonetheless. Whom I commend here with divine protection and shelter for a long and healthy life, peaceful rule, and all prosperity, and myself humbly to Your Grace. Given in Gross-Glogau in Silesia on the third of January in the year one thousand five hundred and eighty-nine.

Your Electoral Highness's most humble and obedient servant,

Johannes Huserus.