Dedication, no date (1570), Gerhard Dorn to Ludwig, Herzog von Württemberg (BP.Dorn.1570-01)
| Author: | Gerhard Dorn |
| Recipient: | Ludwig, Herzog von Württemberg |
| Type: | Dedication |
| Date: | no date [1570] |
| Pages: | 5 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2673 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Gerhard Dorn, Lapis metaphysicus, aut philosophicus, no place, no printer 1570, sig. A2r–A4r [BP.Dorn.1570-01]
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| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Abstract: | Dorn criticizes the decline in the value of ancient wisdom and metaphysics in favor of material wealth and superficial beauty. He praises those who seek deeper truths, seeing value in the humble and the overlooked. The author also criticizes the widespread acceptance of pagan Physics and Metaphysics over their true forms. He entrusts his works to Prince Ludwig, whom he believes is capable of uncovering nature's mysteries, and expresses his dedication to revealing higher truths despite societal disdain. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
| Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Gerhard Dorn |
[sig. A2r] Illvstrissimo Principi Ludouico, Vuirtembergico Theccioq́ue Duci, Comiti Mompelicardi, &c. Salus.
Scribendum inter hæc de uera metaphysica patrum antiquorum, Illustrißime Princeps, penes quos munimenta quædam in hunc usque diem à Deo reseruata sunt, ne ab impijs & ambitiosis hominib[us] unà cum cæteris omnino deprauarentur artibus: cogitare cœpi de patrocinio. Maximè quòd hoc tempore quicquid ingoratur, etsi uerißimum existat, uilipenditur, ab eis præsertim qui doctrinas hausere fallaces Gentilium. Quid mirum? Nunquid & Euangelium Dei propter Sophistas qui controserant illud, ab omnibus fermè spretum erat, ualde paucis exceptis, ut scintilla quædam, quæ maximum in ignem à [sig. A2v] summo Creatore quandoque foret iterum excitanda? Non secus una dierum speramus futurum, ut artes quæ iam in maximo precio sunt (etiam deprauatißimæ) per scintillæ suæ uires, quæque suam in lucem ac ueritatem resurgat. Hæc à me dicta sunt, quòd uideam Seculum hoc ferreum fœtenti sulphure tam inuolutum atque uenenis, ut refragrantiam & uirtutes purioris metalli cuiusuis respuat, non metallum ipsum. Istud siquidem, aut corpus eius, non animam, potiùs quàm animum proprium excolit. Non hac de cause Deus O[ptimus] M[aximus] hominum genus auro gemmisq́ue ditauit, ut ex eis idolum sibi fingeret, sed ut in proximi subuentionem uteretur, ac sanitatem: contrà magis in animi sui perniciem, quàm corporis detrimentum abutitur. Horum superficiali pulchritudine tantùm æstimationeq́ue delectari, uerum arcanum hoc ut cæci prætereunt: nempe Deum [sig. A3r] & Naturam fulgentißimis corporib[us] præstantißimum inhabitatorem spiritum dedisse. Nec est quod ex sua moralitate quisquam hoc loco nobis Æsopum Phrygium, uelut sub uili corpore nobilem adducat animum: nisi resoluere norit, quînam fiat, ut sub uilißimo lapide lateat aurum & argentum, & gemmæ sub rudi cortice contineantur. Eorum loco respondebimus, ut uidentes non uideant illi, qui lucem & ueritatem fugiunt id fieri. Tamen ex his rudioribus præstantiora norunt eurere, hisq́ue solùm cotenti lætiq́ue felices undas prætereunt, rursumq́ue magis quàm antea cæcutiunt: uidentesq́ue sub isto corpore nobiliore, de uili per ipso eruto, naturam excellentius quid adhuc quærendum esse docere, minùs uident. In eo rudiores existimati homines, ipsis mundi sapientibus longè Rebuspublicis utiliores existunt, quum illi sese mille periculis obruentes, montium excaua- [sig. A3v] re uentres audeant, infinitosq́ue labores libenter atque sudore Vulcanicos ferre. Isti uerò laborem fugientes omnem, uilioribus etsi perperam utuntur. Quid refert (aiunt) modò iuuent, ac nobis impleant loculos. Nec satis esse uidetur illis, at illos qui melioribus insudant, carpunt, & quod peius est, ut hominib[us] reddant odiosos, præter æquitatem & rationes uituperant. Non uident interim quàm sese turpiter eis ridendos exhibeant, qui secretiora naturæ mysteria norunt. Præsertim quòd Physicam & Metaphysicam à Gentilibus copiosißimè descriptam habeant, legant, eisq́ue per uitam operam nauent, & ueram Physicam & Metaphysicam ignorare, uilipendere, sordesq́ue margaritis præferre non erubescant. Hoc me summoperè mouit Illustrißime Princeps, hosce meos qualescuntque labores protectioni tuæ committere. Cùm sciam præ multis ad arcana mysteriaq́ue [sig. A4r] naturæ detegenda maximè idoneos fore. Suscipe igitur peregrinam errantem non erroneam ouem: quò ueris adducta stabulis, fructus adferre ueros hominibus queat bonæ uoluntatis. Alij uerò silices etsi mulgeant in arte metaphysica sua, non refert: quia uilioribus quibusq́ue delectati sunt hactenus. Vale Serenißimè Princeps. Iam præfaiurus aggrediar hanc artem enucleare lectoribus. Iterum uale uiueq́ue feliciter annos innumeros.
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 1 July 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 Illustrious Prince Ludwig, Duke of Württemberg and Teck, Count of Montpelier, etc., Greetings.
Amidst the present, I am to write about the true metaphysics of the ancient fathers, Most Illustrious Prince, among whom certain protections have been preserved until this day by God, so that they would not be utterly corrupted by the wicked and ambitious men, together with the other arts. I began to contemplate patronage, particularly at this time, when anything that is not known, even though it may be very true, is undervalued, especially by those who drank in the false teachings of the Pagans. Why wonder? Was not the Gospel of God, because of the Sophists who disputed it, despised by almost all, with very few exceptions, like a certain spark, which was to be rekindled into a great fire by the Supreme Creator at some future time? We hope, in like manner, that one day the arts which are now highly esteemed (even the most corrupted) will, through the power of their own spark, rise up again into light and truth. These things are said by me because I see this iron age so wrapped in rotten sulphur and poisons, that it rejects the resilience and virtues of any purer metal, not the metal itself. Indeed, it cultivates its body, or its essence, rather than its own mind. Not for this reason did God Most Good and Great enrich the race of men with gold and gems, that they might form an idol for themselves out of them, but that they might use them for the aid and health of their neighbor. Conversely, they use them more for the destruction of their soul than for the harm of their body. To be delighted by their superficial beauty and estimation, they pass by the true secret like the blind: namely that God and Nature have given a most excellent spirit to dwell in the most resplendent bodies.
There is no reason why anyone should bring us Aesop the Phrygian from his moralities, as if under a lowly body a noble mind can be induced, unless he knows how to resolve, how it happens that gold and silver lie hidden under the vilest stone, and gems are contained under rough bark. In their place we will respond, that those who flee light and truth, do not see, though seeing, that this happens. Yet they know to dig out better things from these rougher elements, and only with these are they content, happy and fortunate to pass by the waves, and again they are more blind than before. Seeing under that body of nobler extraction, about the lowly dug out by itself, they teach that something more excellent is still to be sought by nature, they see less. In this, men considered more rough are far more useful to States than the wise of the world, when they dare to excavate the bellies of mountains, exposing themselves to a thousand dangers, and willingly endure infinite labor and Vulcanian sweat. These, however, fleeing all labor, use the cheaper things, even if they do so incorrectly. What does it matter (they say) as long as they help us and fill our pockets. It does not seem enough to them, but they carp at those who labor for better things, and what is worse, they make them hateful to men, they reproach them beyond fairness and reason. They do not see in the meantime how they shamefully expose themselves to ridicule by those who know the deeper mysteries of nature. Especially because they have Physics and Metaphysics copiously described by the Pagans, they read them, and spend their lives in their service, and they are not ashamed to ignore, undervalue true Physics and Metaphysics, and to prefer dross to pearls.
This moved me greatly, Most Illustrious Prince, to entrust these my labors, such as they are, to your protection. Since I know that among many you are especially suitable for uncovering the arcane mysteries of nature. Therefore, accept this wandering, not erring sheep: so that, led to the true folds, it may be able to bring true fruits to men of good will. As for the others, even if they milk pebbles in their own metaphysical art, it does not matter: because they have so far been delighted with the more lowly things. Farewell, Most Serene Prince. Now I am about to begin to explain this art to my readers. Farewell again, and live happily for countless years.
