Dedication, no date (1574), Thomas Erastus to Eberhard Wambolt von Umstadt (BP.Erastus.1574-01)
| Author: | Thomas Erastus |
| Recipient: | Eberhard Wambolt von Umstadt |
| Type: | Dedication |
| Date: | no date [1574] |
| Place: | no place |
| Pages: | 3 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2984 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Thomas Erastus, De occultis pharmacorum potestatibus, Basel: Pietro Perna 1574, sig. *2r-*3r [BP.Erastus.1574-01]
|
| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Abstract: | Erastus dedicates his commentary to Eberhard Wambolt, valuing his passion for philosophical and medical subjects. The dedication symbolizes mutual respect between them. Erastus, influenced by requests from figures like Doctor Henry Smetius, delves deep into medicinal properties, contrasting their findings with the claims of the Paracelsians who tout their medicines' superior, almost mystical qualities. Erastus admires Eberhart's pursuit of meaningful knowledge and wishes more nobility would focus on profound truths instead of shallow or misleading beliefs. He credits Eberhart with encouraging him to share these insights broadly, promoting collective understanding. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
| Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Thomas Erastus |
[sig. *2r] Generis nobilitate, virtvte, et doctrina præstantissimo viro, D[oomini] Eberharto Vuambolto ab Vmstat, Iudicij Imper[ialis] Spir[ensis] Assesori dignissimo, Domino suo colendissimo, Thomas Erastus Medicus S[alutem] P[lurimam] D[icit].
Annus agitur vndecimus, vir nobilißime & doctißime, cùm rogatur Doct[oris] Henrici Smetij, Medici Antuerpiensis, de occultis pharmacorum potestatibus epistolam conscripsi: quam sub tui nominis auspicio vulgare nunc constitui. Non multò post in gratiam Doct[oris] Simonis Grynæi, Medici, de abditis purgantium facultatibus similiter ferè disserui: tribus eam disputationem quæstionibus absoluens. Vtrumque hunc tractatum propter argumenti affinitatem simul publicare hoc tempoer multis rationibus persuasus volui: inter quas postrema non est, quod Paracelsicos animaduerti mirificè pharmaca sua alijs hoc nomine laudare: quasi admirabilibus viribus latentibus sint prædita. Quippe non verentur affirmare & scribere, eam in suis medicaminibus esse proprietatem seu prudentiam, vt pura corpora non moueant: sed ex quouis homine illud solum educant, quod præter naturam affectum est. Huic portentosæ opinioni cùm occurrendum esse duxissem, commodum in mentem venit, quæ de abstrusis rerum virtutibus aliquando commentatus fueram. Itaque hunc ipsum tractatum nuper relegi: & quanta potui diligentia (additis nonnullis, quæ ad rei declarationem facere, disputationemq́ue dilucidiorem efficere visa sunt) emendaui: inq́ue capita distinxi. Huius consilij mei cau- [sig. *2v] sa non hæc sola fuit, quod clariora sic omnia fore mihi persuasissem: verùm etiam quod minus lectori fastidium paritura lectio videretur. Libentius enim legere plerique omnes solemus, quæ in partes & capita diuisa sunt: quàm quæ perpetua oratione sectionibus carente proponuntur. Altera editionis causa fuit, quod ad huiusce rei disquisitionem, cuius perspicientiam ad multarum in philosophia & arte medica obscurißimarum quæstionum enodationem mirificè conducere intelligimus, plurimos inuitare vtilißimum existimarui: præsertim cùm ex eo fructum minimè pœnitendum ad me rediturum considerem. Sic enim ratiocinabar. Si examinanda hæc publicè omnibus proposuero, vel ab errore si in aliquo versor, liberabor, alienaq́ue opera rectius sapere ac sentire discam: vel hoc saltem nomine gaudebo, quod alios ad rei adeò vtilis & necessariæ (à nulloq́ue satis explicatæ) indagationem excitauerim: testatumq́ue omnibus fecerim, quàm Reipub[licae] literariæ prodesse cupiam: boni omnes (malos & ingratos facilè contempsero) sat scio voluntatem probabunt: vt maximè facultatem defuisse mihi videant. Iidem veniam libenter dabunt, spero, si non omnia, sicut oportebat, exposui: vt qiu probè norint, quàm sit arduum, ne dicam impoßibile, omnibus satis facere: & in quæstione tàm difficili obscura omnia illustrare, confusa distinguere, inuoluta explicare, incerta probare, dubia confirmare, denique inchoata sic perficere, vt nihil desiderari porrò valeat.
Tibi autem, D[omine] Eberharte nobilißime & doctißime, commentarium hunc nuncupare libuit, vt tuæ erga me beneuolentiæ, & meæ in te vicißim obseruantiæ testimonium, exsisteret: ne scilicet ingratus viderer res nostras familiarius noscientibus. Feci eò promptius, quod cum Philosophicis tum Medicis hisce quæstionibus te summè delectari perspexi. Equidem non sine magna animum et voluptate, toto illo tempore, quo vnà viximus, te cum de his ipsis, quas in præsentia tractamus, tùm de alijs disserentem & interrogantem audiui Sæpe- [sig. *3r] numerò quamplurimos ex nobilitate sic affectos optaui, vt vtilia & abstrusiora dogmata potius intelligere, quàm inania, noxia, & superstitiosa, persequi studerent. Accedit ad hæc, quod mihi olim author & hortator fuisti, vt hæc in lucem venire paterer: quò pluribus occasio de his ipsis rebus meditandi offerretur. Rectè namque iudicabas, neminem unum facilè intelligere, quæ multi simul viderent: ac faciliorem alijs fore inquisitionis laborem, si inuenta iudicare potius, quàm perquirere iuberentur. Ergo ocij plusculum nactus recognoui: recognita in tuo nomine apparere volui: vt si quis hinc fortè fructus ad lectorem rediret, tibi quoque gratiam deberi omnes intelligerent.
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 15 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 most distinguished man in lineage, virtue, and learning, Sir Eberhard Wambolt of Umstadt, a most worthy Assessor of the Imperial Court of Speyer, his most revered Sir, Thomas Erastus, physician, sends many greetings.
It is now the eleventh year, most noble and learned man, since I wrote a letter concerning the hidden powers of medicines at the request of Doctor Henry Smetius, physician of Antwerp. I have now decided to publish it under your auspicious name. Not much later, in favor of Doctor Simon Grynaeus, physician, I similarly discussed the hidden properties of purgatives, completing this discussion in three questions. I was persuaded for many reasons to publish these two treatises together at this time due to the similarity of their subject matter. Among these reasons is not the least that I observed the Paracelsians marvelously praising their medicines above others with this name, as if they were endowed with hidden marvelous powers. Indeed, they do not hesitate to assert and write that their medicines have the property or wisdom not to affect pure bodies but to extract from every man only that which is affected beyond nature. When I thought it necessary to confront this monstrous opinion, it conveniently came to mind what I had previously written about the hidden powers of things. Thus, I recently revisited this very treatise and, with as much diligence as I could (adding some things that seemed to make the matter clearer and the discussion more lucid), I revised it and divided it into chapters. The sole reason for this approach was not only that I persuaded myself that everything would thus be clearer, but also that reading would seem less tedious to the reader. For most of us prefer to read things that are divided into parts and chapters rather than those presented in a continuous discourse lacking sections. Another reason for publishing was that I considered it most beneficial to invite many to the study of this matter, understanding the clarity of which to be extremely helpful for unraveling many of the most obscure questions in philosophy and medical art, especially since I contemplate that the fruit to be gained from this will not disappoint me. For I reasoned thus: If I present these matters for public examination, either I will be freed from error if I am in one, and with the help of others, I will learn to think and feel more correctly, or at least I will rejoice in this name, that I have aroused others to the investigation of something so useful and necessary (and yet not sufficiently explained by anyone), and I have shown all how much I wish to benefit the Republic of Letters. I know that all the good (I will easily disregard the bad and ungrateful) will approve of this intention, seeing that it was mainly due to my lack of means. I hope the same people will kindly forgive me if I have not laid out everything as it should be, as those who know well how difficult, not to say impossible, it is to satisfy everyone, to illuminate all obscurities, to distinguish confusions, to unfold intricacies, to prove uncertainties, to confirm doubts, and finally to complete unfinished things so that nothing further can be desired.
However, to you, Sir Eberhard, most noble and learned, I have chosen to dedicate this commentary, so that it might stand as a testament to your goodwill towards me and, in turn, my respect for you; lest I seem ungrateful to those more familiar with our affairs. I did so more readily because I observed that you take great pleasure in these philosophical and medical questions. Indeed, with great pleasure and enthusiasm, during the entire time we lived together, I often listened to you discussing and asking about these very topics we are currently addressing, as well as others. I have frequently wished that many of the nobility would be so inclined to understand useful and more abstruse doctrines, rather than pursuing vain, harmful, and superstitious ones. Moreover, in the past, you encouraged and urged me to allow these matters to come to light, providing more people the opportunity to reflect on these very topics. For you rightly judged that no single person could easily grasp what many might perceive collectively and that the task of inquiry would be easier for others if they were commanded to judge discoveries rather than seek them out. Therefore, having found some spare time, I revisited [these topics]; having revisited them, I wanted them to appear in your name, so that if any benefit might arise for the reader from this, everyone would understand that gratitude is also owed to you.
