Dedicatory Letter, 1552-11-20, Jacob Kündig to Stephanus Tornondus

Author:	Jacob Kündig
Recipient:	Etienne Tornon
Type:	Dedicatory Letter
Date:	20 November 1552
Place:	Basel
Pages:	1
Language:	Latin

Quote as:

https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=5926

Editor:	Edited by Julian Paulus
Source:	Guglielmo Grataroli, Prognostica naturalia, De temporum mutatione, sig. A2r [BP.Grataroli.1552-01]

Translation:

Raw translation see below

Abstract:

The printer reflects on the prevalent desire for deception in their time, highlighted by the adage "The world wants to be deceived." He critiques the era's curiosity and the misleading predictions made by astrologers, which distract the wealthy from more virtuous pursuits like charity. In his contemplation, Kündig/Parcus considers the suppression or condemnation of such frivolous astrological publications that are often preferred over more valuable texts. Amidst these reflections, he mentions the learned Gratarolus, who is well-versed in both theology and medicine, and has offered his comprehensive work, "Natural Prediction," for publication. Recognizing the similarity of Gratarolus's work to the issues he's been pondering, Parcus decides to publish it under Tornondo's distinguished name as a gesture of appreciation for their shared hospitality. (generated by Chat-GPT)

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[sig. A2r] D[omino] Stephano Tornondo Qu[intus] Parcus Celta, S[alutem] D[icit].

Qvvm diu de infideli curiositate nostræ tempestatis apud me cogitarem (pijßime Pastor) repperi hoc adagium Mundus uult decipi, tam uerum ac malum esse: talesq́ue habere ὀψοδαιδάλους, qualem ipse palatum habet: tum propter grauiora quædam, quæ nunc lubens prætereo: quum ob nugaces quorundam Astrologorum Prædictiones quolibet anno nouatas, quibus sæpe locupletes ita sollicitos reddunt, ut nil aliud curant, quàm carita te charitatem retundere. Ideo hi libelli, etiam si optimis libris præferri soleant, tamen quo pacto aut supprimi aut saltem proscribi poßint, semper meditabar. At dum hæc mihi ante oculos uersabantur, ecce doctor ille Gratarolvs, Paulinis literis æquè ac Æsculapijs peritißimus, qui hanc suam φυσικὴν Prædictionem, multa uariaq́ue lectione collectam, mihi excudendam offert. Et quia hanc uideo haud dißimilem illis quæ ad hoc iam conceperam, placuit (iure æditionis) ut in memoriam iucundæ hospitialitatis nostræ, sub illo claro Tornondorum nomine, feliciter in lucem exeat. Vale. Basileæ, XII calen[dis] Decembr[is] 1552.

Apparatus

Word Explanations

English Raw Translation

Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 29 January 2024. 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 Stefano Tornondo, Quintus Parcus Celta extends greetings.

While contemplating the unfaithful curiosity of our era (most pious Pastor), I realized the adage "The world wants to be deceived" is both true and harmful. People have tastes as complex as their own palates, influenced not only by more serious issues I choose to skip but also by the frivolous predictions of some astrologers, renewed every year. These predictions often trouble the wealthy to the point where they neglect everything else, including charity. Hence, I've always thought about how these booklets, despite sometimes being favored over superior works, could be either suppressed or at least condemned. As these thoughts occupied me, the learned Gratarolus, an expert in both Pauline letters and medicine, offered his "Natural Prediction," compiled from extensive reading, for me to publish. Seeing it as not much different from what I had already considered, I decided to publish it under the illustrious name of Tornondo, in honor of our delightful hospitality. Farewell. Basel, 12 days before December 1552.