Dedicatory Letter, 1621-04-20, Peter Lauremberg to Georg Schumacher
| Author: | Peter Lauremberg |
| Recipient: | Georg Schumacher |
| Type: | Dedicatory Letter |
| Date: | 20 April 1621 |
| Place: | Hamburg |
| Pages: | 3 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=5909 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Cornelis Drebbel, Tractatus duo, ed. Joachim Morsius, Hamburg: Heinrich Carstens 1621, sig. A4r-A5r [BP.Drebbel.1621-02]
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| Abstract: | Lauremberg extends his utmost greetings to Schumacher, drawing a parallel between the circulation of specially minted coins and the dissemination of scholarly pamphlets for the public good. He critiques a German translation of Cornelius Drebbel's work on the Elements for its inadequacies but commends the original for its profound insights into both Chemistry and Aristotelian philosophy. Lauremberg highlights Drebbel's achievement in aligning his findings with classical philosophy through his own intellectual rigor, contrasting this with the failures of many who rely heavily on existing literature. He offers his own contributions to Schumacher, recalling a shared moment of public service in Rostock that left a lasting impression of friendship and respect on him. Laurembergius expresses a desire to maintain this bond for as long as possible and concludes by affirming his wish to remain in Schumacher's circle of friends. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
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[sig. A4r] Amplissimo viro, D[omi]n[o] Georgio Schumachero S[alutem] P[lurimum] D[icit] Pet[rus] Laurembergius.
Qvod cum nummis, Prudentissime Schumachere, quos sub peculiari emblemate percussos in vulgus ire curat princeps, idem assolet fieri cum libellis, quibus viri eruditionis & famæ alicujus promotum eunt emolumentum publicum rei litterariæ. Vtrosq́ue curiosè tractamus, inspicimus vertimus, & si quid memorabile præ se ferunt legimus; quisq́ue etiam ad arbitrium genij sui interpretamur. Exemplo eße potest (ne petam longius) opusculum hoc Cornelij Drebbelij de Elementis, quod sollicitâ & diligenti manu quotusquisque non tractavit paucis retrò annis? Hoc solùm faciliori ejus intellectioni obstare videbatur, quod Belgicè esset conscriptum, quam Dialectum non omnes æquè capiunt. Itaque inventus est haut ità pridem qui eum libellum Germano habitu produxit in scenam; sed infœlici pror- [sig. A4v] sus & ridiculo conatu. Nam neque sententiam auctoris assequutus est, ubi nervus & ipse succus ac spiritus argumenti delitescebat, neque omnia transtulit, neque satis dilucidè aut Germanicè. Quia tamen illius usus fructus communiter esse credebatur in rem Philosophicæ & Chemicæ dignitatis, cœpi ego, rogatus ab amicis, Medicis hujus civitatis excellentibus, per unum aut alterum bihorium Interpretationi illius incumbere. Quod dum facio, inveni scriptum charactere quidem novo, novoq́ue auctore dispaluisse in vulgus, sed tamen sapere nativam generositatem antiquioris Philosophiæ: Chemicæ quidem duo illius postrema capita, in quibus abstrusioris sapientiæ fundamenta tàm apertè deteguntur, ut & agnosci & videri & palpari facilè possint ab eo, cui non prorsus frigidus obsistit circum præcordia sanguis. Peripateticæ verò, quidquid reliquum est argumenti de Elementorum naturis, transmutationibus, pluviis, tonitrubus, fulguribus, ventis. Ea enim omnia ex Aristotele hujusq́ue Interpretibus Græcis, Latinis, Barbaris, vel verbo tenus deducere, in pro- [sig. A5r] clivi esse potest ei, qui istorum Herorum scripta non nimis invisa ignotaq́ue habet.
Ea tamen res non tàm dedecori quam gloriæ eße potest Drebbelio: non tantum quia cum priscâ, solidâ & genuinâ Philosophiâ conspirant ea quæ proponit; sed multò magis, quia ipse ingenij sui excellentiâ meditando atque experiundo assequutus est id, quo multi multorum præceptorum & librorum adminiculis usi, rarò atque ægrè perveniunt.
Quicquid hîc meum est, Præstantissime Schumachere, illud meritò atque officiosè tibi cupio oblatum. Jam tum ab illo tempore, quo uterque publicam rem agentes solemni Academiæ actui Rostochij intereßemus, in animo meo aculeum defixit excellens illa pectoris tui generositas, reliquitq́ue gratam memoriam amicitiæ & existimationis; quam ego illæsam atque irruptam servabo, quamdiu me rebus mortalium interesse patietur divini numinis benignitas. Salve; & hunc hominem in numero esse amicorum tuorum porrò patere. Dabam properiter Hamburgi XII. Kal[endis] Maij. CIↃ. IↃ.C XXI.
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 27 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 the Most Honorable Man, Mr. Georg Schumacher, Petrus Laurembergius sends his utmost greetings.
Just as with coins, Most Prudent Schumacher, which the prince ensures circulate among the public under a special emblem, the same tends to happen with pamphlets that promote the public benefit of literary matters by men of learning and some renown. We handle and examine both carefully, turn them over, and if they present anything memorable, we read; each also interprets according to his own genius. An example can be (without looking too far) this small work of Cornelius Drebbel on the Elements, which in recent years has not been handled with careful and diligent hand by many? The only apparent obstacle to its easier understanding was that it was written in Dutch, a dialect not equally understood by all. Therefore, not so long ago, someone attempted to present that pamphlet in German dress, but with an utterly unfortunate and ridiculous effort. For he neither grasped the author's meaning, especially where the essence and very spirit of the argument lay hidden, nor did he translate everything, nor sufficiently clearly or in good German. However, since the use of it was commonly believed to be beneficial for the dignity of Philosophy and Chemistry, I began, at the request of friends, excellent physicians of this city, to devote an hour or two to its interpretation. In doing so, I found the writing to be of a new character and by a new author, yet it seemed to retain the native nobility of older Philosophy: indeed, the last two chapters on Chemistry, where the foundations of more profound wisdom are so openly revealed that they can easily be recognized, seen, and felt by anyone not utterly cold-hearted. As for the Peripatetic, whatever remains of the argument about the natures of Elements, their transformations, rains, thunder, lightning, winds, all that can easily be derived from Aristotle and his interpreters, Greek, Latin, and Barbarian, at least in words, by anyone who does not find the writings of these heroes too disagreeable or unknown.
Yet, this matter can be not so much a disgrace as a glory for Drebbel: not only because what he proposes is in harmony with ancient, solid, and genuine Philosophy, but much more because he has attained it through the excellence of his own genius by meditating and experimenting, which many, using the aids of many teachers and books, rarely and with difficulty achieve.
Whatever is mine here, Most Eminent Schumacher, I rightfully and dutifully wish to offer to you. Ever since that time when we both, acting in public affairs, attended the solemn academic ceremony in Rostock, the outstanding generosity of your heart has implanted a sting in my mind and left a pleasant memory of friendship and esteem; which I will keep unharmed and unbroken as long as the kindness of the divine will allows me to partake in mortal affairs. Farewell; and continue to allow this man to be counted among your friends. Given hastily in Hamburg, on the 12th day before the Kalends of May, in the year 1621.
