Dedicatory Preface, 1554-02-01, Guglielmo Grataroli to Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
| Author: | Guglielmo Grataroli |
| Recipient: | Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Type: | Dedicatory Preface |
| Date: | 1 February 1554 |
| Place: | Basel |
| Pages: | 9 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=5957 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Guglielmo Grataroli, Opuscula, Basel: Nicolaus Episcopius 1554, p. 3-11 [BP.Grataroli.1554-01]
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| also in: | BP.Grataroli.1554-02; BP.Grataroli.1558-03 |
| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Abstract: | Grataroli addresses the King of Bohemia, Maximilian, offering prayers for his perpetual happiness from God. Grataroli recounts his previous year's endeavor of publishing three booklets, which, due to the insistence of friends and the printer, were released sooner than he desired. These works, initially dedicated to the King of England who passed away before he could see them, contained errors due to Grataroli's absence during printing. Upon revisiting, Grataroli corrected these mistakes and significantly improved the content, likening the revised edition to a more refined and valuable output. Seeking a new patron for his enhanced work, Grataroli chose King Maximilian, drawn by his favorable reputation among powerful European nations and his commendable efforts in assembling a distinguished library. Grataroli's work focuses on memory, physiognomy, and perpetual prognostics, aiming to offer useful insights and remedies, particularly in the art of memory which he deems crucial for preserving knowledge. He defends the validity of physiognomy, citing historical practices and arguing for its utility in understanding human nature from physical appearance. The third book addresses the issue of unreliable predictions, advocating for a more empirical approach to prognostication. Grataroli emphasizes his reliance on experience over the citation of numerous authors and opts for clarity and accessibility in his writing. He humbly dedicates his work to Maximilian, expressing respect and omitting lavish praises, confident in the King's inherent virtues and commendable actions. He suggests that his identity could be further elucidated by Joseph Salandus, the Queen's physician, who knows him well. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
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[p. 3] Serenissimo ac pio Boemiæ Regi Maximiliano perpetuam felicitatem à domino Deo precatur Gulielmus Gratarolus Doctor medicus.
Svperiori anno, Rex optime, libellos tres etsi multis antea mensibus elaboratos, citius quàm uoluissem emisi in lucem, amicorum ac typographi coactus instantia: cumq́ue me absente, non pauca inter cudendum errata fuissent commissa, arrepto rursus libro non tantum menda correxi, sed primariam ac omnem ferè adhibens operam, extremamq́ue (ut uocant) manum, adeò auxi, ut ueluti nonimensis partus septimestri, aut [p. 4] purum aurum argento, ita æditio hæc priori præstet. Dedicaueram priorem Anglorum regi, qui antequam rescire, nedum uidere potuierit, uitam cum morte coactus est commutare. Quærendus igitur mihi erat patronus alter, sub cuius augustiori nomine rursus exiret liber nitentior factus, cumq́ue animi oculos huc illuc non parum uolutassem, tua Maiestas mihi tandem magis arrisit cùm non nullis de causis, quas in præsentiarum omitto, tum quia inter cæteros principes ac Reges, non tantum apud potentes Germanos, & Hispanos, sed etiam Italos (è quibus unus sum) bene audiat tua optimæ spei Maiestas: faxitq́ue omnipotens Deus ut indies, quoad fieri iustè potest, unà cum nomine crescat et res. Huc accedit qui etiam intellexerim, ornatissimam apud [p. 5] T[uam] M[aiestatem] perstrui bibliothecam tali Rege non indignam, in qua, spero, non postremam partem obtinebit liber meus, qui priore sui parte mirum in modum eos iuuabit, qui ex eá uel quacunque alia librorum supellectile proficere in ediscendo uoluerint: eorum namque libellorum unus est De Memoria recuperanda conseruandaq́ue: secundus De Physiognomia: tertius prognostica perpetua certaq́ue continet. Cæterum cum sapientis & philosophi proprium sit, rationem & causam sui operis reddere, dicam breuissime, quid me potissimum ad hæc mouerit. In tanta librorum ac discentium copia, uidebar mihi, ita mouente Deo, rem studiosis non inutilem me facturum, si de Memoria (etsi argumenti talis plura bona aliâs extent opscula) succincte præcepta & sele- [p. 6] ctissima remedia indicarem: quam si quis iustis præconijs ornare uelit, multas opplebit chartas, actumq́ue aget. Quis[c1] enim est qui nesciat Memoram, uniuersorum sensuum communem fore arcam? siquidem quicquid uel oculis conspicimus, uel auribus haurimus, aut denique ipsa mente concipimus, usui ac meditationi seruat: de qua Seneca in præfatione libri Declamationum: Memoria, inquit, est res ex omnib[us] partibus animi maxime delicata et fragilis: in quam primum senectus incurrit, &c. De physiognomia itidem non est quòd multa præfari uelim: nam si concesserimus (ut concedere par est) sapientissimum Deum non ab re corporum atque hominum uarietatem fecisse, dubio procul fatebimur, hanc dijudicando facultatem probe tractatam, & u- [p. 7] tilem admodum & bonam esse. Cùm enim sine ullius rei adminiculo solus deus in corde uideat, homo tantum in facie & ab extrinsecis[c2] intrinseca cognoscit. Quis cordatus princeps seruum in familiam accersat, nisi antè solerti examine ex facie mentis nota, ex oculis animæ fenestris, & ex omni denique corporis situ & specie naturam illius rimetur atque exploret, num frugi & rei familiari usui futurus sit? Proditum est memoriæ, Pythagoram à principio statim adolescentes prius quàm in disciplinam suam admitterentur, φυσιογνωμονεῖν consueuisse, hoc est, indolem ex oris, uultus, totiusq́ue corporis serie atque habitu scrutatum, num ad philosophandum apti essent: quòd reluctante genio haud feliciter aliquid cedat. Quamuis autem illud interdum præ- [p. 8] ter communem philosophorum fidem & sententiam longè secus euenire cernas, ut è corpore deformi in signes prodeant uirtutes, hoc tamen eatenus fieri existimandum est, quatenus animus diuini numinis afflatu, philosophiæq́ue adminiculis adiutus, externas omnes uirtutiq́ue contrarias exuit affectiones, & rebus honestis inuigilat: ut Socratis, inter cæteros, exemplo notum est. Illorumq́ue opiniones explodendæ sunt, qui cæco quodam iudicio uanam physiognomiæ artem censent, quæ iam à priscis illis statim temporibus ad hanc nostram usque ætatem longissimis obseruationibus, multo rerum usu, uarijsq́ue euentibus comprobata, ex certis et peculiaribus corporis humani indicijs naturam inuestigandam tradidit. Et quamuis non pari modo mor- [p. 9] tales affectus & detegant & aperiant, nemo tamen ad harum alteram partium tam cautè inclinat animum, qui tempore procedente deprehendi queat, siue is secunda eleuetur sorte, siue egestate prematur. Id[c3] enim quid casu fit, siue uirtutis, siue uitij speciem gerat, ordinem minime statuit: sed qua in parte mens affixa maneat speculandum est, indeq́ue actiones nominandæ sunt. Tertium De perpetuis prognosticis adieci, cùm uiderem quo tannis incertas prædictiones fallacesq́ue (causa equidem difficillimæ astrorum scientiæ, ac humani ingenij caritate atque audacia) inuulgari, uolens nimirum ex ijs quæ sub sensibus cadunt, ostendere longe certiorem esse prædictionem. Non nouas artes scientiásue propterea me allaturum nunc polliceor, uerùm earum [p. 10] quæ à clarissimis uiris inuentæ sunt, partem utiliorem aliquam dilucidare ac facilem reddere augereq́ue nitimur. Neque illud à me expectetur in his opusculis, quò uarios adducam sæpius autores, cùm nullam ferè autoritatem ex postulem, præterquam experientia ipsa exhibebit. Quod ad stilum spectat, usus sum (id postulante operis materia) non latinissimis uerbis & abstrusis, sed perspicuitate qua potui, id est, uocabulis plurimum usitatis, seruata illorum significatione. Nunc serenissime Rex luculentius meæ erga T[uæ] M[aiestatis] obseruantiæ symbolum dare non potui: neque ego, ut moris est, partem aliquam tuarum laudum attingam, quòd nec idoneus sim tanto muneri, nec hactenus defuerint aut defuturi sint doctissimi uiri, qui hoc munus obeant. Quamuis, utpo- [p. 11] te qui bonorum principum exemplum iam esse inceperis, humanis laudibus non egeas, sait ex re ipsa commendatus. Me uerò tuæ Maiestati humillimè commendo ac dedo: quis sim, si non alij ob locorum distantiam, facilè poterit indicare serenissimæ Reginæ coniugis tuæ medicus excellens ac perspicax Iosephus Salandus, qui me iam diu familiarissime nouit. Christus Deus optimus maximus M[aiestatem] T[uam] quàm diutissimè incolumen ac florentem suis donis augeat ac seruet. Basileæ Calandis Febr[uarii]. M. D. LIIII.
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Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 4 February 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 serene and pious King of Bohemia, Maximilian, William Gratarolus, Doctor of Medicine, prays for everlasting happiness from the Lord God.
Last year, most excellent King, I published three booklets, which I had been working on for many months, sooner than I wished, compelled by the insistence of friends and the printer. While I was away, several errors were made during the printing process. Upon revisiting the book, I not only corrected the mistakes but also, with utmost effort and what is called the final touch, I enhanced it so much that this edition surpasses the previous one as a full-term birth does a seven-month one, or as pure gold does silver. I had dedicated the earlier edition to the King of England, who, before he could learn of it or see it, was compelled to exchange life for death. Therefore, I had to seek another patron under whose more august name the book, now improved, could be reissued. After much consideration, your Majesty seemed the most favorable to me, not only for various reasons I will not detail here but also because your most hopeful Majesty is well-regarded not only among the powerful in Germany and Spain but also among the Italians (of whom I am one). May Almighty God grant that your name and fortunes grow justly day by day. Additionally, I understand that a most elegant library is being assembled at your Majesty's court, worthy of such a King, in which, I hope, my book will not hold the least place. It will greatly benefit those who wish to improve their learning from it or any other collection of books. One of the booklets is on recovering and preserving Memory; the second on Physiognomy; the third contains perpetual and certain prognostics. As it is proper for a wise man and philosopher to explain the reason and cause of his work, I will briefly state what chiefly moved me to these subjects. In the vast abundance of books and learners, I believed, inspired by God, that I would be doing something useful for scholars if I succinctly provided precepts and the most select remedies for Memory (although many good works on the subject already exist): for if one wishes to adorn it with just praises, many pages would be filled. Who does not know that Memory is the common treasury of all the senses? Indeed, whatever we see with our eyes, hear with our ears, or conceive in our minds, is preserved for use and meditation: about which Seneca, in the preface of his book of Declamations, says, 'Memory is the most delicate and fragile part of the soul, the first to be attacked by old age,' etc. Likewise, concerning Physiognomy, there is no need for much preamble: for if we admit (as we should) that the wisest God made the variety of bodies and men for a reason, we will undoubtedly acknowledge that this faculty of judgment, when well treated, is very useful and good. For since only God can see into the heart without the aid of anything, man recognizes the inner from the outer, from the face and external appearances. What prudent prince would summon a servant into his household without first carefully examining his face for the mark of his mind, his eyes as the windows of his soul, and from the entire posture and appearance of his body, to investigate and explore whether he might be useful and beneficial to the household? It is recorded that Pythagoras was accustomed to physiognomize, that is, to examine the nature from the configuration, expression, and overall appearance of the body to see if they were suitable for philosophy, before admitting young men into his discipline: because if the natural disposition is resistant, success is unlikely. Although sometimes, contrary to the common belief and opinion of philosophers, you may see that from a deformed body emerge remarkable virtues, this should be considered to the extent that the soul, aided by the breath of the divine spirit and the supports of philosophy, casts off all external and virtue-opposing affections and devotes itself to honorable pursuits: as is known from the example of Socrates, among others. And those opinions should be rejected, which, through some blind judgment, deem the art of Physiognomy vain, which, from the earliest times to our present age, has been confirmed through long observations and experiences, teaching us to investigate nature from certain and peculiar indications of the human body. And although not all people reveal and expose their emotions in the same way, no one leans so cautiously to either side that they cannot be discovered over time, whether they are elevated by good fortune or pressed by poverty. For what happens by chance, whether it appears as virtue or vice, does not establish a rule: but it is to be observed where the mind remains fixed, and from there actions are to be named. I added the third book on perpetual prognostics because I saw that every year uncertain and deceptive predictions (indeed, due to the very difficult science of the stars, and the charity and audacity of human genius) are published, wanting to show from things that fall under the senses a far more certain prediction. I do not promise here and now to bring forth new arts or sciences, but rather to clarify and make accessible a part of what has been discovered by the most illustrious men, and to strive to enhance it. Nor should it be expected from me in these works to frequently cite various authors, since I require almost no other authority than what experience itself will provide. As for the style, I have used (as the subject matter of the work demands) not the most Latinized words and obscure terms, but clarity as much as possible, that is, with commonly used words, while preserving their meaning. Now, most serene King, I could not offer a more shining symbol of my respect for Your Majesty: nor will I, as is customary, touch upon any part of your praises, because I am not worthy of such a task, nor have there been lacking, nor will there be lacking, most learned men to undertake this duty. Although, as one who has already begun to be an example of good princes, you do not need human praises, being sufficiently commended by the matter itself. I humbly commend and dedicate myself to your Majesty: who I am, if not others due to the distance of places, can easily be indicated by the excellent and insightful Joseph Salandus, physician to your most serene Queen, who has known me very intimately for a long time. May Christ, the best and greatest God, preserve and increase Your Majesty in his gifts, safe and flourishing, for the longest time. Basel, the Calends of February. 1554.
