Poem, 1560-12-01, Alexander von Suchten to Karl Rauhenberger
| Author: | A. à S. D. [Alexander von Suchten] |
| Recipient: | Karl Rauhenberger |
| Type: | Poem |
| Date: | no date [1567] |
| Pages: | 3 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2064 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Paracelsus, Medici libelli, ed. Balthasar Flöter, Köln: Gerhard Virendunck for Arnold Birckmann (Erben) 1567, sig. ※※※3v–※※※4v [BP087]
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| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Alexander von Suchten |
[sig. ※※※3v] Ad D[ominvm] Carolvm Salisbvrgensem &c.
Ergo sic perijt Lumen solare, quod omnis
Vsque Creaturæ fons & origo fuit?
Iamque salutifero pro Melle Venena bibentes,
Vltra Hominum nugas credimus esse nihil?
Non me vana mouet titubantis opinio Vulgi,
Quod nihil in Cœlo, nil Acheronte videt.
"Quà nos cunque trahit Devs & Fortuna sequamur:
Omnis apud Superos, Carole, nostra salus.
[sig. ※※※4r] Litera præcipites sed nos dedit ipsa, nec vsquam est
Qui sapit, hoc tanta est tempore plaga Dei."
Multa quidem scripsit sub Apollinis arte Galenus,
Et sua non paruum dogmata pondus habent:
"Sed mera Verba, iuuant nos Arsque Fidesq́ue medendi:
Fallitur e Chartis qui petit Aeger opem.
A Cœlo Medicina venit, Superumq́ue fauore,
Cognita perpaucis Vatibus antè fuit."
Hanc illi sanctè coluere, nefasque putarunt
Sacra rudi Populo notificare Dei.
Hinc Magicas artes inuenit docta Vetustas,[m1]
Discipulos illis erudijtque suos.
Quis Devs? & Cœlum quanam ratione vagetur,
Afficiens radijs Inferiora fuis?
Quomodo Principium rerum fuit vna potestas,
Sitque Creatoris Mundus imago sui:
Ad quam factus Homo, totum complectitur Orbem,
Qua licet æterno participare Deo.
Principijs rerum, fama est, donaria Perses
Immolat, & Cœli Lumen vtrumque colit.
Qui multos fallunt, motus septemplicis Orbis.
Tradidit hos veros ingeniosus Atlas.
Monstrauit populo Medicas Epidaurius herbas,
Nunc quoque non paruum Balsama nomen habent.
"Scilicet his olim titulis Vatesque, Magique,
Admonitos summi nos voluere Boni.
At nos consilium Veterum fugit, atque proteruè
Inscitiæ nostros insimulamus Auos?"
[sig. ※※※4v] Quæque triplex noxa est, simplex Sapientia, nodis,
Turpiter hanc nostro scindimus arbitrio.
Hinc Sacra Christiadum laceramus, & omnibus horis
Quilibet inuentis polluit ipsa nouis.
Fatorumque expers & captus imagine Veri,
Quid Superi faciant, iudicat Astrologus.
Et miscent Ebulum Medici, tamen intumet Hydrops,
Frigida crescentem nec leuat herba sitim.
Ergo Devs non est? sunt nescia Sidera Fati?
Ad Medicam frustra confugit Aeger opem?
Parce Devs vati, tu semper es vnus, & vna est
Luna voluntati fida Ministra tuæ.
Luna decus nostrum de tot Cœlestibus vna
Mortales casus aspicit atq́ue leuat.
"Carole crede mihi, donum Medicina Deorum
Est, apud Eoos inuenienda Magos.
Nec te decipiat, quæ multos Litera fallit,
Ante Creatorem, cætera nosse, suum.
Quem simul ac nôris, dabit hic tibi cuncta roganti,
Nectaris & compos cuncti potentis eris."
Ex frvctibvs eorvm cognoscetis eos, &c.
A[lexander] à [Suchten] D[antiscanus].
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 7 April 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 Charles of Salzburg
Has the sun's light, the source and origin of all creation, thus perished? And now, drinking poison instead of the healing nectar, do we believe that beyond human trifles there is nothing? I am not swayed by the wavering opinions of the masses, who see nothing in the heavens or in the underworld. "Whither God and Fortune lead us, let us follow; all our salvation lies with the divine, Charles. But the very letter has led us astray, and nowhere can wisdom be found in this time of God's great wound." Indeed, Galen wrote much under the art of Apollo, and his teachings hold no small weight: "But mere words please us, as do the art and faith of healing; the sick man seeking help from written texts is deceived. Medicine comes from the heavens, and with the favor of the gods, was known to but a few seers before." They revered this knowledge and considered it sinful to reveal God's mysteries to the ignorant populace. Thus, learned antiquity invented magical arts and taught them to its disciples. Who is God? And how does the sky move, affecting lower realms with its rays? How was there once a single power that began all things, and the world is an image of its Creator: to which man, encompassing the entire globe, is allowed to participate with the eternal God. It is said that Perses, at the beginnings of things, sacrificed gifts and worshiped both lights of the sky. The ingenious Atlas passed down the true motions of the sevenfold sphere, which deceive many. The Epidaurian showed the people healing herbs, and even now, the name of balsam holds no small significance. "Of course, the prophets and magicians of old, prompted by the highest Good, wanted to warn us with these titles. But we neglect the wisdom of the ancients, and in our arrogance, we accuse our ancestors of ignorance." What is a triple harm in simple wisdom, we disgracefully tear apart with our judgment. Hence, we tear apart the sacred Christian teachings, and anyone pollutes them with new discoveries at all hours. Unaffected by fate and captivated by the image of truth, the astrologer judges what the divine beings do. Doctors mix medicines, yet the dropsy swells, and the cold herb does not alleviate the growing thirst. So, is there no God? Are the stars ignorant of fate? Does the sick man seek medical help in vain? Spare the prophet, O God, for you are always one, and the moon is a faithful servant to your will. The moon alone, of all celestial beings, sees and eases the suffering of mortals. "Charles, believe me, the gift of medicine is from the gods and is to be found among the Eastern Magi. Do not be deceived by the letter that has misled many; know the Creator before all else. Once you know him, he will grant you all you ask for, and you will partake in the power of nectar."
By their fruits you will know them, and so on.
Alexander à Suchten of Gdansk.
