Postface, no date (1556), Adam von Bodenstein to the Reader (BP.Bod.1557-01)
| Author: | Adam von Bodenstein |
| Recipient: | Reader |
| Type: | Postface |
| Date: | no date [1556] |
| Pages: | 5 |
| Language: | German |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2380 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Adam von Bodenstein, Wie sich meniglich vor dem Cyperlin Podagra genennet waffnen solle, Basel: Bartholomaeus Stähelin 1557, f. 45v-47v [BP.Bod.1557-01]
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| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Abstract: | Bodenstein concludes his work on the twelve signatory herbs, asking for understanding due to the brevity of his descriptions. He mentions that the pursuit of these herbs was an expensive and challenging task and expresses frustration over people who, with deceptive intentions, tried to exploit his knowledge. Despite these issues, he completed the work due to his commitment to some honorable people. Towards the end, a root-digger presents him a beautiful plant from the mountains, which Bodenstein struggles to name. A theologian suggests it might be Asterion, Solsequium, or Lunaria, plants believed to have alchemical properties. Bodenstein expresses skepticism towards this claim, mentioning his past experiences with Lunaria. He has seen Lunaria in different places and conditions but denies any metallic properties in it. He concludes, refusing to further engage with people trying to exploit his knowledge. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
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[f. 45v] Hiemitt beschlies ich mein rede diser zeit von den zwelff zeichen kreütteren/ begären mencklich welle mirs im besten aufnemmen als dann ichs gethan/ hab sye weitleüffiger beschriben wellen/ so sind yetziger kürtze viel vrsachen/ vorauß dieweil ich grossen kosten angewendet in sůchung der kreüter auß eignem willen vnd beüttel/ [f. 46r] namlichen deren/ so nicht alle tag gefunden mögendt werden oder yedem schweinhirten kund sind. Aber mittler zeitt sich grobe leüt bey mir verfüget/ mehr als ich winsthe/ meiner geheimnuß der kreüter rausser klaubet/ Ja nach jrer gewonten schmeichlerischen art mit langsamer gleißnerischer rede ein weil mich besůcht/ zů letst mit dem vntreüwen schenckel (wie das sprichwort ist) drätten wellen. Dahär ich nur mehr im zweifel gewäst was zethůn were/ vnd wo die arbeit nicht gereit angangen/ deß gleichen frommer ehren leüten anmanen denen diß zeschriben zůgesagt gewäst/ hette ichs vndergeschlagen. Derhalben früntlicher läser laß dich auff diß mal vernügen/ vnd was du gůthertzig früntlich/ welches vnns christen durch einandern zůsthet besseren kanst/ [f. 46v] dz bessere/ deß vberig vrteile nicht auß neid/ laß in seiner würde bleiben/ sthet früntlich mir vmb dich zebeschulden/ vnd schier künfftig etwas weiters zeöffnen.
Sich günstiger lieber läser/ im puncten als dises büchlein vollendet/ kompt ein fleissiger wurtzengraber/ bringt mir von bergen ein schöns hibschs gewächs/ ein feins schottechtigs steüdlein mitt tunckelgrünen hipschen spitzen blettleinen gar nach anzůschaen als Hyssop/ sein stengel ist etwz braun/ tregt zwischen den blettlin himmel blae blümlin/ vnd in yetlichen strichlin wie sternli/ hats in mitte schön goldtgelb würtzelein. Wolt gar gern wissen/ wie es ein verstendiger nambsen dätt/ dann darauß vielichter sein frucht volgete. Es hats etwar doch nicht vß der zaal der gar hochgelerten/ wiewol er [f. 47r] sich der selbigen einer berett zů sein vrsach/ dz er Theologischen stands ist/ gesehen diser gibt sein vrtheil vnd es sey das recht Asterion/ oder Solsequium/ oder die Lunaria so doctor Adam sůchen lassen/ welle sey auch wissen zůr Alchimey ze brauchen/ Aber als er nicht zů vil hohe ding ergrindet hatt/ darff ich jm hierinn nicht glauben geben. Was sonst mein person beladet/ der Lunariæ halben/ do thůt er mir gwalt/ dz ich sye ye ein mal sůchen lassen. Gebendt dann ander leüt ohne meine bestetigung von kreütern nammen oder würckunge vß/ das lasse ich sye verantworten/ dieweil ich keinen befelch hab yemants rechtzefertigen. Was ich von kreütern halt in machung der metallen/ hast gehöret do ich von Anagallide geredt. Lunariæ mitt einem eintzigen stengel [f. 47v] vnd zerkerfften blatt/ welches wurtzel zaserecht vnnd oben am stengel kleinen samen tregt/ von der gesagt wirdt/ solle den Alchimisten dienen/ hab ich vor xvj jaren gewist gnůgsam auff der wasserfallen zefinden. Das ander Lunariam so ettwan achtvndzwentzig bletter hat/ wist ich im mooß bey Michelfelden vmb Basel zebekommen: Vnd hab meine tag nie kein kraut will geschweigen Lunariam gesůcht/ das ich nur verwändt viel minder gehoffet/ mann möchte einigerley metall dardurch machen/ darumb stehe diser ab von seiner hitz mir böses vmb gůtes zethůn derhalben beweget/ dz ich seiner gemeinschafft mich nimmer vnder nemmen will.
L. V. M.
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 28 May 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.
Here, I conclude my discourse of this time concerning the twelve signs of herbs, hoping people will accept it in the best possible manner as I have done it. Although I wanted to describe them in a more detailed manner, many reasons led to this brevity, especially since I have incurred great expenses in the search for herbs of my own accord and pocket, especially those that cannot be found every day or are known to every swineherd. However, in the meantime, some crude people have approached me, more than I wished, who greedily desired to pry into my secret knowledge of herbs. Yes, they have visited me for a while in their usual flattering manner with slow, insincere speech, and finally they wanted to trick me with dishonest shenanigans (as the saying goes). This is why I have been more doubtful about what to do, and if the work had not already begun, and I had not promised to write this to honest, honorable people, I would have refrained from doing it. Therefore, dear reader, please be content this time, and what you can improve in a good-natured, friendly manner, which befits us Christians towards each other, improve, and do not judge the rest out of envy, let it stay in its worth, I am willing to owe you, and soon to reveal something further.
Look, dear benevolent reader, just as this booklet is completed, a diligent root-digger comes and brings me a beautiful, lovely plant from the mountains, a fine Scots little plant with dark green little leaves very nice to look at like Hyssop, its stem is a bit brown, it carries between the little leaves sky blue little flowers, and in some lines like little stars, it has in the middle beautiful golden yellow roots. I would really like to know what a knowledgeable person would name it, because from this perhaps its fruit would follow. Probably none of the highly learned, even though he has reason to be one of them, because he is of theological profession, has seen this; he gives his judgement and it is the true Asterion, or Solsequium, or the Lunaria that doctor Adam had searched for, it might also be useful for Alchemy. But as he had not grasped too many lofty things, I have to deny him belief in this. As for my person, regarding the Lunaria, he does me violence, that I had to search for it once. When other people give herbs names or effects without my confirmation, I let them be responsible, as I have no command to justify anyone. What I think of herbs in the making of metals, you have heard when I spoke of Anagallide. Lunaria with a single stem and serrated leaf, which carries small seeds on its stem, and whose root is straight, of which it is said that it should serve the alchemists, I have known well enough to find on the waterfalls for sixteen years. The other Lunaria, which has about twenty-eight leaves, I knew how to get in the moss near Michelfelden near Basel: And I have never searched my days for any herb, let alone Lunaria, that I only suspected, much less hoped, one could make some kind of metal through it, so this one stops from his eagerness to do me harm for good, so moved that I will never undertake his fellowship.
