Preface, 1589, Johann Huser to the Reader of volume 1
| Author: | Johann Huser |
| Type: | Preface to the Reader |
| Date: | 1589 |
| Pages: | 4 |
| Language: | German |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=1081 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Paracelsus, Bücher vnd Schrifften, ed. Johann Huser, vol. 1, Basel: Conrad von Waldkirch 1589 [BP216] |
| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Johann Huser |
[sig. B1v] Hvservs Beneuolo Lectori S.
Gvnstiger lieber Leser/ damit ich dich kurtzlich berichte/ was in diser newen Edition Librorum Theophrasti Paracelsi geleistet sey/ so verstehe also. Demnach seine bißher in Truck außgangene Bücher (wenig außgenommen) nicht allein voller Erraten vnnd Mängel/ welche durch vbersehen der Schreiber vnd Setzer/ wie leichtlich geschicht/ eingerissen: Sondern etliche vorsetzlicher weise hin vnd wider verendert: Etliche gantz vnd gar verkürtzet/ vnd nuhr ad Sensum (dessen doch vilfaltig verfehlet) abgeschriben/ vnd also in Truck verfertiget worden: Jn ettlichen vil Bletter/ Paragraphi vnd Wörter außgelassen/ so von denen/ die sie publicirt/ in den Originalien nicht haben können gelesen werden/ ohne was vnrecht/ vnd manchmal gar widersinns/ welches an vnzehlich viel orten geschehen/ gelesen worden ist: (dann nit ohn/ das deß Paracelsi Handschrifft vberauß vnleßlich/ vnd ein lange vbung vnd grossen fleiß erfordert:) wie dann ein jeder bald gewahr werden kan/ so er der jetzigen Exemplaren eins oder etliche mit den vorigen Conferiren wirt:
Als hab ich erstlich die Bücher/ deren Originalien ich zuhanden bringen können/ gegen denselbigen fleissig vbersehen/ vnnd von vnzählich vil Erroribus repurgirt: wo sie von andern verendert/ restituirt: vnd welche mangelhafftig vnd nur summariè extrahirt/ ergäntzet vnd von wort zu wort von newem abschreiben lassen. Die vberigen aber/ deren Autographa ich nit zuhanden bringen können (weil derselben vil in solcher langer zeit vntergangen/ etlich auch noch von etlichen mögen verhalten werden) vnd deren doch keine getruckte Exemplaria mehr vorhanden: hab ich auß anderen manuscriptis, iisq́ue fide dignis, Exemplaribus vbersehen vnd corrigirt/ vnd dieselben neben den obgemelten/ vnd etlichen anderen so vor niemals publicirt/ vnd mir erst jetzt zugestanden/ dir zu gut/ trewlich in Truck verfertiget.
[sig. B2r] Wie sehr ich mich aber hierinn auch bemühet/ das kein wort des Autoris nachbleiben vnd abgehen solte/ so sind doch ettliche wörter vbrig bliben/ die dermassen verzogen vnd abbreuirt/ daß sie keines weges zu assequiren gewesen. Damit aber gönstiger Leser dir nichts abgienge/ hab ich dieselben wörter/ deren doch nit vil/ wie sie in den Originalien gefunden/ abreissen/ schneiden vnd dem Text inseriren lassen: villeicht gibt sichs/ daß du ohne gefehrd derselben Lection assequirest.
Vnd ob dir an ettlich orten noch einig dubium begegnete/ so wisse daß dasselbig vom Authore also vnd nit anderst/ welches ich auch zu endern bedencken gehabt/ gesetzt ist worden.
Die Defect etlicher Bletter/ &c. so an jren orten memorirt sind/ belangendt/ wisse daß dieselbigen noch zur zeit nit haben können zuwegen bracht werden/ wie auch noch viel Originalien: will aber menniglichen/ weß Würden vnd Standes er sey/ so noch einige Paracelsische Bücher bey sich hette/ hiemit vnderdienstlich vnnd freündtlich gebetten haben/ ehr wölle dieselbigen Gemeinem Nutz zum besten/ welchen ein jeder zufördern schuldig/ zu diesem Werck günstig communiciren: Sollen jhme zu danck ohne sein Vnkosten vnd schaden wider zugeschickt/ vnd darneben verschuldet werden.
Jch hatte wir zwar auch fürgenommen/ bey jedem Buch die Errata, Enderungen vnd Defectus, so in den zuvoraußgangenen Büchern befunden/ zuverzeichnen vnnd Trucken zulassen/ damit der günstig Leser alsbald den vnderscheid der jetzigen vnnd vorigen Edition hette sehen mögen:
Es weren aber derselben in etlichen Büchern so vil zu annotiren gewesen/ daß es ein grossen vbelstandt geben/ auch vil Bögen Papiers eingenommen hette/ vnd were doch niemandt darmit gedient/ weil ettlich Exemplaria vilmahlen vnd an vnderschiedlichen orten getruckt worden/ als die Archidoxen/ da je in einer jeden Edition besondere Errata zubefinden. So sind auch ettliche Bücher zuuor kaum halb außgangen/ als de Morbis Inuisibilibus, die Philosophia magna, &c. wie dann ein jeder bald selbst gewahr werden kan/ so er die jetzigen vnd vorigen Bücher gegen einander Collationieren wirdt.
[sig. B2v] Damit aber/ Gönstiger Leser/ Jch dich auch ferner berichte/ von wannen Mir die Autographa vnd andere manuscripta zu gestanden/ so wisse/ daß Erstlich der Durchlauchtige Hochgeborne Fürst vnnd Herr/ Herr Philipp Ludwig/ Pfaltzgraue bey Rein/ &c. auß Jhr F[ürstlich] G[naden] herrlichen Bibliotheca zu Newburg an der Thonaw/ nicht den geringsten theil derselben gnedig mir hatt zukommen lassen.
So hatt ein Ersame Landtschafft deß Ertzhertzogthumbs Kärnten die drey Bücher/ so Theophrastus derselben selbst dedicirt hatt/ auch guttwillig mir mitgetheilt.
Ein fürnemen theil der volkommensten Originalien/ so wol ein grosse anzahl seiner geschriebnen Exemplarien/ hatt hierzu auch guttwillig dargeben der Hochgelerte vnd Weitberüembte Herr Iohan[nes] Scultetus Montanus, Medicus zu Hirschberg inn Schlesien/ mein geliebter Præceptor: Welche er in seinen vielfaltigen Reisen vor viel jahren zu wegen bracht hatt.
Deßgleichen haben gethan dise Hochgelerten vnd Berühmbten Menner.
D. Ioh. Homelius Secundus, einer Ersamen Landschafft in Steyrmarck Physicus:
D. Elisæus Röslin/ Medicus zu Haganaw:
D. Lucas Bathodius, Fürstlicher Pfaltzischer Medicus zu Pfaltzburg.
D. Iohan[nes] Hiller/ Fürstlicher Marggräuischer Leibmedicus zu Anspach:
D. Melchior Wiel Physicus zu Solothurn:
M. Bartholomeus Scultetus, Mathematicus vnd deß Rahts zu Görlitz:
Herr Franciscus Krettschmayer/ Medicus zum Sagan:
Laurentz Dehn/ Burger zu Augspurg.
Deßgleichen hat sich der Ehrenuest Hartman Amman/ Patritius Bernensis, mit darleihung eines gutten theils allerley Fragmenten Theophrastischer Handtschrifft gantz gutwillig erzeiget.
So hab ich selbst auch/ von vielen jahren hero/ ein zimlichen theil der Originalien bey mir gehabt.
Diesen allen/ gutthertziger Leser/ so du etwas frucht hierauß [sig. B3r] schöpffest/ hastu zu dancken: Fürnemlich aber dem Hochwürdigsten in Gott/ Durchleuchtigsten/ Hochgebornen Fürsten vnnd Herrn/ Herrn Ernesten/ Erwehlten vnd Bestettigten zu Ertzbischoffen zu Cöln vnd Churfürsten/ &c. meinem gnedigsten Herrn/ welcher diß Werck gnedigst befördert hatt.
Für mein Person beger ich nit mehr/ denn daß du dir dise mein Arbeit nit wöllest mißfallen lassen: welche/ ob sie schon nullius Ingenij, ist sie mir doch gantz mühselig gewesen/ wegen der gar vnleßlichen Hand des Authoris, darinnen ich dann niemandt zum gehülffen gehabt/ dann meinen Amanuensem, Pavlvm Linck, Medicinæ Studiosum, welchers an seinem fleiß nicht mangeln lassen/ vnnd darumb seins Lobs auch würdig ist. Es sollen auch ehester gelegenheit/ anderen Nationen zu gut/ diese Bücher Latinè reddirt werden. Vnd wo ich hierinn dein günstiges Gemüt vermercken werde/ will ich dir künfftig/ was mir ferner von Theophrasti vnd andern dergleichen Schrifften zustehen wird/ auch gutwillig communiciren. Befehle also hiemit Dich in Gottes gnedigen schutz/ Theophrastum aber in dein günstigs vnd vnparteyisches vrtheil. Vale.
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT on 26 February 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 my kind and dear reader, so that I may briefly inform you of what has been accomplished in this new edition of the books of THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS, understand as follows: thus far, his books that have been published (with few exceptions) are not only full of errors and deficiencies that have crept in through the oversight of the writers and typesetters, as can easily happen, but some have been deliberately changed back and forth. Some have been wholly and completely shortened, and transcribed only according to sense (which has been greatly mistaken), and thus produced in print. Some have left out many pages, paragraphs, and words, which those who published them could not have read in the original, without doing some injustice and sometimes even absurdity, which has happened in innumerable places (for Paracelsus's handwriting is exceedingly difficult to read and requires long practice and great diligence), as anyone can quickly see if they compare one or more of the present copies with the previous ones.
Therefore, I have first diligently examined the books whose original manuscripts I could obtain and purged them of countless errors. Where they had been altered by others, I restored them, and where they had been summarized or only partially extracted, I supplemented them and had them transcribed word for word anew. However, for the remaining books, whose autographs I could not obtain because many of them had been lost over such a long time, some may still be held by some people, and there are no more printed copies available, I have examined and corrected them from other manuscripts that are worthy of trust. And in addition to the aforementioned books, I have faithfully prepared these unpublished ones, which have only just been granted to me, for printing for your benefit.
As much as I have endeavored to ensure that not a word of the author's work was left behind or lost, some words have still remained that were so distorted or abbreviated that they could not be reconstructed. However, dear reader, so that you do not miss anything, I have inserted these words where they were found in the original manuscripts, even though there were not many of them. Perhaps you will be able to understand their meaning without risking any errors.
And if you encounter any doubts in some places, know that it was placed there by the author and not by me. I have considered changing some of these doubtful passages but have ultimately decided to leave them as they are.
Regarding the defects in some of the letters and other things mentioned in their places, know that they could not be obtained at this time, nor could many original manuscripts. However, I humbly and kindly ask anyone who has any Paracelsian books to communicate them favorably for the benefit of the public, whom everyone is obligated to assist in this work. They will be returned to them without any cost or damage, and they will be thanked for it.
I had indeed intended to note down and have printed the errata, changes, and defects found in previous books with each new book so that the discerning reader could immediately see the difference between the current and previous editions. However, there were so many of them to annotate in some books that it would have been a great inconvenience and taken up too many pages, and no one would have benefited from it since some copies had already been printed multiple times and in various places, such as the Archidoxen, which had special errata in each edition. Some books, such as De Morbis Inuisibilibus and Philosophia magna, were barely half released before. Anyone can quickly realize this if they compare the current and previous books.
To inform you further, kind reader, where I obtained the autographs and other manuscripts, know that firstly, His Highness the Illustrious Noble Prince and Lord, Lord Philipp Ludwig, Count Palatine of the Rhine, etc., graciously allowed me to receive not the least part of them from his princely and magnificent library in Neuburg an der Donau.
Likewise, a respected region of the Archduchy of Carinthia kindly shared with me the three books that Theophrastus had dedicated to them.
A significant portion of the most complete originals, as well as a large number of his written copies, were also willingly given to me by the highly learned and famous Mr. Johannes Scultetus Montanus, physician in Hirschberg in Silesia, my beloved preceptor, which he had acquired in his many travels years ago.
Likewise, these highly learned and famous men also did so:
Dr. Johannes Homelius Secundus, a physician of a respected region in Styria
Dr. Elisaeus Röslin, physician in Hagenau
Dr. Lucas Bathodius, prince's palatine physician in Pfaltzburg
Dr. Johannes Hiller, prince's margrave personal physician in Ansbach
Dr. Melchior Wiel, physician in Solothurn
Mr. Bartholomeus Scultetus, mathematician and councilor in Görlitz
Mr. Franciscus Krettschmayer, physician in Sagan
Laurentz Dehn, citizen in Augsburg.
Likewise, the honorable Hartman Amman, a patrician of Bern, generously showed me a good portion of various fragments of Theophrastus's manuscripts.
Furthermore, I myself have had a considerable portion of the originals with me for many years.
To all of these, kind-hearted reader, if you derive any benefit from this work, you have to thank them, but above all, the Most Reverend in God, the Most Serene and High-born Prince and Lord, Lord Ernest, Elected and Confirmed as Archbishop of Cologne and Elector, etc., my gracious lord, who has kindly promoted this work.
As for myself, I ask for nothing more than that you would not dislike my labor, which, although it is nullius ingenij, has been quite laborious for me because of the very illegible handwriting of the author, in which I have had no one to help me except my amanuensis, PAULUS LINCK, a medical student, who has not lacked diligence and is therefore worthy of praise. These books shall also be translated into Latin for the benefit of other nations at the earliest opportunity. And if I see your favorable disposition herein, I will gladly communicate with you in the future about what further works of Theophrastus and other similar writings are available to me. I entrust you to God's gracious protection and Theophrastus to your kind and impartial judgment. Farewell.
