Preface, no date, Anonymous to the Reader (BP100)

From Theatrum Paracelsicum
Author: Anonymous
Recipient: Reader
Type: Preface
Date: no date [1568]
Pages: 9
Language: German
Quote as: https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=1876
Editor: Edited by Julian Paulus
Source:
Paracelsus, Aphorismorum aliquot Hippocratis genuinus sensus & vera interpretatio, Augsburg [1568], sig. A1v–A5v [BP100]
CP: Not in Kühlmann/Telle, Corpus Paracelsisticum
Translation: Raw translation see below
Abstract: This preface addresses the reader with an explanation for publishing Theophrastus Paracelsus' works, which have garnered interest among various scholars and laypersons for their insights into the natural world and God's creations. The author decides to print these previously unpublished works, including interpretations of Hippocrates' aphorisms and treatises on corals, St. John's wort, and water pepper, for the common good. The preface deliberately avoids the customary praise in introductions, aiming to spare the reader unnecessary verbosity and because the texts' inherent value makes external commendation superfluous. The author acknowledges that while Paracelsus' writings are insightful, revealing secrets in philosophy, medicine, and chemistry, they should be read with discernment due to his human flaws. The preface criticizes those who blindly follow Paracelsus, misinterpreting and misusing his teachings, and emphasizes the need to emulate the virtues, not the vices, of great men. (generated by Chat-GPT)
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[sig. A1v] Vorrede an den gůtwilligen Leser.

Gvnstiger lieber leser/ Seytemal diser zeyt nit allein von vilen Ertzten/ sondern auch von nicht wenig andern personen/ hohes vnd nidriges stands/ welliche den heimlichen verborgenen eygenschafften/ vnd wunderbarlichen vilfeltigen krefftten vnnd tugendten der natürlichen dingen vnd geschöpffen Gottes/ mit emsigem fleiß nachforschen/ den schrifften Theophrasti Paracelsi mit grosser begier nachgefragt wirdt/ vnd dieselbigen von jnen (nit ohne sonderliche verwunderung eines so hohen verstandes/ in einem so schle- [sig. A2r] chten vnd vnachtsamen Mann/ wie gemelter Theophrastus bey seinem leben dem eüsserlichen ansehen nach geschienen/ vnd von menigklichen geschetzt vnnd geurtheilt worden) fleissig gelesen vnd erwogen werden/ hat mich für gůt angesehen/ dise gegenwertige seine Büchlein/ welliche mir vnlangst zuhanden kommen sein/ vnd meins wissen vormals nye publiciert worden/ dem gemeinen nutz zu gůtem/ vnnd[c1] obberürten personen zu freündtlichem vnnd dienstlichem gefallen auffs fürderlichst in druck zuuerfertigen. Als nemlich seine außlegung vber primam sectionem Aphorismorum Hippocratis integram, vnnd vber die ersten sechs Aphorismos secundæ sectionis. Ferner drey schöne vnd nutzbarliche Tractetlein von [sig. A2v] Corallen/ von S. Johanns kraut/ vnd vom Wasserpfeffer oder Pfersingkraut. Wiewol nun gewöhnlich ist/ die Bücher so man in druck gibt/ dem Leser in der Vorrede zu commendiren/ so bin ich doch nit bedacht/ halte es auch für vnnotwendig/ solchem gemeinen brauch allhie nach zufolgen/ vnd das fürnemlich vmb dreyer vrsachen willen. Erstlich/ damit der Leser nit mit vbrigem vnnötigen geschwetz auffgehalten werde. Zum andern/ weyl dise schrifften an jnen selbs so nützlich vnd gůt/ auch lustig vnnd lieblich zu lesen sein/ das sie frembdes vnd weytschweiffiges lobs vnd rhůms gar nicht bedürffen. Dann ein gůter gerechter wein (wie man sagt) darff nicht vil ziechens oder außrüffens/ vnd ein war die an jr [sig. A3r] selbs gieb vnd geb ist/ findet leichtlich ein Kauffmann. Zum dritten/ damit etlichen jhres bedunckens hochwitzigen Maister klüglein vnd nase weysen/ so die scripta Theophrastica (welche sie nicht verstehen künnen noch sollen) hönischer vnnd spöttischer weiß pflegen zuverlachen/ zuuernichten/ vnd gantz vnd gar zuerwerffen/ kein vrsach gegeben werde/ jhrer gewonheit nach zu calumniniren vnd zu schumpfieren/ dieweyl sie der meinung sein/ so vil man dem Theophrasto lobs zumesse/ so vil werde jnen an jrem ansehen vnnd würden entzogen vnnd abgeschnitten. Darumb duncket mich fürs best/ man gebe dergleichen schrifften nur bloß an tag/ wie sie an jnen selbs sein/ vnnd lasse dem vnparteyischen leser sein [sig. A3v] meinung vnd vrtheil drey daruon/ sine omni præiudicio & beneuolentiæ captatione. Dises allein kan ich allhie vngemeldet nicht lassen/ es halte gleich ein jeder von disem Scribenten was er wölle/ so müssen doch auch seine höchste widersacher vnd feinde wider jren willen zugeben vnd bekennen/ das vil grosse vnnd wichtige secreta in Philosophia, Medicina, & Chymia von jm offenbart worden sein/ deren in anderen berümbten Authoribus keine meldung geschicht. Derhalben dann seine Bücher nit vnbillich/ ob sie wol nicht förmblich noch zierlich gestellt vnd geschryben sein/ mit den Silenis Alcibiadis vergleicht mögen werden. Jedoch hat es die meinung gar nicht/ das man darumb den selben als oracu- [sig. A4r] lis aller ding vnd durch auß beyfel gebe/ vnd Galeni vnd anderer theürer Männer hochnützliche monumenta hindan setz vnd faren lasse/ wie etliche phantastische köpff freuelicher weyse fürgeben vnd außbreyten/ vnd also jren vnuerstandt vnd vermessenheit/ vnter dem namen Theophrasti, als mit einem deckmäntelein beschönen/ vnd trützlich ohne alle einred hinauß zufüren sich vnterfahen dürffen. Dann diser Theophrastus hat gleich so wol als alle andere hochbegabte/ vnd hocherleüchte Männer seine fehl vnnd gebrechen gehabt/ vnnd wöllen derwegen seine schrifften mit vndterschied/ fleyssigem auffmercken/ vnd gůtem verstandt gelesen werden. Das aber seine pseudodiscipuli (quorum fœcunda so- [sig. A4v] boles nunc passim expullulat) sich beduncken lassen/ sie seyen gůtte Theophrastisten/ wann sie nur aller andern/ beyde alter vnd newer Medicorum scripta, vnuerschampter weyse verkleinern vnnd verdammen/ vnnd jederman der nicht gleich mit jnen hotten vnd zustimmen will/ tapffer außrichten[c2] vnnd außholhiplen/ ob sie schon in den Büchern jres vermainten Præceptoris (wellicher so er noch bey leben were/ sie keins wegs für discipulos erkennen wurd) weder wenig noch vil recht vnd gründtlich verstehen/ vnnd zu jhrem behelff fürwenden/ Theophrastus habe seine aduersarios auch redtlich herdurch gelassen vnd außgegangen/ in dem selbigen geben sie jre thorheit menigklich zu erkennen. Es heyßt: [sig. A5r] Duo cum faciunt idem, non est idem. Vnnd ist gar ein böse faule consequentia: Theophrastus ist inn seinem schreiben hefftig vnd scharpff gewesen/ darumb thůn seine nachfolger recht/ wann sie allen denen/ die es nicht mit jnen halten/ weidlich auffpfeyffen. O nein/ es hatt die gestallt keins wegs nicht. Magnorum virorum virtutes, non vitia imitari oportet. Zu dem haben sie die vrsachen nit/ in jrem schreyben hefftig zu sein/ die vileicht Theophrastus zu seiner zeit ghabt hat. Wann sie aber je Theophrasti per omnia[c3] similes sein wöllen/ so wirdt jnen in allweg vnd zuuorauß von nöten sein/ dz sie nicht mit blossem vngegründtem vnd hitzigen schreiben/ sondern im werck vnd mit der that erzeygen/ beweysen vnd dar- [sig. A5v] thůn/ das sie so vil wissen/ können/ vnnd verstehen/ als Theophrastus gekundt/ gewust/ vnd gethan hat/ so möcht man jnen darnach vileicht jre acerbitatem styli, vmb der hohen gaben vnd kunst willen/ desto leichter für gůt haben. Aber hieuon genůg. Will hiemit zum beschluß alle verstendigen vnnd liebhaber der warheit freündtlich gebetten haben/ sie wöllen dise meine edition gůtwilligklich auffnemen/ vnd die errata so etwa mit vndterlauffen/ nicht meinem vnfleiß vnd vnachtsamkeit/ sondern dem Exemplar/ welliches vber copiert gewesen/ damit ich mich auß mangel eines bessern nothalben habe behelffen müssen/ zumessen.


Apparatus

Corrections

  1. vnnd] corrected from: vnud
  2. außrichten] corrected from: anßrichten
  3. omnia] corrected from: omuia


English Raw Translation

Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 18 December 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.

Preface to the Good-Hearted Reader

Dear favorable reader, since in these times not only many physicians but also numerous other persons of high and low status, who eagerly investigate the secret, hidden properties and the wonderfully diverse powers and virtues of natural things and God's creations, have been greatly desiring the writings of Theophrastus Paracelsus. These writings, which have been diligently read and considered by them (not without special wonder at such high understanding in a man who, like the mentioned Theophrastus during his life, seemed outwardly simple and inattentive, and was judged and valued by many), I have found it good to prepare these present little books of his, which have recently come into my hands and, to my knowledge, have never before been published, for printing for the common good and for the friendly and useful pleasure of the aforementioned persons. Namely, his interpretation of the first section of the Aphorisms of Hippocrates in full, and on the first six aphorisms of the second section. Furthermore, three beautiful and useful small treatises on corals, on St. John's wort, and on water pepper or horseweed. Although it is customary to commend the books one publishes to the reader in the preface, I am not inclined to do so, and find it unnecessary to follow this common practice here, particularly for three reasons. Firstly, so that the reader is not held up with excessive unnecessary chatter. Secondly, because these writings are so useful and good in themselves, also pleasant and delightful to read, that they do not need any foreign and verbose praise and fame. For a good, honest wine (as they say) does not need much signage or calling out, and a true thing that is good in itself easily finds a buyer. Thirdly, so that no cause is given to some of their opinionated, clever little masters and know-it-alls, who are accustomed to mock and ridicule the Theophrastic writings (which they cannot and should not understand) in a scornful and mocking manner, to destroy and completely dismiss them, as they believe that as much as Theophrastus is praised, so much is taken and cut from their reputation and honors. Therefore, it seems best to me to just publish such writings as they are in themselves, and leave the impartial reader to form their own opinion and judgment of them, without any prejudice or seeking of favor. I cannot leave unmentioned here, regardless of what anyone thinks of this writer, that even his greatest adversaries and enemies must admit against their will that many great and important secrets in philosophy, medicine, and chemistry have been revealed by him, of which no mention is made in other famous authors. Therefore, his books may rightly be compared to the Sileni of Alcibiades, even though they are not formally or elegantly composed and written. However, it is not at all my intention that they should therefore be regarded as oracles of all things and without question, and that the highly useful monuments of Galen and other valuable men should be set aside and neglected, as some fanciful heads frivolously claim and spread, thus beautifying their ignorance and presumption under the name of Theophrastus, and daring to carry it out boldly without any contradiction. For this Theophrastus, just like all other highly gifted and enlightened men, had his faults and shortcomings, and therefore his writings should be read with discernment, diligent attention, and good understanding. But his pseudodisciples (whose abundant offspring now sprouts everywhere) delude themselves into thinking they are good Theophrastians, when they merely disparage and condemn the writings of all other physicians, both old and new, in an unashamed manner, and harshly criticize anyone who does not agree with them, even though they understand little or nothing of the books of their supposed preceptor (who, if he were still alive, would not recognize them as disciples) and cannot use them for their benefit. Theophrastus also let his adversaries have it in his writings, and in doing so, they reveal their folly to everyone. It is said: "When two do the same thing, it is not the same." And it is a very bad and rotten consequence to say: "Theophrastus was vigorous and sharp in his writing, therefore his followers are right to harshly criticize all those who do not agree with them." Oh no, it is not at all the case. One should imitate the virtues, not the vices, of great men. Moreover, they do not have the reasons to be vigorous in their writing that Theophrastus perhaps had in his time. But if they really want to be like Theophrastus in every way, they will first and foremost need to show, prove, and demonstrate not with mere unfounded and heated writing, but in deed and action, that they know, can do, and understand as much as Theophrastus knew, could do, and did, so that perhaps their acerbity of style might be more easily accepted for the sake of their high gifts and art. But enough of this. With this, I would like to kindly ask all understanding and lovers of truth to kindly accept this edition of mine, and to attribute any errors that may have crept in, not to my negligence or inattention, but to the exemplar which had been copied over, with which I had to make do due to the lack of a better one.