Preface, no date (1567), Michael Toxites to the Reader (BP097)
| Author: | Michael Toxites |
| Recipient: | Reader |
| Type: | Dedication |
| Date: | no date [1567] |
| Pages: | 3 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2106 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Paracelsus, Libellus de Vrinarum ac pulsuum iudicijs, ed. Michael Toxites, Straßburg: Samuel Emmel 1568, f. 30r-31r [BP097]
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| CP: | Not in Kühlmann/Telle, Corpus Paracelsisticum |
| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Abstract: | Michael Toxites decided to add a book on the Physiognomy of Diseases to the small "De urinis" due to their similar subject matter. He translated it from German, written by Theophrastus, while facing challenges from the text's obscurity and omissions. Theophrastus Paracelsus restored and transmitted ancient arts that were lost over time. Although incomplete, this treatise mentions a third book, and Toxites hoped to encourage others to bring forth Theophrastus' works. He asks readers not to judge before understanding and to read Theophrastus' books multiple times to appreciate the wisdom within. (generated by Chat-GPT) |
| Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Michael Toxites |
[f. 30r] M[ichael] Toxites R[everendo] Lectori S[alutem].
Cum libellus de Vrinis exiguus admodum esset, operæpretium facturus esse uidebar, si hunc de morborum Physionomia librum, propter argumenti similitudinem, adiungerem. Transtuli eum ex Germanico sermone, quo à Theophrasto scriptus est, minerua rudiore, cum propter [f. 30v] angustiam temporis, tùm quod ornatum res Philosophicæ non requirunt. Acceßit difficultas, quæ mihi multum negotij fecit, propter obscuritatem, quæ partim à descriptoribus in hunc librum introducta est, qui sensum corruperunt, partim quod quædam etiam omissa essent. Itaque neque ergo quæ imperfecta erant, sed quæ pertinere ad rem uidebantur, transtuli, Pauca quædam uerba, sine detrimento tuo omisi. Non enim ad uerbum exprimere, sed gustum saltem aliquem tibi exhibere studui earum artium, quæ à ueteribus quidem excultæ, successu uerò temporis medicorum ignauia obliuione turpißima contritæ sunt. Has ex natura rerum Theophrastus Paracelsus, diuino illustratus lumine, instaurauit, fidelißimeqúe omnia tradidit. Quanquam autem & hic tractatus imperfectus est, tertij enim libri meminit, in quo mulier illa quæ uiri perfectio est, inuenitur, tamen rem me gratam facturum existimaui ijs, qui linguæ nostræ sunt expertes, si hæc pauca sic adijcerem, ut quid ex Philosophia Theophrasti ipsis aliquando, cum integra in lucem prodierit, sit sperandam. Simul etiam confisus sum, me aliquibus, qui Theophrasti scripta penes se continent, occasionem daturum, ut ea in lucem alacriori animo proferant, si hæc grata esse perspexerint, quemadmodum iam quoque uir orantißimus Balthasarus Floterus, post alios fa- [f. 31r] cere instituit, quorum omnium, ut propositum laudo, ita maiorem à Typographis diligentiam requiro, ne propter ipsorum negligentiam summa autoris diligentia malè audiat. Vtinam aliquando deus optimus maximus benigne uobis largiatur, quæ eius beneficio post mortem Theophrasti hinc inde plurima reliquit. Quod si fiet, in spem uenio, æquiores fore nostri seculi medicos Theophrasto nostro, qui eum nunc sine causa re incognita præter omnis humanitatis officium crudelibus conuicijs lacerant. Te uerò, amice Lectori, oro, ne prius iudices, quàm rem intelligas, ut autem intelligas, non unum, sed plures, neque semel tantum, sed sæpius Theophrasti libros legas. In quibus naturam rerum ita depictam uidebis, ut miraturus sis, hominem germanum, sermone germanico, tantum thesaurum suis germanis potuisse proponere, cum artium omnium, tum sapientiæ reconditißimæ, quæ dona an à malis spiritibus quàm Deo potius ipso profecta sint, pro tuo candore, bonitate, prudentia, facilè iudicabis. Vale, & meliora, si deus opt[imus] max[imus] uelit, à me spera.
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 16 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.
Michael Toxites sends greetings to the esteemed Reader.
Since the little book "De urinis" was very small, I thought it would be worthwhile to add this book on the Physiognomy of Diseases, due to the similarity of the subject matter. I translated it from the German language in which it was written by Theophrastus, using a more rudimentary Minerva, both due to the limited time and because philosophical matters do not require embellishment. Added to this was the difficulty that caused me much trouble, due to the obscurity that was partly introduced by the copyists into this book, who corrupted the meaning, and partly because some things were even omitted. So I did not translate what was imperfect, but what seemed relevant to the matter, omitting a few words without detriment to you. For I did not strive to render word for word, but to offer you at least a taste of those arts, which were indeed cultivated by the ancients, but have been worn down by the shameful oblivion of physicians over time. Theophrastus Paracelsus, illuminated by divine light, restored these arts from the nature of things and faithfully transmitted everything. Although this treatise is also incomplete, for it mentions a third book in which the woman who is the perfection of man is found, I nevertheless believed that I would do a favor to those who are not proficient in our language if I added these few things so that they may hope for something from Theophrastus' philosophy when it eventually comes to light in its entirety. At the same time, I trusted that I would provide an opportunity for some who hold Theophrastus' writings in their possession to bring them forth into the light with a more eager spirit if they perceive these things to be pleasing, as the most devout Balthasar Flöter has already begun to do after others, whose purpose I commend, but I demand greater diligence from the printers, lest the author's great diligence be ill-received due to their negligence. May the good and great God someday generously grant you the many things that He left behind by His grace after Theophrastus' death. If this happens, I will come to hope that the physicians of our time will be more fair to our Theophrastus, who is now cruelly torn apart with insults without cause, due to their ignorance. But you, dear Reader, I beseech you, do not judge before you understand the matter, and in order to understand, read not one but several, and not only once but many times, the books of Theophrastus. In them, you will see the nature of things depicted in such a way that you will marvel at how a German man, in the German language, could present such a treasure trove to his fellow Germans, both of all the arts and of the most hidden wisdom, which you will easily judge for yourself, in your candor, goodness, and prudence, whether the gifts have come from evil spirits or rather from God Himself. Farewell, and if the good and great God wishes, hope for better things from me.
