Dedication, 1570-03-01, Michael Toxites to Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria

Author:	Michael Toxites
Recipient:	Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria
Type:	Dedication
Date:	1 March 1570
Place:	Straßburg
Pages:	10
Language:	German

Quote as:

https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=1980

Editor:	Edited by Julian Paulus
Source:	Paracelsus, Ettliche Tractatus, ed. Michael Toxites, Straßburg: Christian Müller (Erben) 1570, sig. *4r–*8v [BP120]

CP:	Not in Kühlmann/Telle, Corpus Paracelsisticum

Translation:

Raw translation see below

Abstract:

The author thanks his patron, a high-ranking prince, for his support of medicine and explains his decision to promote the publication of Theophrastus' works. He discusses the need for diligent study of natural sciences in order to understand nature and criticizes the trend of valuing foreign goods and knowledge over those of one's own homeland. The author calls for greater appreciation of the gifts of one's own land and highlights the benefits of Theophrastus' teachings. He also expresses regret that Theophrastus was not able to publish his own works during his lifetime and asks his patron to accept his dedication of the work to him. (generated by Chat-GPT)

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[sig. *4r] Dem Durchleuchtigsten hochgebornen Fürsten/ vnd Herrn/ Herrn Ferdinando/ Ertzherzogen zů Osterreich/ Hertzogen zů Burgundi/ Landgraffen im Elsaß/ Marggraffen zů Burgaw/ vnd Graffen zů Tyrol/ &c. meinem gnedigsten Herrn.

Durchleüchtigster hoch geborner Fürst/ gnedigster Herr/ wiewol E[uer] F[ürstlich] D[urchlaucht] ich ettliche sundere stuck in medicina zů zůschicken/ vnderthenigst vor dieser zeit versprochen/ hab ich doch dasselbig keiner andern vrsachen halben bis her vnderlassen/ dann dz mich für gůt angesehen/ zů forderest die Theophrastische Bücher in truck zů fertigen/ damit menigklichen verstehen mö- [sig. *4v] ge/ was doctrina Theophrasti sey. Dann nach dem er alles was er gelehrt/ dem alten brauch nach der philosophorum beschriben/ derhalben er schwerlich verstanden würt/ So erfordert die notturfft das seine schrifften trewlich vnnd mit fleiß an tag bracht werden/ damit ein bůch das ander außlege. Zů dem will auch grosse vbung vnd erfarnheit in denen scientijs darzů gehören/ welche dem menschen sein verstand öffnen/ vnnd die warheit zůuerstehen geben.

Auß diesen vrsachen hab ich die Archidoxa Theophrasti Paracelsi sampt ettlichen andern büchern/ in truck außgehen laßen/ auch andere mehr zůtrucken zůgericht/ nicht allein den medicis [sig. *5r] zů gůtem/ sonder auch grossen Herrn zum trost/ welche zů weilen auch schweren kranckheiten vnderworffen/ vff das sie sehen/ was auß diser Medicina ihnen sei zůhoffen. Dan ich meer dan einen Fürsten weiss/ vnnd zum theil auch kennet hab/ welchen auß der gantzen Galenischen kunst jn Vlceribus, Catharris, vnd andern gebresten/ der schmertzen nit hat mögen gemilltert werden/ mit ettlichen ist es vil erger worden/ ettliche haben jemerlich mit gesundem hertzen gar müssen sterben. Dieweil in der Apotecken nichts gewesen/ dz da hette mögen helffen.

Dieweil dan E[uer] F[ürstlich] D[urchlaucht] zů diesem werck mir gnedigste fürderung bewisen/ So hab E[uer] F[ürstlich] D[urchlaucht] [sig. *5v] ich diese tractatus Theophrasti von Natürlichen dingen/ kreüttern/ Edlen gsteinen/ mineralen/ vnd metallen zůgeschrieben/ mich damit danckbar zůerzeigen/ vnderthenigst bitten/ E[uer] F[ürstlich] D[urchlaucht] wöllen jr meinen willen vnd gerings vermügen gnedigst laßen gefallen/ biß ich ettwas bessers meinem zůsagen nach schicken würdt.

Dise tractatus aber hab E[uer] F[ürstlich] D[urchlaucht] ich fürnemlich von wegen meines lieben Vatterlands der graffschafft Tyrol dediciert/ vnd zůgeschriben/ das man den merern theyl deren ding/ so Theophrastus hierin tractiert/ neben vilen andern hohen gaben/ damit sye Gott der Herr gezieret/ in diser loblichen graffschafft/ findet: [sig. *6r] Aber wenig seindt/ die solchem nachgedencken/ haben vil mehr achtung auff das/ so vber mehr auß frembden landen kumpt/ vnd jetzt an disem/ dan an jenem ort adulteriert wirt/ vns armen teütschen für gůt verkaufft/ vnd von den Oberkeiten wenig bedacht würdt.

Wieuil apotecken seindt im gantzen Teütschland/ die terram sigillatam, bolum armenum, sanguinem draconis, vnd vil andere stuck mehr/ wie das die medici selbs müssen bekennen/ gerecht haben? Warumb sůchen sie aber nicht? Sie würden finden bolum armenum, terram sigillatam, vnd ander ding/ jn den Osterreichischen landen/ besser/ dan sie der Türck hat. Das Ler- [sig. *6v] chen hartz laßt man aus der graffschafft Tyrol/ Schweitz/ vnd andern Landen gehn Venedig füren/ da machen sie den Terpentin darauß/ vil besser wer es das man den in vnsern landen behielt vnd machte/ So wusten wir/ was wir hetten. Diser ding weren noch vil anzuzeigen/ aber vmb kürtze willen vnderlaß ich es/ vnd will hiemit den medicis zůbedencken geben/ ob wir nit billich vnsers vatterslands gaaben/ mehr in achtung haben solten? Es ist ein grosser spott das die welschen kremmer/ vnd landfahrer/ besser wissen wz wir im Teütschland haben/ dan wir selbs. Es sollen vns auch andere bücher nit jrren/ als weren sie genugsam die natur darauß zů- [sig. *7r] erkennen. Dan ob wol de rebus naturalibus von andern viel geschriben worden/ So ist doch wenig/ das der arbeit wert sey: dieweil jhr wenig auß erfahrenheyt der natur geschriben/ Sonder hin vnd wider auß andern Büchern jre volumina zůsamen getragen/ vnnd nichts auß volkomnem wissen an tag gebracht haben. Auß diser vrsach ist Theophrastus zůschreiben bewegt worden/ welcher die natur nit auß lesen/ sunder mit grosser vbung in allen landen bey allerley gelehrten vnd vngelehrten personen/ in warhafftige erkantnuß bracht hat. Darumb schreibt er wie es in der natur ist/ vnd anderst nicht sein kan.

Es were hoch zů winschen [sig. *7v] das er selbs diese tractatus bey seinem leben hette in truck geben/ Nach dem aber die naturalia zům theil von vnuerstendigen leuten zů Saltzburg vndertruckt/ zum theil von wegen seines absterbens nicht haben mögen außgemacht werden (wie dan auch dem bůch de generationibus elementorum beschehen So můß man mit dem/ so wir haben/ für gůt nemen/ vnd Gott darumb dancken/ bis etwas bessers vnd mehrers herfür kumpt. Der herbarius ligt auch noch verborgen/ Gott geb/ das er ein mahl gantz an tag komme. Dann Theophrastus hat seine schrifften nit lenger wöllen verborgen haben/ dann biß auff bestimpte zeit/ die ist jetz vorhanden/ das sich [sig. *8r] Gott der herr der menschlichen blödigkeyt mit offenbarung der heymligkeiten der natur/ will erbarmen.

Demnach dan E[uer] F[ürstlich] D[urchlaucht] jrem hohen Fürstlichen verstand nach bis her die artzney nit allein geliebt/ sunder auch mit höchstem fleiß/ vnd grossen costen/ gnedigst befurdert/ wie das des hochgelehrten herrn Petri Andreæ Mathioli opera außweisen/ So bit E[uer] F[ürstlich] D[urchlauch] ich vnderthenigst/ sye wöllen dis klein Büchlein von mir in gnaden auffnemen/ in gnedigsten schutz vnd schirm haben wider die/ welchen Theophrastus ein dorn in den augen ist/ bedencken nit das jhnen mehr spot dan Rhům darauß eruolget.

E[uer] F[ürstlich] D[urchlaucht] befelch ich dem her- [sig. *8v] ren Christo mit allem fleiß/ der wölle sie/ sampt allen jren landen vnnd vnderthonen/ vor allem schaden vnd gefar bewaren vnd in glücklicher Regierung erhalten. Datum Straßburg/ den ersten Martij/ Anno 1570.

E[uer] F[ürstlich] D[urchlaucht]

Vnderthenigster diener.

Michael Toxites Medicus Argentoratensis.

Apparatus

Corrections

English Raw Translation

Generated by ChatGPT on 19 March 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 His Most Serene Highness, born noble Prince and Lord, Lord Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Landgrave in Alsace, Margrave of Burgau, and Count of Tyrol, etc., my most gracious Lord.

Most Serene Highness, gracious Lord, although I had promised to send Your Princely Serenity some separate pieces on medicine before this time, I have until now refrained from doing so, for reasons which I deemed good, namely, to promote the publication of the Theophrastian books, so that everyone may understand what the doctrine of Theophrastus is. Since he recorded everything he taught according to the old tradition of the philosophers, which is difficult to understand, it is necessary that his writings be faithfully and diligently brought to light, so that one book may expound upon another. This requires great skill and experience in the sciences that open up the human mind and reveal the truth.

For these reasons, I have caused the Archidoxa of Theophrastus Paracelsus, along with some other books, to be published, not only for the benefit of physicians but also for the comfort of great lords who are also subject to severe illnesses, so that they may see what can be hoped for from this medicine. For I know more than one prince, and partly also know, who from the entire Galenic art, in ulcers, catarrhs, and other ailments, could not have their pain mitigated, and with some it became much worse, and some had to die painfully with a healthy heart. Since there was nothing in the pharmacies that could have helped.

Since Your Princely Serenity has shown me the most gracious promotion for this work, I have written these treatises of Theophrastus on natural things, herbs, precious stones, minerals, and metals, to express my gratitude, and humbly ask that Your Princely Serenity may graciously allow me to do as I will and as my limited ability permits until I send something better in the future.

But these treatises, I have dedicated and written to Your Princely Serenity mainly for the sake of my dear homeland, the County of Tyrol, so that the majority of the things that Theophrastus deals with in this work, along with many other great gifts with which God the Lord has adorned it, may be found in this praiseworthy county. But there are few who think about this and pay more attention to what comes from foreign lands, now being adulterated in one place or another, and sold to us poor Germans as genuine, with little regard from the authorities.

How many pharmacies are there in all of Germany that have Terra sigillata, Bolus armenus, Sanguis draconis, and many other things, as even the physicians themselves must acknowledge? Why do they not seek them out? They would find Bolus armenus, Terra sigillata, and other things better in the Austrian lands than the Turks have. Larch resin is sent from the County of Tyrol, Switzerland, and other lands to Venice, where they make turpentine from it. It would be much better if we kept and made it in our own lands, then we would know what we had. There are many other things that could be mentioned, but for the sake of brevity, I will refrain and want to give the physicians something to consider: shouldn't we rightly have more regard for the gifts of our homeland? It is a great shame that the Italian merchants and peddlers know better what we have in Germany than we do ourselves. Other books should not be considered enough to understand nature. For although much has been written about natural things by others, little of it is worth the effort, since they have written little from experience of nature and have only gathered their volumes from various books, bringing nothing to light from perfect knowledge. It is for this reason that Theophrastus was motivated to write, who has not read nature, but has brought it to true knowledge through great practice in all lands among all learned and unlearned people. Therefore, he writes how it is in nature and otherwise it cannot be.

It would have been highly desirable if he himself had been able to publish these treatises during his lifetime. However, some of the natural things were printed by ignorant people in Salzburg, and some could not be completed due to his passing away, as happened with the book De Generationibus Elementorum. So we must accept what we have and thank God for it until something better and greater comes forth. The Herbarius is also still hidden. God grant that it may one day come to light. For Theophrastus did not want to keep his writings hidden any longer than a certain time, which has now arrived, when God the Lord wishes to have mercy on human ignorance by revealing the secrets of nature.

Therefore, Your Princely Serenity, according to your high princely intellect, not only loves medicine, but has also graciously supported it with the greatest diligence and great cost, as shown by the highly learned Mr. Peter Andreas Matthioli's works. Thus, I humbly ask Your Princely Serenity to kindly accept this small booklet from me, to have gracious protection and defense against those who have a grudge against Theophrastus and do not realize that it only brings them more shame than fame.

I entrust Your Princely Serenity and all your lands and subjects to the Lord Christ with all diligence, that he may protect them from all harm and danger and keep them in prosperous rule. Given in Strasbourg, the first of March, 1570.

Your Princely Serenity's most humble servant,

Michael Toxites, Physician of Strasbourg.