Dedication, 1572-08-01, Michael Toxites to Carl Welser Freiherr von Zinnenberg

Author:	Michael Toxites
Recipient:	Carl Welser Freiherr von Zinnenberg
Type:	Dedication
Date:	1 August 1572
Place:	Hagenau
Pages:	11
Language:	German

Quote as:

https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2012

Editor:	Edited by Julian Paulus
Source:	Paracelsus, Zwen Tractatus, ed. Michael Toxites, Straßburg: Bernhard Jobin 1572, sig. A2r–A7r [BP141]

CP:	Not in Kühlmann/Telle, Corpus Paracelsisticum

Translation:

Raw translation see below

Abstract:

The author discusses the importance of Theophrastus Paracelsus' teachings in medicine and philosophy. Despite recent publications, people still misunderstand and reject his teachings. The author offers to publish his own work for the sake of truth's admirers and proposes to publish two small books on the spirit of life and the powers of internal organs. The author suspects some tampering with the books, but he believes they contain useful information. He also includes a tractate on Electrum, useful for many illnesses. The author dedicates this small booklet to the noble lord and hopes that he will accept it graciously. (generated by Chat-GPT)

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[sig. A2r] Dem wolgebornen Herren/ Herrn Carle Welser/ Freyherrn zů Zinburg/ Fürstlicher Durchleuchtigkeyt Ertzhertzogen Ferdinanden zů Oesterreich/ &c. Rhat vnd Landtuogt in der Margraffschafft Burgaw/ &c. meinem gnädigen Herrn.

Wolgeborner gnädiger Herr/ gleich wie in den Natürlichen dingen/ alles was geschaffen/ sein anfang/ wachsung/ vnnd volkommen hatt. Wie wir an den kräuttern/ bäumen/ steinen/ metallen/ vnd allem was das leben hat/ offenbarlich sehen: Also ist es auch in denen sachen damit sich der mensch übet/ vnd ge- [sig. A2v] meinlich vmbgeht/ Dann also hat es Gott gefallen/ das ein jedes seiner zeit erwarten solte.

Derhalben dieweil dem lieben Gott gefallen/ das er durch Theophrastum Paracelsum die Medicin/ vnd Philosophey/ etwas hellers/ vnd klärers an tag bringen wolte/ dann von den Heyden beschehen/ hat er ein anfang gemacht/ mit den schrifften Theophrasti bey seinem leben.

Dieweil man sich aber vndanckbar erzeiget vnd seine gaabe nit erkennen wöllen/ ist das vbrig biß nach seim todt dahinden bliben.

Wiewol nun ettlich Jar her vil gůts auß Theophrasti schriff- [sig. A3r] ten von seinen liebhabern in truck gefärtigt worden: jedoch geht es eben jetzt/ wie es dazůmal ergangen ist/ das man vnbillicher weyß vber Theophrastum schreyet/ vnnd sein lehr auß verstandt verwirfft. So es doch offentlich/ vnnd am tag ist/ das jhn Gott der Herr selbs darzů berůffen/ das er die warheyt in Philosophia, vnnd Medicina auß den tenebris der Sophisterey wider an das liecht bringen solte. Dann das ist ein mahl gewiß/ das durch faulkeit/ vnnd auch etwan vntrew vnd mißgunst vil gůte ding in abgang kommen/ vnnd zům theil gar verlorn worden/ welche die veteres Medici gehabt ha- [sig. A3v] ben. Wa seind die arcana medicamentorum? wer weißt die anatomiam maioris & minoris mundi? wie vil verstehent die heimlichen virtutes herbarum, gemmarum, & metallorum? dauon die veters so vil geschriben? Jst jm nit also/ wann einer ein halben centner Edelgestein an hals hänckte für alle die kranckheiten/ darfür sie gůt sein sollen/ es wurde jn nicht vil helffen/ wiewol vil gewaltiger leuht solche vires den Edlen gesteinen zůgeeignet haben? Was ist aber die vrsach? Eben die/ das wir weder die preparationes wissen/ noch die Anatomy verstehn/ auch keiner zeit nit acht haben/ welche doch die Bawrn obseruieren/ vnd dem [sig. A4r] Medico insonderheit zubedencken ist. Wir verachten das wir nicht kennen/ verdammen das wir nit verstehen/ verkehren Theophrasto sein verstandt/ messen jhm ein jrrigen sinn zu/ vnnd ist des falschen vrtheils kein end. Doch seine schrifften auff die warheit gegründet/ vnd mit nichten dahin gedeut werden mögen/ dahin sie ettlich gern deüten wolten. Gleichwol wirt jm Gott sein Raht nicht lassen ändern/ sonder die warheit wirt müssen an tag kommen/ die welt tobe darüber wie sie wölle/ dann Theophrasti prognostica werden nimmermehr fehlen.

Derhalben will ich vmb der liebhaber der warheit willen/ [sig. A4v] daß mein thůn/ vnnd was ich hab/ das zů des menschen gesundheit dienstlich ist/ trewlich herfür geben/ gůter hoffnung/ alle medici, so die kunst vnd warheit lieb haben/ werden jnen mein Propositum gefallen lassen. Vnder anderm aber hab ich auff diß mal dise zwey Büchlein jetzunder publicieren wollen/ So ich vor anderthalb Jharen gefärtigt/ aber anderer arbeit halb nicht haben getruckt werden mögen. Das erst ist/ de viribus membrorum spiritualium. Das ander de Electro. Das erst hat siben Bücher/ Vnd tractiert das erst Bůch von dem geist des lebens/ Das ander von kräfften der inwendigen glider/ Das drit [sig. A5r] von der curation/ Dz vierdt von der kräfften der glider chaos, Dz fünfft von kräfften der eüssern glider/ Dz sechst wie die vier Elementa in vns beschirmt werden/ vnd dan dz sibendt von den dreyen dingen darauß die natur gemacht würdt.

Wiewol nun dz vierdt/ fünfft vnnd sibendt bůch nit vorhanden/ auch im sechsten etwz mangelt/ sol man darumb das vberig nit verachten/ sonder gleich wie andere reliquias, vnnd antiquitates hoch halten. Dann in disen wenigen reliquijs nit allein der geist vnsers lebens/ sampt der inwendigen glider kräfften/ auch die cura gantz vnnd warhafftig beschriben/ sonder auch vil herrliche vnnd nutzliche præ- [sig. A5v] parationes begriffen werden/ Dann was ist höhers in Medicina/ dann so der Medicus die membra principalia bey jr gesundtheyt mag erhalten? An disen glidern ist meniglichen am meisten gelegen/ insonderheit aber Keysern/ Künigen/ Fürsten/ Herrn/ vnd allen Oberkeyten/ welche jr Ampt mit grossen beschwärden verrichten/ wa der obgemelten glider eins sein gesundtheit nit hat.

Wiewol nun Theophrastus nach anzeigung der titel ein andere ordnung gestellt/ vnnd die preparationes vnnd curam von der beschreibung der glider abgesündert hat/ So hab ich doch/ dieweil dis Tractätlein klein im- [sig. A6r] perfect/ vnnd nit mehr alles bey einander ist/ dise ordnung nit gehalten/ Sonder das ander vnd dritte bůch zůsammen gezogen/ vnd nach eines jedes glids beschreibung sein curam gesetzt/ damit ein jeder als bald den nutz dises Büchleins sehe. Dann wie die beschreibung also ist auch die cura gantz. Hab auch zů end dises Büchleins annotationes gesetzt vmb bessers verstands willen.

Was aber die vrsach dises defects weiß ich nit/ besorg es sey deren gesellen einer darüber kommen/ denen leid ist/ das gůte bücher gantz an das liecht gebracht werden/ derhalben sie dieselbigen verfälschen/ das gůt herauß zwacken/ vnd vermeinen/ sie ha- [sig. A6v] ben es wol außgericht/ wann sie die Authores stimblen/ wie vilen geschehen/ vnd den Leser mit jren diebstal seiner hoffnung berauben/ welche zů seiner zeit jr straff empfahen werden.

Was dann das Electrum für ein Herrlicher Tractatus ist/ damit man in vilen kranckheyten vil gůts außrichten mag/ haben E[uer] G[naden] als ein hochuerstendiger Herr darinnen leichtlich zůersehen/ derhalben nit von nöten vil dauon zůmelden. Wiewol nun dises Electrum das sechste Bůch ist Archidoxis Magicæ jedoch hab ich es separatim hieher auch setzen wöllen/ von wegen seiner tugent in vil schweren kranckheiten darzů es dienstlich ist.

[sig. A7r] Dieweil dann E[uer] G[naden] solcher ding ein liebhaber seind vnd bey E[uer] G[naden] ich ander sachen halb zůthůn gehabt/ so hab bey E[uer] G[naden] nit mit lären henden (wie man sagt) erscheinen/ sonder dises klein büchlein E[uer] G[naden] vnderthäniger wolmeinung dediciern vnd mit bringen wöllen/ Das wölle E[uer] G[naden] von mir in Gnaden annemen vnd beschirmen.

Christus der Herr wölle E[uer] G[naden] in langwiriger gsundtheyt vnd wolfart gnediglich erhalten. Datum Hagenaw/ den ersten Augusti/ M. D. LXXII.

E[uer] G[naden] Vnderthäniger

Michael Toxites der Artzney Doctor.

Apparatus

Word Explanations

Corrections

English Raw Translation

Generated by ChatGPT on 25 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 the well-born Lord, Lord Carle Welser, Baron of Zinburg, to His Serene Highness Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, etc., Governor and Landgrave in the Margraviate of Burgau, etc., my gracious Lord.

Well-born gracious Lord, just as in natural things everything that is created has its beginning, growth, and perfection. As we can clearly see in the herbs, trees, stones, metals, and everything that has life, it is also the case with the things that man practices and commonly deals with. Therefore, it pleased God that everything should wait for its time.

Therefore, since it pleased the dear God that he wanted to bring some clarity and enlightenment to medicine and philosophy through Theophrastus Paracelsus, more so than was achieved by the heathens, he began with the writings of Theophrastus during his lifetime.

However, since people showed themselves ungrateful and did not want to recognize his gift, the rest remained behind after his death.

Although much good has been printed from Theophrastus' writings by his admirers in recent years, it is still the case now, as it was then, that people ignorantly denigrate Theophrastus and reject his teachings without understanding them. Yet it is public knowledge that God himself called him to bring the truth in philosophy and medicine out of the shadows of sophistry and into the light. It is certain that many good things have been lost or partly lost through laziness, unfaithfulness, and envy, which the ancient physicians possessed. Where are the arcana medicamentorum? Who knows the anatomiam maioris & minoris mundi? How many understand the secret virtues of herbs, gems, and metals that the ancients wrote so much about? If someone were to wear a half a hundredweight of precious stones around their neck to cure all the illnesses they are supposed to be good for, it would not help them much, although powerful people have attributed such powers to noble stones. But what is the reason? We neither know the preparations nor understand the anatomy, nor do we ever pay attention to what the farmers observe, which is particularly important for the doctor to consider. We despise what we do not know, condemn what we do not understand, pervert Theophrastus's understanding, ascribe to him a foolish sense, and the false judgment never ends. Nevertheless, his writings are founded on truth and cannot be interpreted in the way that some would like. God will not change his plan for him, but the truth must come to light, no matter how the world rages about it, for Theophrastus's prognostications will never fail.

Therefore, for the sake of truth's admirers, I will faithfully publish my work and what I have that is useful for human health. I have good hope that all physicians who love the art and truth will approve of my proposal. Among other things, I have decided to publish these two little books at this time, which I completed a year and a half ago but could not print due to other work. The first is De Viribus Membrorum Spiritualium, which has seven books and discusses the spirit of life in the first book, the powers of internal organs in the second, the cure in the third, the powers of the chaotic organs in the fourth, the powers of the external organs in the fifth, how the four elements are protected within us in the sixth, and the three things from which nature is made in the seventh. The second is De Electro.

Although the fourth, fifth, and seventh books are not available, and there is some shortage in the sixth, we should not despise the rest but hold them in high regard as other relics and antiquities. For in these few relics, not only is the spirit of our life described, along with the powers of internal organs and the cure, but also many splendid and useful preparations are included. For what is higher in medicine than for the physician to be able to maintain the principal organs in good health? Everyone is most concerned about these organs, especially emperors, kings, princes, lords, and all authorities who perform their duties with great burdens, where the health of any of the aforementioned organs is lacking.

Although Theophrastus has arranged his work in a different order according to the titles and has separated the preparations and cure from the description of the organs, since this tractate is small and imperfect and not everything is together, I have not followed this order. Instead, I have combined the second and third books and set the cure according to the description of each organ, so that everyone can see the usefulness of this booklet immediately. The description is thus also the cure entirely. I have also added annotations at the end of this booklet for the sake of better understanding.

But I do not know the cause of this defect. I suspect that some companions may have tampered with it, who are sorry that good books are brought to light and therefore falsify them, squeezing out the good and thinking they have done well when they stamp the authors' names, as happens to many, and rob the reader of his hope. They will receive their punishment in due time.

Regarding the Electrum, a splendid tractate in which much good can be achieved in many illnesses, Your Grace, as a highly esteemed lord, can easily see for yourself, so it is not necessary to say much about it. Although this Electrum is the sixth book of Archidoxis Magica, I wanted to include it separately here because of its usefulness in many serious illnesses.

Since Your Grace is a lover of such things, and since I have had dealings with Your Grace in other matters, I did not want to appear with empty hands before Your Grace, but wanted to dedicate and bring this small booklet to Your Grace with my sincere intention. I pray that Your Grace may accept it graciously and protect it.

May the Lord Christ keep Your Grace in long-lasting health and prosperity. Given in Hagenau on the first of August, 1572.

Your Grace's humble servant,

Michael Toxites, Doctor of Medicine.