Text.BP032.A2r/Translation
¶ Prologue to the Reader.
The reason, dear Reader, for this work or writing in the noble Art of Surgery, which has prompted me to write, is that I see such great and shameful errors and abuses occurring in this very necessary Art, which is ordained by God solely for the support of the needy and the service of one's fellow man, that we must observe very diligently and with great continuous contemplation and mature understanding, so that it is not misused and the poor are not harmed, but rather all possible assistance and help that the Art can offer is provided. In order that this aforementioned will or ordinance of God in this Art might be observed, I have undertaken, as far as God spares me, to write this Book for the comfort and support of every Surgeon, who wishes to distance himself from his past errors or mistakes which he makes every day, and also for the support of everyone who loves this Art, whether learned or unlearned, for the properly educated will be able to receive enlightenment from this Book on prescribing remedies for illness or wounds, as they will find here perfectly and without any defect composed remedies to gather and make when necessary, better than many others ever composed, as they will notice upon reading, as long as they do not read this Book with misunderstanding or envy, and the unlearned who wish to learn to assist their patients or themselves, their wives, or children in need, will find herein all that may be necessary in Surgery, both the knowledge of the ailment and the help and advice pertaining to it. Therefore, let no one be so uncouth as to criticize this work before he has read and considered its end, for it is truly adorned with the very best Recipes for potions, Oils, Salves, Plasters, and the like, which may be necessary in Surgery since the beginning of the world, not that it is gathered or scraped together from various and strange Authors, but it is the core and essence of all Books of Surgery, written by Theophrastus Paracelsus, who in this Art has been the most perfect that has been found under the sun. Therefore, dear Reader, it is my desire that you read and consider well my Book and everything in it with very mature understanding, and do not reject the Recipes unless you have first tried them, even if it happens by chance that they do not please everyone, when you have tried them, you will value them above all others you have ever tried in similar matters. Do not judge them before you have tested them, for they have been tested many times, and much good has been done with them in very diverse places and at diverse times, and no one has been poorly healed by them, although we see enough happening nowadays, God improve it, by those who yet claim to know much and boast very haughtily of being great Masters and having read all Books. These same people should clear their conscience first and their honor thereafter, so they should regulate themselves as taught in this Book, for then they will not harm anyone any more but will provide help and comfort to everyone (as much as the Art allows) and gain honor and profit for themselves, which they would not have done with their old false and unlearned Recipes, causing harm and disgrace to themselves. With this, I wish to conclude the Prologue, entrusting everyone to the vigilance they are entrusted with, for the Almighty God will not let it go as easily as is presumed by those who harm the sick daily, and yet do not fail to charge for their services, saying they have done as much as was possible within the Art, which is a blatant lie, their possibility I do not know, but the possibility of the Art you will find here in full and unadulterated, as ordained by the Creator of all creatures. May the same Creator grant you His grace and support, that having turned away from your past destruction, you may regulate yourself according to what the Art demands, and what the love for your fellow man compels you to, which is to assist him to the best of your ability and according to what the Art can achieve, knowing is not enough if you do not possess the Art, do not touch a Patient until you have it, for you will have to give account to the Supreme Judge for all that you do.
To the Lovers of the Art as a great Treasure, and to the destroyers as a destruction.
(Addition of the 1556 edition):
Just like a certain Peter Volc, who boasts of having done many great things, similar to the first Book of Paracelsus, which he claims to have translated from the foreign language (as he says), being a native Dane from Denmark or that region, I cannot well believe that he did it alone, without the help of others. Nonetheless, in the Prologue of the same Book, he scandalizes and despises all learned men, which is not honorable, for he himself is unlearned and deceitful. If those good men were still alive, I believe he would not have dared to write such things with such malice for nothing. He also boasts of having been involved with Surgery for a long time and having followed the war, with which he wants to imply and make it seem that this noble art could only be learned through war, but that is not so. There are other more capable Surgeons than he, and yet they have not followed the war, and are so competent that he is not worthy to untie the straps of their shoes, nevertheless, it is commendable for a Surgeon to follow the war to see something unusual, as it often happens there. But that he says he followed the war, it is more believable that he might have roamed the land and stood on the Markets with oil and salve like these common vagabond types who despise all learned men, Which is a pity, that they are not banished from the Lands as is done in many cities and places, for they bring many a person to death with their false lies, or at least cripple or maim them. I would like to know, what Certification he has from the city of Antwerp or Brussels, where he also presented himself as a great Master and in many other places, and has left many poor sick people in despair, which is evident enough by many diverse Surgeons who were called upon afterwards, although he writes so boastfully, I know well that he has not healed all those who have been under his hands, Yes, he has also secretly left some places where his goods were sold by the Lord, what he left behind which was not much, and desired to deceive all people with his great lies to get money, as is quite clear. He knows best how he is troubled and burdened with conscience, But so much to that, one should not condemn the dead, especially where nothing but virtue and honor has been seen, And also one should not despise anything unless one knows how to improve it, which is not found in him. That he has committed something noteworthy in any place is worth telling, for according to the correct sectors of the rationals, I believe he would not know how to treat a small wound according to the art as it should be, for he has not proven it to this day, although he boasts of having been involved with Surgery for 28 years, but it is well heard, how he has deceived many people with his great lies, of which he is a great Master, so that I believe one would not find his like in this, so well he is founded in it, and to play with the mouth as such people commonly do who have no certain dwelling place, &c.
