Text.Duchesne.1575-02.A2r/Translation
To the Most Noble and Splendid Sir Jacques de la Fin, Knight of the Royal Order of the Golden Fleece and His Illustrious Chamberlain, Lord of La Fin, La Nocle, Pluviers, Baron of Ambusson &c.Joseph du Chesne sends greetings.
It has been recorded in tradition that Pythagoras described human life as resembling that famous festival and market of the Greeks, to which some would go to compete, others to buy and sell, while yet others would merely observe out of curiosity. Philosophers, however, are those who neither seek applause and honor nor profit and wealth, but instead diligently observe the nature of things and carefully contemplate its creative power. This pursuit of philosophy and contemplation was extolled with such great praise by the wise men of antiquity that they regarded the souls of those who dedicated themselves entirely to this discipline as divine, as if elevated above the contamination and baseness of earthly matters to a near-celestial existence, honoring them and bestowing upon them the highest distinctions. Indeed, they considered this study to be of the utmost value either because of its usefulness for life or because of its incredible delight. For this reason, Plato declared that human affairs would only be well-ordered when either philosophers became rulers or rulers became philosophers.
How different, however, is the state of our present age! Rather, how shameful and disgraceful has it become! For those who devote themselves entirely to investigating nature and uncovering its secrets are not only ridiculed and mocked by most but are even considered worthy of being removed entirely. From this group of individuals, a certain Aubert has recently emerged, who, being unable to imitate the diligence or achieve the success of others, has derided them with epithets such as "charcoal burners," "ash sifters," and "smoke eaters." He has directed these same insults at that most esteemed father of abstruse philosophy, Albertus Magnus, and has raged against that ancient and esoteric branch of natural science commonly called alchemy, even going so far as to deem all its adherents unworthy of the light of day. Yet this science should be esteemed not only for the countless remedies it provides for the preservation of human life but also because it has been validated by the writings of the most renowned and learned scholars. Some of them, long ago, bestowed great gifts upon humanity through the mysteries of this divine art; others in our time omit nothing that contributes to the imitation of their virtues, the sustenance of human life, and the cure of diseases.
Indeed, this art is precisely what so many illustrious scholars have described. And it is by no means justified to impute any stain upon it due to the ignorance and dishonesty of sophists and charlatans. After all, history attests that many in earlier times proudly bore the name of philosophy and, drawn by the grandeur and dignity of this art, disdained ordinary ways of life. But to return to Aubert, I hardly know with whom he might be more aptly compared than with that Phormio who, after discoursing before Hannibal on military strategy, was ultimately dismissed with the remark that he had seen many old men who were fools, but none who were more foolish than him. For what could be more ignorant, what more absurd, than to speak on a subject either in a great assembly or to publish writings about it while at the same time confessing to have neither training in the discipline nor any practical experience in it?
To vindicate this most beautiful of all arts from the insults of a man of such little consequence, it seemed to me highly useful to write this little book to uphold its dignity and refute the arguments against it. And when I observed, most noble sir, that you, endowed with the highest intellect and born of illustrious lineage, raised among arms and engaged in the highest affairs of our king and princes, are nonetheless an admirer of this art of ours, I judged it best to present my work under your illustrious name. I did so both to proclaim my judgment regarding the greatness and virtues of your intellect and to lend my modest work some measure of dignity through the splendor of your name. If I learn that this work is pleasing to you and to those distinguished by intellect and noble birth, I will strive to ensure that I am not found lacking in devotion to this most ancient art.
Farewell, and as always, be kind to me.On the first day of April, 1575.
