Text.Penot.1594-01.B5v/Translation

Author to the reader.

Given that human life, which is already fragile, troubled, and miserable in its condition, should not be passed carelessly or rashly, I have therefore, partly taught by my own long experience and partly from the books of many of the most approved philosophers, diligently and carefully collected a certain true cure and healing for many of the most serious diseases.

We have decided to continuously read and observe the philosophers and older authors (specifically those about medicine, which we intend to be understood here, lest the parts of sciences might be confused or disturbed more than is right) with constant diligence. However, no one should despise the more modern and recent authors deemed suitable, as those who have been recognized for their learning and expertise. Hippocrates says in his prognostics: There is a certain heavenly aspect that the physician himself may foresee, and if his wisdom is so great, he becomes admirably and exceedingly astonishing. The essence and power of each body, whether of denser or rarer substance, hidden deep within (as the proverb says) tends to hide all the more difficultly the deeper it lies, can be drawn out. Nor does it act the same as before in its mixed or dense body: But it operates much more quickly and much more wonderfully. For the fifth essence, such as of woods, fruits, flowers, roots, leaves, seeds, stones, metals, meats, and of any kind of things whatsoever can be extracted, undoubtedly has a thousand times greater power and efficacy than before when it was still enclosed in its own body, and therefore must be drawn out by some artful and clever decoction: and there is a great difference in the preparation of medicines, and the decoction of woods, roots, leaves, seeds, stones, metals, meats, and other kinds among the common people, pharmacists, and true philosophers, because according to how they are prepared, or have been prepared, they can preserve and strengthen the human body, and by removing all bad qualities, restore a person to their original health. Hence, Aristotle says in the Metaphysics, whatever has been lost and corrupted from human flesh must necessarily be restored by some corruptible thing, such as corruptible foods; by the power of natural heat, bodies are corrupted and transformed in the stomach, liver, and all the members by the power of the nutritive potential and are converted into human flesh, so also medicines must be prepared, that by the power of natural heat they may be corrupted in the stomach, liver, and other principal members, and be converted into human flesh by the nutritive power, then the bodies of people, together with their principal members and vital spirits, can be safely preserved, strengthened, and restored to their original health from decay, corruption, and weakness, and the dissolution of their powers.