Text.Reusner.1582-01.T7r/Translation

To the candid reader, Hieronymus Reusner wishes good health (Εὖ ὑγιαίνειν).

You have before you, kind reader, our treatises on urines, in which you will see that we cannot possibly flatter those who attempt to join griffins to horses. We have freely expressed our opinion with a philosophical spirit; we have freely brought forth the opinions of others; we have freely, yet without slander or any desire to detract, demolished the arguments of many, armed as best as we could. We freely confess that we have emulated the consultations of the greatest philosophers, to whom we do not deny our indebtedness. For we must draw from the same sources as the ancient interpreters of nature's mysteries. It will be your role to judge, without bias or preconceived notions (which should be as far removed from the realm of philosophy as possible), who this field is sown for, to whom this crop is allocated, for whom the harvest of this labor and sweat is gathered. Judge philosophically on these matters, carefully weighing not who speaks, but what is said, whether it is true or false. If you do this, we will consider ourselves greatly advanced, and we will openly declare our life indebted to you. We do not concern ourselves with the rustics and Zoiluses who can only parrot Galenic aphorisms. "But why should we care so much about the opinion of the many?" For the most reasonable among them (who are truly worthy of consideration) will think that things have been done just as they ought to be done, as Socrates says in Plato's Crito. To which Crito rightly replies: "For the many cannot make a man wise or foolish, but they do what they happen to do."

This too is our opinion, which all philosophers have kissed, do kiss, and will kiss in homage to those ancient philosophers.

Furthermore, to show that we strain every nerve of both mind and body in this endeavor, to be of service to all and harm to none, we thought it worthwhile to add as a colophon some easily procured and very useful remedies derived from urine, especially many Spagyric or Chemical ones. If you consider these valuable, we have no doubt that God, the true physician, will, through His providence, assist you, the physician, in curing the sick.

Farewell, candid reader, and keep our sincerity in your favor. For among the candid, it is proper to act candidly.