View source for Dedication, 1566-05-15, Pierre Hassard to Lamoral d’Egmont

{{InfoboxParatext
| Author=Pierre Hassard
| Anon=
| AuthorPresumed=
| Recipient=Lamoral d’Egmont
| Type=Dedication
| Classification=
| Date=1566-05-15
| DatePresumed=
| Place=
| Pages=5
| Language=fra
| Editor=Julian Paulus
| SourceAuthor=Paracelsus
| SourceTitle=La grande, vraye, et parfaicte chirurgie
| SourceEditor=Pierre Hassard
| SourcePlace=Antwerpen: Willem Silvius 
| SourceDate=1567
| SourceSig=A2r-A4r
| SourcePag=
| SourceFol=
| SourceBP=BP083
| ReprintedFrom=
| Description=
| Abstract=
| Names=
| Places=
| Authorities=
| Texts=
| Note=
| ID=
| CP=0
| Translation=1
| KeywordsGPT=noble prince, Sir Lamoral of Egmont, Pierre Hassard, Physician, Surgeon, gifts, Paracelsus, Surgery, translation, war leader, health, Medicine, devotion, Brussels, 1566
| AbstractGPT=Pierre Hassard, a physician and surgeon, dedicates his translation of the Surgery of the renowned Doctor Paracelsus to the noble and powerful prince, Sir Lamoral of Egmont. Hassard acknowledges the ancient custom of presenting gifts to illustrious figures and highlights the importance of health as a precious and valuable aspect of life. Despite not offering elegance in language, Hassard hopes the prince will accept his work and provide protection for it. In return, Hassard promises to strive to illustrate and perpetuate the prince's name and prays for the fulfillment of all his good desires.
}}


{{Pagemark|sig|A2r}} {{MarkupUppercase|A hault et puissant prince, Messire Lamoral d’Egmont, prin|u=v}}ce de Gaure, Conte dudict Egmont, Baron de Bar, Seigneur de Fiennes, d’Auxy, d’Arme{{EditAbbr|n}}tieres, de Ninoue, &c. Cheualier de l’Ordre, Gouuerneur & Capitaine general pour le Roy de ses pays & Co{{EditAbbr|n}}téz de Flandres & d’Artois,

{{MarkupSmallcaps|Pierre Hassard}} <i>Medecin & Chirurgien humble alut.</i>

{{MarkupInitial|La}} maniere & coustume des ancie{{EditAbbr|n}}s, Prince tresillustre, a esté de faire dons & presentz vn chascun selo{{EditAbbr|n}} sa faculté, aux Princes & nobles Seigneurs, lesquelz n’abandonnoie{{EditAbbr|n}}t point seulement leurs biens, mais aussi mettoient leur vie en peril pour la defen- {{Pagemark|sig|A2v}} se du pays, & conseruation de la republique: Honorant iceux & gratifia{{EditAbbr|n}}t les vns, de quelques cheuaux de pris, ou riches ornements d’iceux, les autres auec quelques chiens bien duictz a la chasse & de bo{{EditAbbr|n}}ne race, les autres de quelque Aultour, Vaultour, ou faulcon gentil, pelerin, gerfault, ou lasnier, les autres d’autres choses estimées dignes d’vn Prince Illustre, & chef de guerre hardi & inuincible. Et ie considera{{EditAbbr|n}}t en moy-mesmes longuement & cogitant que ie pourroie presenter a vostre Excelle{{EditAbbr|n}}ce mon Prince & Seigneur naturél, ie m’aduisai (comme celuy qui n’a autre chose digne d’estre estimée) vous faire present de ceste mienne translation de la Chirurgie de l’incomparable & admirable Docteur Medecin & Chirurgien {{MarkupSmallcaps|Paracelsus|u=v}};{{Index|Name|Paracelsus}} Encore que ce ne soit assez grande & digne de vostre Excellence, a laquelle ne se debueroit riens dedier qui ne fut de singuliere importance, mais qui s&ccedil;auroit ou poirroit de presens ou louanges satisfaire à vostre Excellence & vertu? qui par voz beaux & insignes faictz d’armes, en dechassant les ennemis tant de fois, non sans grand danger de vostre personne, vous estes monstré Prince hardi, fort, {{Pagemark|sig|A3r}} magnanime, & inuincible: & non seulement en la guerre, mais aussi en ce temps de paix, vostre prudence & vertu est a tous notoire. De maniere que par voz vertueuses &oelig;uures reluisez entre tous autres Illustres Princes, comme vn Soleil entre les Estoilles & planetes. Tellement que a grand ioye tout le peuple vous clame (apres nostre tres-inuincible & tres-puissant Prince & Roy) seul Protecteur du pays; lesquelles choses, c’est à s&ccedil;auoir l’amour & faueur du peuple, sont les richesses & tresors de bons Princes, ce qui a esté cause que ie vous ay dedié cest opuscule.

{{MarkupSmallcaps|Encore}} vne autre raison m’a induict & meu a ce faire c’est, à fin que deua{{EditAbbr|n}}t tous ie declare & confesse vostre Excellence, estre mo{{EditAbbr|n}} Prince naturel, comme celuy qui suis nais, & esté nourri à Armentieres,{{Index|Place|Armentières}} vn lieu lequel entre toutes voz terres, pour vostre bonne fame, est bien renommé par tout le monde.

{{MarkupSmallcaps|Il}} y a encore vne autre cause qui n’est moindre que les autres, c’est, pource qu’il n’y a riens és choses de nature de ce monde plus pretieux, ne plus vtil & delectable que la santé, ce que nostre aucteur {{MarkupSmallcaps|Paracelsus,|u=v}}{{Index|Name|Paracelsus}} demonstre a maintenir {{Pagemark|sig|A3v}} parfaictement, & curer ou elle default, par ccidentz tant exterieurs que interieurs, en cestuy sien &oelig;uure, ou il reuocque en lumiere l’ancienne, vraye, & entiere doctrine des anciens, en repoulsant les erreurs & abus qui se commette{{EditAbbr|n}}t auiourd’huy en la Medecine & Chirurgie, qui sont telz, que mieux vaudroit point n’auoir iceux artz, que de les auoir si deprauées, & pource aussi, que c’est vne &oelig;uure digne & vtile pour vn chef de guerre & grandement necessaire a ses gentz, ainsi que pourra par experie{{EditAbbr|n}}ce apparoir.

{{MarkupSmallcaps|Ie}} s&ccedil;ay Monseigneur que vostre Excellence ne trouuera icy grande elegance ne ornement de langaige, mais i’ay esté contrainct pour la proprieté & grandeur de ceste science d’vser d’vn stil bas & rude, sans aucune affectation, car en toutes choses le fruict se doibt plus priser que la fleur. Ne reste plus maintenant sinon que vostre Excellence, Prince tresillustre, re&ccedil;eoiue ce mien labeur de bonne part, & vous plaiseme recognoistre & fauoriser pour vn devoz subiectz, & ce fera que ceste &oelig;uure tresutile, ne craindra le iugement rigoreux de plusieurs espritz enuieux & Zoyles, estant deffendu & {{Pagemark|sig|A4r}} souz la tutelle de vostre Excellence: car elle a de tant plus mestier de vostre ayde, deffence, & protection, d’autant qu’elle est contraire & repugnante a la doctrine des autres. Pourtant Prince tresillustre, si ce mien labeur est re&ccedil;eu benignement en vostre grace, vous me inciterez a faires choses plusgrandes, par lesquelles renderay peine de illustrer & perpetuer vostre nom ia tant celebré & renommé: Desirant estre recommandé a vostre Ecellence, laquelle ie prie Dieu nostre Seigneur tout puissant maintenir en bonne & longe prosperité, & vous donner accomplissement de tous voz bons & salutaires desirs. De Bruxelles ces Ides de May. {{MarkupAllSmallcaps|M.&nbsp;D.&nbsp;LXVI.}}

<i>&para; Nec cite, Nec temere.</i>

{{Index|ind=np}}


{{InfoboxTranslation|Model=4|Date=2023-03-16}}
To the noble and powerful prince, Sir Lamoral of Egmont, prince of Gaure, Count of Egmont, Baron of Bar, Lord of Fiennes, d'Auxy, d'Armentieres, of Ninoue, etc. Knight of the Order, Governor and Captain general for the King of his countries and Counties of Flanders and Artois,
Pierre Hassard, Physician and Surgeon, humbly salutes.

The custom of the ancients, most illustrious Prince, was to give gifts and presents to each according to his ability, to Princes and noble Lords, who not only abandoned their possessions but also put their lives at risk for the defense of the country and the preservation of the republic: Honoring them and rewarding some with prized horses or rich ornaments thereof, others with well-trained hunting dogs of good breed, others with some Altour, Vulture, or noble falcon, pilgrim, gerfalcon, or lanner, others with other things deemed worthy of an illustrious Prince, and bold and invincible war leader. And I, considering and pondering in myself what I could present to your Excellence, my natural Prince and Lord, I decided (as one who has nothing else worthy of being esteemed) to offer you this my translation of the Surgery of the incomparable and admirable Doctor, Physician, and Surgeon Paracelsus; Although it may not be great and worthy enough for your Excellence, to which nothing should be dedicated that was not of singular importance, but who could or would satisfy your Excellence and virtue with presents or praises? For by your beautiful and remarkable deeds of arms, driving out the enemies so many times, not without great danger to your person, you have shown yourself a brave, strong, magnanimous, and invincible Prince: And not only in war, but also in this time of peace, your prudence and virtue is known to all. In such a way that, by your virtuous works, you shine among all other illustrious Princes like a Sun among the Stars and planets. So much so that, to the great joy of the people, you are acclaimed (after our most invincible and most powerful Prince and King) the sole Protector of the country; these things, that is to say, the love and favor of the people, are the riches and treasures of good Princes, which has been the reason why I have dedicated this small work to you.

Another reason that has led and moved me to do so is, in order to declare and confess before all that your Excellence is my natural Prince, as one who was born and raised in Armentieres, a place which, among all your lands, is well renowned throughout the world for your good reputation.

There is yet another cause, no less than the others, and that is, because there is nothing in the natural things of this world more precious, nor more useful and delightful than health, which our author Paracelsus shows how to maintain perfectly and cure when it is lacking, by external and internal accidents, in this his work, where he brings back to light the ancient, true, and complete doctrine of the ancients, rejecting the errors and abuses that are committed today in Medicine and Surgery, which are such that it would be better not to have these arts at all than to have them so depraved, and also because this is a worthy and useful work for a war leader and greatly necessary for his people, as can be seen by experience.

I know, my Lord, that your Excellence will not find great elegance or ornamentation of language here, but I have been forced, due to the propriety and greatness of this science, to use a low and rough style, without any affectation, for in all things the fruit should be valued more than the flower. Now, there is nothing left but for your Excellence, most illustrious Prince, to accept this labor of mine in good part, and to please recognize and favor me as a devoted subject, and this will make this very useful work not fear the harsh judgment of many envious and jealous minds, being defended and under the protection of your Excellence: for it needs your help, defense, and protection all the more, as it is contrary and repugnant to the doctrine of others. Therefore, most illustrious Prince, if this my labor is benignly received in your grace, you will encourage me to do greater things, by which I will strive to illustrate and perpetuate your name, already so celebrated and renowned: Desiring to be recommended to your Excellence, which I pray God, our Lord Almighty, to maintain in good and long prosperity, and to grant you the fulfillment of all your good and salutary desires. From Brussels, these Ides of May, 1566.

¶ Neither hastily, nor recklessly.