View source for Dedication, 1572-01-10, Thomas Erastus to Andrzej Zebrzydowski z Więcborka

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| Author=Thomas Erastus
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| Recipient=Andrzej Zebrzydowski z Więcborka
| Type=Dedication
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| Date=1572-01-10
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| Place=Heidelberg
| Pages=2
| Language=lat
| Editor=Julian Paulus
| SourceAuthor=Thomas Erastus
| SourceTitle=Disputationum de medicina nova Philippi Paracelsi pars altera
| SourceEditor=
| SourcePlace=Basel: Pietro Perna
| SourceDate=1572
| SourceBP=BP.Erastus.1572-01
| SourceSig=Rrr1v–Rrr2r
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| AbstractGPT=Erastus mentions the Antiparacelsic Disputations and the history of the Psammolith, a stone believed to have healing powers. The text highlights Zebrzydovuski's dedication to learning and virtue, underlining his willingness to leave his homeland and wealth for his studies. It commends Zebrzydovuski for emulating his ancestors' virtues, while encouraging him to remember his illustrious lineage. It culminates with a prayer for Zebrzydovuski's safety and prosperity in service of the Church and the State. 
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{{Pagemark|sig|Rrr1v}} {{MarkupUppercase|Nobili ac generoso adolescenti, D[omino] Andreae Zebr}}zydovuski de Vuiedzborck, Illustriss[imi] & Magnifici D[omini] Baltazaris Zebrzydovuski{{Index|Name|Balthasar Zebrzydowski}}, Palatini Prestensis filio, &c. Domino suo plurimum obseruando.

<i>{{MarkupInitial|Historiam}} lapidis sabulosi, quem D[ominus] Conradus Gesnerus</i> Ψαμμόστεον, <i>alij quidem</i> Ψαμμόλιθον <i>vocarunt, ante annos aliquot scriptam, secund&aelig; parti disputationum Antiparacelsicarum attexere duabus de causis visum est, illustris ac generose Adolescens. Vna est, quòd eius generatio aliquid habet affinitatis cum generatione certorum lapidum ac metallorum. Altera, quòd à compluribus expetitaiam pridem fuit.  Nam et Dantiscani, & Pomerani, & Poloni, & Galli quidam potestatem sibi à me fieri cupierunt transcribendi: quod facilè, vt par est, impetrarunt. Ipsos quo{{EditAbbr|que}} lapides magna copia hîc collectos, per multi in diuersas regiones secum auexeru{{EditAbbr|n}}t tùm Nobiles, tu{{EditAbbr|m}} Equites alij: quòd incredibilem in eo vim & efficacitatem inesse fracta ossa glutinandi et persanandi per suasum habere{{EditAbbr|n}}t: quidam etiam compertum sibi dicere{{EditAbbr|n}}t. Sanè medici vulnerarij subinde ex distantibus admodum locis eosdem sibi mitti petunt. Quamobrem gratum me omnino facturum plurimis existimaui, si hanc eius historiam publicarem: quò poßent eosdem industrij talium reru{{EditAbbr|m}} indagatores in suis qui{{EditAbbr|que}} regionibus disquirere. Quòd autem tui nominis inscriptione, Generose Baro, ornata, in publicum prodijt, ideò factum est, vt gratiam tibi habeant, quicun{{EditAbbr|que}} beneficium se accepisse putabunt. Quippe tua iam quodammodo, no{{EditAbbr|n}} simpliciter mea amplius esse videbatur, quam sub initium huius anni, (quem tibi felicem faustum{{EditAbbr|´que}} comprecor) vt me&aelig; erga te beneuole{{EditAbbr|n}}ti&aelig; expectationis{{EditAbbr|´que}} de te concept&aelig; testimonium esset, stren&aelig; loco, antiquos imitatus, destinaueram. Veteres enim ineun- {{Pagemark|sig|Rrr2r}} te anno strenas ijs, quos diligebant, & in quibus virtutis atque strenuitatis (à qua Nonius strenam deductam opinatus est) argumenta obseruarant, dare soliti fueru{{EditAbbr|n}}t. Cur porrò te nobilißime Adolesce{{EditAbbr|n}}s, non amem & colam duntaxat, sed maxima qu&aelig;uis à te expectem, id cum aliorum{{Apparatus|Corr|aliorum|aliorun}} bonoru{{EditAbbr|m}} viroru{{EditAbbr|m}}, tum D[omini] Christophori Thretij{{Index|Name|Krzysztof Trecy}} laus et commendatio, in primis autem generosa indoles tua, quam & illo tempore, quo conuictor meus fuisti, et postea quo{{EditAbbr|que}} in te deprehe{{EditAbbr|n}}di, perfecit. Quis enim non & amet, et summa qu&aelig;{{EditAbbr|que}} de eo speret, qui maximarum opum vnicus h&aelig;res, studiorum virtutis{{EditAbbr|´que}} causa no{{EditAbbr|n}} dubitat relicitis parentibus, opibus, amicis, patria, alienas peragrare ac visere regiones, quò ingenium bonis artibus expoliat, animum virtutibus muniat, vitam honestis moribus exornet, denique in omnibus maiorum suorum vestigia imitetur, eorum{{EditAbbr|´que}} gloriam no{{EditAbbr|n}} &aelig;quare modò, verùm etiam superare, siquidem fieri poßit, contendit? Qu&aelig; de laudibus maioru{{EditAbbr|m}}, et vtriusque parentis tui, virorum diginitate, virtute, pietate, gestarum{{EditAbbr|´que}} rerum splendore et gloria clarißimorum, audiui, ideò recitare hoc loco nolo, ne cui assentari tibi voluisse videar. Vnum hoc te moneo, vt illustrium auorum parentu{{EditAbbr|m}}{{EditAbbr|´que}} tuorum s&aelig;pe recorderis: et quanta comitum de Teczin{{Index|Name|Teczin}} virtus fuerit (ex qua maternum genus ducis) crebrò apud te cogites, ne alienis potius quàm domesticis exemplis ad res pr&aelig;claras et pr&aelig;dicabiles suscipiendas ac peragendas excitatum te sentias. Deum precor, vt te Ecclesi&aelig; partier et Reipublic&aelig; saluum esse velit. Amen. Heidelberg&aelig; 4. Id[ibus] Ian[uarii] anno à Virginis partu{{Apparatus|Corr|partu|patu}}.</i> M.&nbsp;D.&nbsp;LXXII.

<i>Tu&aelig; pr&aelig;stan[tissimi] et Generos[issimi]{{Apparatus|Corr|Generos.|Ceneroß.}} obseruantiß[imi] Thomas Erastus Medicus.</i>


{{Apparatus|app=c}}


{{InfoboxTranslation|Model=4|Date=2023-07-16}}
To the noble and generous young man, Lord Andreas Zebrzydovuski of Wiedzborck, illustrious and magnificent son of Lord Baltazar Zebrzydovuski, the Palatine of Presten, to whom much is owed by his humble servant.

I thought it fitting to attach to the second part of the Antiparacelsic Disputations the history of the sandy stone, which Lord Conrad Gesner named Psammoteon, and others indeed named Psammolith, written some years ago, for two reasons, illustrious and generous young man. The first is that its generation has some affinity with the generation of certain stones and metals. The second, that it has long been sought by many. For the people of Gdansk, Pomerania, Poland, and certain French have desired that I allow them to copy it: which they have easily, as is right, obtained. These very stones, collected here in great quantities, many have taken away with them to various regions, both nobles and other knights, believing them to possess an incredible power and efficacy for gluing together and healing broken bones: some even said they had tested this. Indeed, field surgeons frequently ask for them to be sent from quite distant places. Therefore, I thought that I would please many by publishing its history: so that diligent researchers of such matters can search for them in their respective regions. 

The fact that it has come out into the public domain, adorned with the inscription of your name, Generous Baron, was done so that they might feel gratitude towards you, whoever considers themselves to have received a benefit. Indeed, it seemed to me that it was now in some way yours, no longer simply mine, since I had earmarked it as a New Year’s gift for you, (which I pray may be happy and prosperous) as a testament of my good will and expectation towards you, imitating the ancients. For the ancients were accustomed to give New Year's gifts to those whom they loved, and in whom they observed signs of virtue and vigor (from which Nonius believed the term New Year's gift was derived). 

Why, most noble young man, I should not only love and respect you, but expect the greatest things from you, that the praise and commendation of other good men, particularly that of Lord Christophorus Thretius, and above all, your generous spirit, which I discerned both at the time when you were my lodger, and afterwards, have brought to perfection. For who would not both love and expect the very highest things of someone who, although the sole heir to a great fortune, does not hesitate for the sake of his studies and virtue to leave his parents, wealth, friends, and homeland to travel and visit foreign lands, to polish his mind with the good arts, to fortify his soul with virtues, to adorn his life with honourable customs, and to strive to follow in all ways the footsteps of his ancestors, and not only to equal but even to surpass their glory, if it can possibly be done?

The praises I heard of your ancestors and both your parents, men renowned for their dignity, virtue, piety, and the splendor and glory of their deeds, I do not wish to recite here, so that I do not appear to flatter you. I do urge you to remember your illustrious ancestors and parents often: and to frequently reflect on the great virtue of the Counts of Teczin (from whom you derive your maternal lineage), so that you may feel stimulated to undertake and accomplish great and praiseworthy deeds by domestic examples rather than foreign ones. I pray to God that he may wish you to be safe for the Church and the State alike. Amen. Heidelberg, January 10, 1572.

Your very outstanding and most generous, Thomas Erastus, physician.