View source for Dedication, no date (1569), Gerhard Dorn to Egenolf von Rappoltstein (BP112)

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| Author=Gerhard Dorn
| Anon=
| AuthorPresumed=
| Recipient=Egenolf von Rappoltstein
| Type=Dedication
| Classification=
| Date=0
| DatePresumed=1569
| Place=
| Pages=8
| Language=lat
| Editor=Julian Paulus
| SourceAuthor=Paracelsus
| SourceTitle=Chirurgia vulnerum, ocultorum & manifestorum Vlcerum, &c.
| SourceEditor=Gerhard Dorn
| SourcePlace=Basel: Pietro Perna 
| SourceDate=1569
| SourceBP=BP112
| SourceSig=)(2r–)(5v
| SourcePag=
| SourceFol=
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| Description=
| Abstract=
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| CP=0
| Translation=1
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| AbstractGPT=Dorn seeks Egenolph's patronage for his Latin translation of the works of Paracelsus, originally written in German. Dorn reveals that he undertook the translation project due to the high demand in France and other foreign countries to understand Paracelsus' works. Despite the renowned scholar's native Germany undervaluing his teachings, Paracelsus is highly celebrated abroad. Dorn sees his mission as one of introducing Paracelsus' overlooked wisdom to regions where it would be cherished. However, his efforts have met opposition from those who hold portions of Paracelsus' legacy. They fear losing control over the scholar's teachings and criticize Dorn's translations, believing them to be crude or plain. Dorn challenges these critics to produce their own faithful translations or refrain from criticism altogether. He accuses some of holding back key teachings and others of publishing Paracelsus' works under their own names, actions he considers more disgraceful than ambitious. Dorn holds a strong conviction that his translations, even if they're in a "rough style," will shine a light on Paracelsus' teachings. He is motivated by a desire to see Paracelsus' wisdom shared more widely, for the betterment of mankind and the honour of Germany. 
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{{Pagemark|sig|)(2r}} {{MarkupUppercase|Generosissimo summeque nobili D[omino]|u=v}} Egenolpho, Domino in Rapoltzstein, Hohenack, & Geroltzeck ad Vuassichin,{{Apparatus|Note|Herr zu Hohenack und Geroldseck am Wasichen}} &c. Salus.

<i>{{MarkupInitial|Quum|u=v|Allcaps=1}} doctißimi viri Medici D[omini] Theophrasti Paracelsi Chirurgiam à Germanico in Latinum sermonem vertissem: animaduerti plurimos eoru{{EditAbbr|m}} qui nihil intactum relinquere, nec approbare, quod non fecerint ipsi, ne{{EditAbbr|que}} se penes aliquem admittere solent, non fefuturos vt vel minimam occasionem rodendi, vel carpendi saltem qu&aelig;rant, quod lacerare nequibu{{EditAbbr|n}}t. Quamobrem opus protectore mihi fore, maximè putaui. Cum{{EditAbbr|´que}} diu satis animo reuoluissem at{{EditAbbr|que}} pensitassem, cuínam inter Magnates hosce labores meos (licet exiguos) nuncupare vellem, qui bonas artes opti- {{Pagemark|sig|)(2v}} mè commendatas haberet. Inter plurimos incidit in mentem excellentißima tua Celsitas, qu&aelig; promouendis omnis generis laudabilibus artibus candidè relucet. Hinc etiam factum est, vt confisus de sua maxima benignitate, rudem hanc meam traductionem, at fidelem, sub vmbra suarum alarum in lucem audeam dare. Non sine causa quidem, libros tam excelelntis viri Germani suscepi vertendos. Nam existentem in Gallia me rogarunt plurimi doctißimi{{EditAbbr|´que}} viri, qui iudicium de rebus excellentioribus facere norunt optimum, vt (quia nonnullos antea traduxissem) alios quotquot ad manus meas peruenirent, etiam verterem, quo sua tanti Gallia thesauri foret particeps. Ego quòd viderem exteros hunc hominem ob singularem & inauditam hactenus doctrinam eius extollere, vt etiam Germani&aelig; decus eu{{EditAbbr|m}} vocarent: & ex ad- {{Pagemark|sig|)(3r}} uerso considerarem, propriam istius viri tam rari patriam, eum & sapientiam eius contemnere: minus facere quid potui, quàm rogatus etia{{EditAbbr|m}} deferre quod spretum immeritò cernerem, eò videlicet vbi summo haberetur in pretio, tum amicis in officio tam honesto morem gerere? Nil enim potius optant post Gallos Belgic&aelig; nationes, ac ali&aelig; plurim&aelig;, quàm istius viri scripta legere posse, ac intelligere, quòd trecentos & sexaginta plus minus Germanicos libros in omni scientiarum genere conscripsisset omnes, pr&aelig;ter Latinos aliquot. Postquam honestis istis laboribus insudassem aliquandiu, c&oelig;perunt eorum nonnulli qui partem eius adhuc tenent, increpare me plurimùm, & post tergus alij minari, quòd priuatum iri se crederent, si lucem in suis regionibus ortam aspicerent ali&aelig; nationes. Verùm, quia rem altius perpe{{EditAbbr|n}}dissem, vtpote lau- {{Pagemark|sig|)(3v}} dem Germani&aelig; futuram & immortale decus, vbi totius orbis terrarum nouerit eam c&aelig;teros inter produxisse virum, qualem antea humanis in artibus vix videre licuit. Minas eorum qui sibi solis bene fore cupiunt, & soli qu&aelig;stu{{EditAbbr|m}} inde facere nituntur, vix flocci fecerim: & alacri progressus animo, bonu{{EditAbbr|m}} quod ipsi reliquis inuide{{EditAbbr|n}}t omnibus, pro viribus meis, non de meo, sed ex Paracelsi thesauris exponam. Si malè tamen eos habeat me traducere, quòd fortè putent rudiori stylo vel nudius quàm ferre valeant hoc fieri, traducant ipsi, modò fideliter, ego manum de tabella retraham. At nisi fidelius id faciant, quàm videmus nonnullos eorum, ad quorum Libri Paracelsici manus peruenerunt, edere Germanica, mutila qu&aelig;que scilicet prorsumqúe deprauata, retinentes ea sibi qu&aelig; nucleum istius doctrin&aelig; continent, {{Pagemark|sig|)(4r}} & corticem emittentes, ab vtroque potius abstineant. Et nisi Reipublic&aelig; qu&aelig;rant vtilitatem, hosce conatus alijs minimè perturbent. H&aelig;c à me dicta sunt, quòd perceperim aliquos eorum, qui Paracelsic&aelig; doctrin&aelig; profeßionem faciunt, furticiè Libros istius excellentißimi viri, non sub eius, sed sub suo nomine, quod flagitiosum potius quàm sit ambitiosum, edidisse: plerosque alios, qui scripta nondum edita, déque muro, quo Paracelsus ante mortem inopinatam, vel potius acceleratam, conclusa fuerant, post eam eruta cautelosè nimium, & surrepta sic publicare typis, vt omne quod artem apertè nude{{EditAbbr|´que}} docet, eximant, sibíque seruent: quo post mortem, Gentilium instar, laudem pare{{EditAbbr|n}}t, & qu&aelig;stum in vita plurimum. At facia{{EditAbbr|n}}t quod poßint, opinione vanißima hac frustrabu{{EditAbbr|n}}tur, cu{{EditAbbr|m}} hactenus per Paracelsum {{Pagemark|sig|)(4v}} adhuc vita fruentem, & per alios probos viros & sinceros, tot extent istius doctrin&aelig; monumenta, qu&aelig; sufficiant ad istarum technas vulpium detegendum: etsi (prout inceperunt) ordinem & stylum inertant. Nil siquide{{EditAbbr|m}} impiè patratum, quod inultum sit, aut maneat occultum. Eius rei patuit exemplar à paucis mensibus euidentißimum, quo quidem inflatus vter (cuius nomini parco) iacta{{EditAbbr|n}}s omnia Paracelsi monumenta se habere, necnon intelligere, scholia qu&aelig;dam sordida in aliquot libros ausus est perperam scribere, stulte{{EditAbbr|´que}} magis quàm temerè discipulos Theophrasti Paracelsi, pr&aelig;ter &aelig;quitatem omnem reprehendere. Quid inde? propriam inscitiam patefecit his, qui vel tantillum ea doctrina sunt imbuti: qui etiam apertißimè scriptis demonstrarunt editis, quòd eos iniustißimè libros foret aggressus. Non aliàs de c&aelig;teris {{Pagemark|sig|)(5r}} futurum est, quos antea dixi plumis aliorum parari superbire{{EditAbbr|´que}}, & alijs qui Reipublic&aelig;, hoc ipsum quod etiam non habent, inuide{{EditAbbr|n}}t. Nam reperiuntur multi, qui scripta detinent istius viri, non tamen intelligunt, nec alios intelligere cupiunt. O diabolica quàm humana potius ingenia, qu&aelig; iusticiam in iniusticia detinent, pr&aelig;ter Authoris mentem at{{EditAbbr|que}} sententiam. Quandoquidem ipse muro non concluserat, vt ea latere perpetuò cuperet, aut exteris inuideret, imò contrà, vt ad exteros peruenire{{EditAbbr|n}}t, maximè quòd in patria sua no{{EditAbbr|n}}, (prout ipsemet fatetur) sed apud exteros vt peregrinus didicisset. Verùm quòd videret margaritam, quam attulerat, ab eis quibus vt &aelig;quum est, fauebat, aspernari, voluit etia{{EditAbbr|m}} abscondere: cupiens vt ad alicuius probi viri manus peruenirent, qui publicaret iterum eorum filijs, à quibus hauserat, aut {{Pagemark|sig|)(5v}} alijs quibusuis nationibus. Nec vs{{EditAbbr|que}} adeò frustatus est opinione sua. Quoniam ab extraneis hoc tempore maximè celebratur, & indies magis, quanto latius eius monumenta traducuntur. H&aelig;c est occasio cur versionis eoru{{EditAbbr|m}} Librorum prouinciam susceperim, etsi meis viribus imparem. Sat mihi fuerit alijs{{EditAbbr|´que}} (pr&aelig;sertim quòd nemo alius id facere curet) si salte{{EditAbbr|m}} qu&aelig; stylo rudi, quanto fidelius potui, traduxi, valeant intelligere. Poterunt ornare qui melius me norunt, vbi iam intellexerint. Istius igitur ta{{EditAbbr|m}} docti viri scriptorum protector fore ne dedigneris, excellentißime generosißime{{EditAbbr|´que}} Domine, simul & me&aelig; versionis, vt in Medicina tande{{EditAbbr|m}} prout in alijs emergere valeat ipsa veritas. F&oelig;liciter viue, & in annos plurimos vale.

Excellentißim&aelig; T[u&aelig;] C[elsitudinis] 

Seruulus

Gerardus Dorn.</i>


{{Apparatus|app=n}}


{{InfoboxTranslation|Model=4|Date=2023-06-29}}
To the highly noble and esteemed Lord Egenolph, Lord of Rappoltstein, Hohenack and Geroldseck on the Wasichen, &c. Greetings.

Having translated the surgery of the highly learned physician, Theophrastus Paracelsus, from German into Latin, I noticed that many of those who tend to leave nothing unchallenged, disapproving of anything they themselves have not accomplished, nor admitting anyone else's competence, would not hesitate to find even the slightest opportunity to criticize, and to nitpick at things they cannot destroy. For this reason, I felt it crucial to have a patron for my work.

After much contemplation, when deciding which among the many nobles I would like to dedicate these efforts (even though modest) to, someone who holds fine arts in high esteem, your esteemed self came to mind, a person brightly shining in promoting praiseworthy arts of all kinds. Consequently, relying on your great kindness, I dare to bring my rough, yet faithful, translation to light under the protection of your patronage.

The decision to translate the works of such a distinguished German scholar was not made without reason. During my time in France, many of the most learned men, capable of making excellent judgments on superior matters, requested me, having done some translations previously, to translate as many works that came into my possession, so that France may partake in this great treasure. Seeing that foreigners celebrated this man for his unique and so far unheard-of teaching to such an extent that they called him the glory of Germany, and inversely noticing that his own country looked down upon him and his wisdom, I felt compelled to grant this request and introduce what I saw being undeservedly neglected to a place where it would be highly appreciated. Why not oblige my friends in such an honorable task?

For nothing is more desired by the people of Belgium and many other nations than to be able to read and understand the works of this man, who wrote more than three hundred and sixty books in all fields of knowledge, apart from a few in Latin. After having been engaged in these honorable tasks for some time, some of those who still hold part of his legacy started to reproach me greatly, and others started to threaten me from behind, believing that they would be deprived of something if other nations were to see the light that arose in their regions. 

But, having deeply considered the matter, I believe it will be to the honor and eternal glory of Germany when the entire world acknowledges that it has brought forth a man, the likes of whom we have seldom seen in the arts. The threats of those who wish all the good for themselves, and who alone strive to make a profit from it, have meant little to me, and with an eager spirit, I will expose the good that they deny to others to the best of my ability, not from my own resources, but from the treasures of Paracelsus.

However, if they are unhappy with my translations, believing perhaps that they are done in a too crude style or too plainly for their taste, they should do the translations themselves, but faithfully, and I will withdraw my hand from the task. But unless they do it more faithfully than we see some of them, to whose hands Paracelsus's books have come, releasing German versions, mutilated and completely distorted, holding back those things that contain the core of his teaching, they should rather abstain from both.

Unless they seek public benefit, they should not disrupt these efforts for others. I say this because I have noticed that some of those who profess the doctrine of Paracelsus have surreptitiously published the books of this most distinguished man, not under his name, but under their own, which is more

 disgraceful than ambitious. Many others have cunningly and stealthily published unedited writings that were buried behind a wall by Paracelsus before his unexpected, or rather accelerated, death, in such a way that they remove everything that openly and plainly teaches the art, and keep it for themselves: so that after death, they will praise the name, and in life, make a huge profit.

But they can do what they can, this vain idea will disappoint them, as so far through Paracelsus, who is still enjoying life, and through other honest and sincere men, there are so many monuments to his doctrine that are enough to reveal the artifices of these foxes: even if (as they have begun to do) they distort the order and style. For nothing wickedly committed remains unpunished or hidden. This became apparent a few months ago when a man (whose name I will spare) claiming to possess and understand all of Paracelsus's works, dared to write some sordid notes on a few books, and, more stupidly than rashly, began to criticize the students of Theophrastus Paracelsus, beyond all fairness. What happened? He exposed his own ignorance to those who are even slightly imbued with that doctrine: they also very clearly demonstrated in published writings that he had unjustly attacked the books. The same will happen to others, whom I mentioned before, who prepare and take pride in the plumes of others, and others who deny the Republic, this very thing which they do not even have.

For there are many who hold the writings of this man, but do not understand them, nor do they want others to understand them. Oh, how diabolical rather than human are those minds that keep justice in injustice, against the author's intent and sentiment. For he did not wall them up because he wanted them to be hidden forever or to deny them to foreigners, on the contrary, he wanted them to reach foreigners, especially since he did not learn in his own country, (as he admits himself) but as a traveler among foreigners. But because he saw that the pearl he had brought was being rejected by those to whom he was favorably disposed, he wanted to hide it: desiring that it should reach the hands of some honest man, who would publish it again for their sons, from whom he had learned, or for any other nations. And he was not so frustrated in his expectation. Since he is greatly celebrated by foreigners at this time, and more so every day, the more widely his works are translated.

This is the reason why I have undertaken the task of translating his books, even if they are beyond my abilities. It will be enough for me and others (especially since no one else takes care of doing it) if at least they can understand what I have translated with a rough style, as faithfully as I could. Those who know better than me will be able to polish it once they have understood it. Therefore, please do not disdain to be the protector of the writings of such a learned man, and at the same time of my translation, so that truth may finally emerge in medicine as it does in other fields. Live happily, and long years to you.

Your Excellency's

Servant

Gerardus Dorn.