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non inuita cum mariti conatibus conferebat: vel hac promtitudine, fidem suam erga Oporinum demonstratura, & studium promouenda re litteraria vnà cum marito comprobatura. Mulctatus itaque tam acerbè à fortuna: magna tamen animi moderatione & grauitate, mortem suae Heroissae (Hoc enim eam nomine ob generosam animi probitatem & matronales virtutes, honestabat) tulit. Iam enim frequentibus malis animum obfirmauerat: & non imparatum aerumnis pectus gerere (vt Theseus apud Senecam loquitur) didicerat. | non inuita cum mariti conatibus conferebat: vel hac promtitudine, fidem suam erga Oporinum demonstratura, & studium promouenda re litteraria vnà cum marito comprobatura. Mulctatus itaque tam acerbè à fortuna: magna tamen animi moderatione & grauitate, mortem suae Heroissae (Hoc enim eam nomine ob generosam animi probitatem & matronales virtutes, honestabat) tulit. Iam enim frequentibus malis animum obfirmauerat: & non imparatum aerumnis pectus gerere (vt Theseus apud Senecam loquitur) didicerat. | ||
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And indeed, at that time he left his homeland and went directly to Switzerland in search of opportunities to learn his craft and establish himself. Not all plants thrive in every climate; many thrive better when transplanted elsewhere. Similarly, opportunities to excel are not always available everywhere. Plutarch said it well: "Virtue, like a strong and enduring plant, takes root in every soil, nurtured by a kind nature and a diligent soul." Themistocles also responded correctly to a Seriphian who accused him of seeking glory not for himself, but for his country: "You speak the truth," he said, "for neither I nor you would have achieved fame if you were a Seriphian or I an Athenian. For the power of virtue is such that, having acquired a good nature, it takes root anywhere in the world, and, being stimulated by frequent and honorable actions, it produces the most abundant harvest." Oporinus' father clearly approved of this, as he diligently cultivated his natural goodness and so brilliantly illuminated his own virtue with the fame he received from his city that he proved himself a worthy citizen of his country. While he was practicing his craft in Switzerland, he lost his father, so they sent people to find his only heir, his son. They arrived in Switzerland, where they had agreed he would be, but the man who was looking after him, fearing a loss of profit that he was making from the young man's industry, denied that he was with him when the young man left. Thus, due to the greed and injustice of his master, he was deprived of his paternal inheritance, which was quite ample, and went to Basel, where he so demonstrated his industry that he easily won the favor and goodwill of the good people of the country. Delighted with the place and the people's ways, he settled there and married Barbara Kupfart, a woman of good reputation. From her, he had three daughters (one of whom, a great citizen of the literary republic, gave birth to the outstanding philosopher and doctor Theodorus Zwingerus; and after her first husband's death, she was given in marriage to Conrad Lycosthenes, whom she supported with her diligent care even when he was sick and lost), and he had this Johannes in the year I mentioned, just a little before a parricide was torn apart with white-hot tongs. His mother, still carrying him in her womb, witnessed this horrific event and was so shaken by it that she impressed the marks on Oporinus. | And indeed, at that time he left his homeland and went directly to Switzerland in search of opportunities to learn his craft and establish himself. Not all plants thrive in every climate; many thrive better when transplanted elsewhere. Similarly, opportunities to excel are not always available everywhere. Plutarch said it well: "Virtue, like a strong and enduring plant, takes root in every soil, nurtured by a kind nature and a diligent soul." Themistocles also responded correctly to a Seriphian who accused him of seeking glory not for himself, but for his country: "You speak the truth," he said, "for neither I nor you would have achieved fame if you were a Seriphian or I an Athenian. For the power of virtue is such that, having acquired a good nature, it takes root anywhere in the world, and, being stimulated by frequent and honorable actions, it produces the most abundant harvest." Oporinus' father clearly approved of this, as he diligently cultivated his natural goodness and so brilliantly illuminated his own virtue with the fame he received from his city that he proved himself a worthy citizen of his country. While he was practicing his craft in Switzerland, he lost his father, so they sent people to find his only heir, his son. They arrived in Switzerland, where they had agreed he would be, but the man who was looking after him, fearing a loss of profit that he was making from the young man's industry, denied that he was with him when the young man left. Thus, due to the greed and injustice of his master, he was deprived of his paternal inheritance, which was quite ample, and went to Basel, where he so demonstrated his industry that he easily won the favor and goodwill of the good people of the country. Delighted with the place and the people's ways, he settled there and married Barbara Kupfart, a woman of good reputation. From her, he had three daughters (one of whom, a great citizen of the literary republic, gave birth to the outstanding philosopher and doctor Theodorus Zwingerus; and after her first husband's death, she was given in marriage to Conrad Lycosthenes, whom she supported with her diligent care even when he was sick and lost), and he had this Johannes in the year I mentioned, just a little before a parricide was torn apart with white-hot tongs. His mother, still carrying him in her womb, witnessed this horrific event and was so shaken by it that she impressed the marks on Oporinus. | ||
Beyond the dowry, he received nothing from his wife, and he himself had brought nothing but industry to their marriage. Therefore, such great difficulties were presented in every matter that they could barely scrape by with their own labor. Thus, due to this domestic poverty, the prosperity of their children seemed to depend more on their own industry than on the abundance of inherited wealth, and so the parents diligently sought to place certain and lasting safeguards in themselves, after God's blessing. | |||
The father, therefore, carefully taught his son the rudiments of letters and took him to public schools, demanding and reviewing what the teachers had taught. The mother, for her part, neglected nothing that would become a woman's hands. With this diligent care, the domestic hardships were sweetened by the children's success and the harsh labors of their calling were alleviated. | |||
As a young man, he was better educated in school, as his studies were now enriched by the efforts of learned teachers and the works of good authors, which had been restored to their integrity and circulated among people. Therefore, when his intellectual acumen shone through in his childhood, and his character promised a certain richness and autumnal fecundity, the father did not overlook anything that was thought to adorn the son's natural goodness, even though everything that could provide an opportunity to rise was extremely limited. | |||
After he had successfully acquired the rudiments of learning at home, due to his father's poverty, he came down to Strasbourg and lived for nearly four years in the company of poor scholars. At that time, Gebwiler, a learned instructor of youth, was teaching in the city and serving as a mentor to Oporinus, adjusting his teaching according to the demands of the time and Oporinus's abilities. Under this master and guide, Oporinus made so much progress that he could speak Latin correctly and fluently and was not entirely ignorant of the Greek language, earning the admiration of many. Having attained maturity of age and judgment, he returned to his homeland, led by the praise of having obtained a complete education, which he had the greatest opportunity to acquire there. Diligently attending to learned men (of whom Basel was always fortunate in the abundance of), he learned from their guidance how to judge of the liberal arts, the taste for which he had acquired. However, he could not continue this course for long, as poverty in his homeland denied him domestic support, and he had no hope of obtaining aid from elsewhere. He therefore went to St. Urban's Abbey (a monastery located in Switzerland under the rule of Lucerne), where he taught the youth who were to be admitted to the college someday. At that time, the indolence of the monks and the misuse of good things had not yet prevailed over the custom of instructing boys in this way. | |||
While living there under those circumstances, he came into acquaintance with Xylotectus, a canon at Lucerne: they were brought together by their similarity of intellect (which has great importance in bringing together souls) and refined culture of literature. Xylotectus was a learned and elegant man who, as they say, wrote poetry during that time, and Oporinus was no less capable. Not long after, Xylotectus embraced the purity of the Gospel and abandoned his vast wealth, taking his wife and settling in Basel, where he later died after being infected by the plague. | |||
Oporinus, tired of monastic school, followed his friend and returned to Basel, intending to continue his studies and complete them with honors. However, as no assistance was provided by anyone, he took up the task of describing Greek theologians, such as Irenaeus and others, whom Johannes Frobenius had translated into Greek for the public. Thus, the constant financial difficulties and severe poverty hindered Oporinus. Finally, in 1527, he married Xylotectus' widow, believing that he could only merit his friend's greatness by enduring the burden of a morose and austere old woman. What he endured from her, however, is not pleasant to recount. Anyone can easily imagine the bitterness of the troubles that were imposed on him by his imperious and harsh wife, for Oporinus himself often said that he suffered the same fate as Socrates, who learned to philosophize under Xantippe's tutelage. Indeed, Oporinus' tolerance in enduring his wife's insults was no less than that of Socrates. Just as Socrates was bombarded with many insults, he merely replied that he knew that after so many thunderstorms, rain would eventually come. Likewise, Oporinus endured his wife's insistent behavior with great patience in similar cases. At that time, Oporinus was running the literary school of his country, and he was a skillful craftsman in handling young minds' studies, as he moderated the education of brilliant minds. There are still quite a few people who attribute their knowledge of the first rudiments and solid education to Oporinus. However, his academic life was quickly interrupted. | |||
For when the excellence of nature urged him on to nothing but the highest, and stimulated by the praises of the learned men who were then alive, he could not rest. Perhaps he was also ashamed of his present insignificance (which usually accompanies the most arduous labours of schoolmasters) and began to think of another method of study which would place him in a more secure and enduring position of prosperity, freed from those constant annoyances. While Oporinus was pondering over this, Johannes Oecolampadius, who was the first to profess the sincere doctrine of Christ's Gospel at Basel, observing the remarkable and versatile talents of the man but noticing that he was hostile to litigation, suggested that he devote himself to the study of medicine, especially as Theophrastus Paracelsus was then there boasting arrogantly that he would make an outstanding doctor within one year. Theophrastus came to Basel at the beginning of the Reformation and, on the recommendation of Oecolampadius and with the approval of the Magistrate, was received into the city as a professor of medicine. At that time, the University was completely scattered and the professors had either been expelled or had left the city voluntarily. Therefore, with the help of Oecolampadius, he easily obtained a position in medicine at the University. | |||
Following Oecolampadius' advice, Oporinus joined himself to Theophrastus and never left his company as long as he was in Basel. He even served him as his personal assistant, performing the duties of his servant and amanuensis, hoping that by his diligent service he would attain a perfect knowledge of the art which this Doctor boasted of so much. Therefore, with great admiration and a large following, even of those who were famous for their wisdom and learning in that excellent art, Theophrastus taught Oporinus carefully, and he faithfully translated what was said in German by Theophrastus (for he taught medicine in the vernacular, contrary to custom) into Latin. Theophrastus indeed had a very limited knowledge of Latin, as Oporinus often affirmed, but his memory was so fortunate that he could recite entire passages of Galen accurately and rapidly. Everything that Oporinus translated from his mother tongue, whether it was not understood in dictation or received confusedly in reading, Theophrastus approved. This made Oporinus often suspicious that there might be some deception involved in such ready agreement. When Theophrastus went out with his disciples to collect herbs and came across a plant whose name he did not know, he would say that it was of no use. The ardor for learning that was in Oporinus can be recognized from this, that he patiently endured the mad behavior of a drunken man so that he could progress in the study of medicine with some benefit, worthy of such great labors. | |||
They say that Hippocrates was so devoted to learning medicine that he did not hesitate to taste excrement to explore the material of diseases. Laëtius writes that Cleanthes was also so passionate about knowledge that he would make a profit by drawing water at night from a gardener (hence he was called Φρεάντης) to support his poverty and be able to devote himself to philosophy during the day. | |||
Likewise, there was no less ardor for learning in our Oporinus, and he endured the difficulties with unwavering tolerance. For when Theophrastus asserted against the views of other physicians that the temper of a person could only be known by their urine being alkaline, he who had fasted from all food and drink for three days, Oporinus also starved himself for three days and brought a small amount of urine to Theophrastus for his judgment. But Theophrastus laughed and called him foolish for obeying so easily, and he slammed the flask against the wall. | |||
Moreover, Theophrastus used to get drunk on wine and fight imaginary monsters with a drawn sword for almost half an hour at night, not without Oporinus, who hid in the same room on his bed, with great fear and danger. Then he would wake Oporinus up to take notes, which were recited so skillfully that Oporinus often said he thought he had suffered them by the instigation of demons. And indeed, many of those notes that have been printed were written by Oporinus himself, who, being easy-going, communicated them without difficulty to people of that sect. What about the fact that he was often forced to indulge in drinking bouts, which the doctor enjoyed excessively, but was not constant in them, as his energies were more suited to literary pursuits than to revelry, and frequent drunkenness could not be borne. Oporinus's faithfulness and diligence are extensively praised by Theophrastus, who admits in a certain booklet that he had experienced only one faithful Oporinus among many servants. | |||
With these habits and in this condition, Theophrastus lived in Basel for almost two years, during which time he proved his art to be so successful that he was greatly admired for curing desperate illnesses. There was a certain noble Canon from Lichtenfels there who suffered from a lamentable illness. Theophrastus agreed to a price of a hundred florins (which the Canon promptly offered and promised to pay even more willingly) and successfully restored him with three pills of his Laudanum (a type of medicine used only in extreme necessity). The cured Canon, though healed in a short time and apparently easily, did not keep his promise, and was indeed worthy of being tormented by longer illness and pain. Therefore, Theophrastus went to court. When the usual and prescribed settlement was reached by the magistrate, Theophrastus was so dissatisfied with the meager price of his art that he repeatedly attacked the magistrate, to the point where the injured magistrate feared punishment. So, some men of great authority, who were eager to honor him, warned Theophrastus not to persist, even to Oporinus himself, and he went down to Alsace, leaving behind his alchemical vessels with Oporinus. |
Revision as of 11:10, 1 March 2023
Andreas Iociscus,
Oratio de ortu, vita, et obitu Ioannis Oporini 1569 |
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ORATIO DE OR-
TV, VITA, ET OBITV IOANNIS Oporini Basiliensis, Typographicorum Ger- maniae Principis, recitata in Argenti- nensi Academia ab Ioanne Hen- rico Hainzelio Augustano.
AVTHORE ANDREA IOCISCO SILESIO,
Ethicorum in eadem Academia professore.
Adiunximus librorum per Ioannem Opo-
rinum excusorum Catalogum.
VEL INVITIS PIRATIS:
QVOD PER PIRATAS LICEAT.
ARGENTORATI,
Excudebat Theodosius Rihelius, M. D. LXIX.
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Magnifico viro domino Ioanni Cratoni à Crafftheym, Consiliario & Medico Caesareo intimo II. Andreas Iociscus S.
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Oratio de ortu, vita et obitu Ioannis Oporini Basiliensis, Typographorum Germaniae principis, recitata in Argentinensi Academia, ab Ioanne Henrico Hainzelio Augustano.
Duo sunt potissimum, quibus vita nostra informatur, praecepta et exempla. Illa ex principijs legis naturae deriuata, quid sequendum fugiendúmue sit, docent et praescribunt: Haec verò, speculi instar, hominum mores oculis subijciunt, & quid cuiuis ex vsu sit demostrant. Vtraque sanè, ad virtutis culturam in animis ingenuis, vim habent euidentem & momentum maximum. De praeceptis ac disciplina honestè & cum virtute instituenda vitae, non ita pridem praeclarè dictum est. Ego, cui has dicendi partes, ipsa consuetudo & praeceptorum authoritas imposuit, non alienum ab officij & aetatis meae ratione facturum me putaui, si exemplum in medium adferrem, quo & ad virtutis decus, & promtam sedulitatem in studijs adhibendam, mecum adolescentes inuitarentur.p Instituam autem breuem ac nudam: veram ta- |
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Celebris fuit olim, eaque honesta de Homeri patria multarum, ciuitatum contentio, quae ex tam praeclari ciuis splendore, plurimum claritatis sibi pollicebantur. Ita obscura patria, vel vnius illustri virtute inclarescit. Magnus etiam eorum est numerus, quibus ad aeternam nominis memoriam, & |
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Natus est igitur Ioannes Oporinus, anno Christi, supra millesimum, quingentesimum, seiptimo: Mense Ianuario, die conuersionis Pauli. Nascentem excepti Basilea, loci natura, coeli temperie, & agrii bonitate peramaena, atque ob Mu- |
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Auus Oporini in hac vrbe honores publicos geßit: & aedilitio functus munere, integritatis singularis, diligentiae, & spectatae virtutis laudem habuit. Is cùm re satis esset lauta, vnicum filium à pueris statim ad liberalium artium studia adhibebat. Sed pestiferum nouercae odium, pium facilis patris consilium |
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Non quaeuis plantae sub quouis crescunt coelo: multae aliò translatae felicius & laetius proueniunt. Ita nec vbique benè agendi occasiones offeruntur. Praeclarè Plutarchus dicit: τὴν ἀρετὴν, ὥσπερ ἰσχυρὸν καὶ διαρκὲς Φυτόν, ἐν ἅπαντι ριζοῦσθαι τόπῳ, Φύσεώς τε χρηστῆς, καὶ Φιλοπόνου Ψυχῆς ἐπιλαμβανομένην. Rectè etiam Themistocles cuidam Seriphio, obijcienti: Non ipsum sua, sed patriae gloria illustrem, |
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Praeter virtutem dotis nihil ab vxore acceperat: nec ipse quicquam praeter industriam ad eam attulerat. Hinc tantae omnium rerum difficultates obijciebantur, vt continuo labore suum vix victum exsarcirent. Quare, cùm ob domensticam hanc inopiam, liberorum prosperitas, in propria potius, post Dei benedictionem, industria, quàm relictarum opum abundantia, posita videretur, studiosè parentes dabant operam, vt in se ipsis certa & duratura vitae praesidia collocata haberent. Pater igitur ipse diligenter filium litterarum rudimenta docere: & in publicum ludum litterarium ducere: & à praeceptoribus tradita exigere ac repetere. Mater verò nihil quae foemineas decerent manus, negligere. Qua sedula cura factum est, vt & aerumnae domesticae liberorum secundo successu dulcescerent: et vocationis duriusculi labores mitigarentur. |
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Caeperat tum iuuentus in scholis melius institui: quòd litterae suum iam nitorem, doctorum studio reciperent: et bonorum authorum scripta, integritati restituta, in hominum manibus versarentur. Proinde cùm in Oporino ingenij acumen in ipsa pueritia emineret, atque indoles nescio quam meßis ubertatem & autumnalem foecunditatem promitteret: Pater nihil eorum, quae naturae bonitatem, in filio elucescentem ornatura putabantur, praetermittebat: licet omnia, qua facultatem emergendi praebere possent, accisa admodum forent. Postquam igitur domi feliciter, litterarum rudimenta percepisset: ob patris inopiam, huc Argentinam descendit: & in pauperum scholasticorum contubernio, quatuor ferè annos vixit. Docebat eo tempore in hac vrbe Gebuuilerus, doctus informandae iuuentutis, pro temporis illius ratione, & Oporini captu, moderator. Quo magistro et duce tum Oporinus vsus, tantum profecit, vt & latinè, purè atque expeditè loqueretur, & Graecae linguae, non prorsus ignarus, cum multorum admiratione haberetur. Maturitatem aetatis & iudicij adeptus, patriam repetit: perfectae eruditionis (cuius acquirendae, ibi facultas erat maxima) laude ductus. Viros igitur doctos (quorum frequenti multitudine, peculiari ciuitatis genio, semper felix Basilea fuit) sedulò audiuit: & eorum institutione iudium de artibus humanioribus, quarum gu- |
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Hac vitae conditione ibi degens, venit in familiaritatem Xylotecti, canonici apud Lucernenses: coniungebat eos et ingeniorum similitudo, (quae ad coalescendos animos plurimum habet momemti) et politior litterarum cultura. Xylotectus enim doctum et lepidum, vt ea ferebant tempora scribebat carmen: & Oporinus eo non erat inferior. Non multò pòst Xylotectus Euangelij puritatem amplexus, amplißimos illos reditus deseruit, ducta´que vxore, Basileam conceßit, vbi deinde pestis contagione infectus, vitam cum morte commutauit. Oporinus quoque monasticae scholae pertaesus, amicum sequutus, Basileam redijt: coeptum semel studiorum cursum continuaturus, & cum laude confecturus. Sed cùm nec tum quidem ulla subsidia à quoquam subministrarentur, Graecos Theologos, vt Irenaeum et alios describendos suscepit: quos magno sumti Ioan. Frobenius Graecè in publicum |
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Consilium Oecolampadij sequutus Oporinus, Theophrasto se adiunxit, et quàm diu Basileae fuit, ab eius consuetudine nunquam discessit: imò etiam domestico eius vsus consortio, operam ipsi suam, famuli |
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Hippocratem ferunt, medicinae discendae, adeò fuisse studiosum, vt vel retrimenta gustare non dubitarit: morbi materiam inde exploraturus. Cleanthem quoque, scientiae desiderio ita exarsisse Laëtius scribit, vt noctu hortulano cuidam, aquas hauriendo (vnde et Φρεάντης dictus est) quaestum faceret: quo paupertatem suam sustentare, et interdiu Philosophiae vacare posset. Non leuior certè ardor discendi in Oporino nostro fuit: nec minor molestiarum sustinendarum inuicta tolerantia. Cùm enim Theophrastus contra reliquorum medicorum placita, assereret hominis temperiem non nisi ex vrina alcali hoc, est, sui quis per triduum omni cibo et potu abstinuisset, cognosci posse: Oporinus se ipsum triduo macerauit: et exiguum quid in phiala T<h>eophrasto adferens, iudicium doctoris sui requisiuit. At ille ridens, et stultum eum, qui tam facilè obtemperasset, vocans, phialam parieti allisit. Solebat praeterea Theophrastus vino madidus, noctu, strico gladio per dimidium ferè horae, cum laruis depugnare: non absque Oporini, qui eodem in conclaui, cubiculari suo lecto latebat, magno metu et periculo: Inde Oporinum ad dictata excipienda excitabat: quae tàm experditè recitabantur, vt daemonum instinctu, ea sufferi Oporinus, se putasse sa- |
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Hoc statu, et his moribus biennium ferè Basileae Theophrastus vixit: quo quidem tempore, ita artem suam probauit, vt propter summam felicitatem in desperatis morbis curandis, in magna esset admiratione. Erat ibi Canonicus quidam nobilis à Lichtenfels, deploratae valetudinis: Eum Theophrastus, pactus precium centum florinorum (quos promtè offerens, numeraturum se summa etiam voluntate Canonicus pollicebatur) tribus Pilulis Laudani sui (medicamenti genus est, quo in extrema tantum necessitate vtebatur) saliua subacti, feliciter restituit. Tam breui spacio, et quidem re vt uidebatur exili, sanatus Canonicus, pactis non stetit: Dignus certè, qui longioribus morbi cruciati- |
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Promiserat Theophrastus, Laudani conficiendi rationem Oporino se traditurum: Qua spe pellectus eum in Alsatiam est comitatus: et biennium adhuc hominis importunitatem tulit. Tandem impetraturum se à magistro suo, quod cupiebat, diffidens, eum deseruit: Accelerabat abitum, Theophrasti impietas. Vocatus enim à rustico aegro, cùm Eucharistia usum intelligeret, suae arti iam non locum esse apud illum qui alium auxiliatorem quaereret, (horrendum dictum) aiebat. Quòd si ex animo ita sensit Theophrastus, quis non blasphemam hominis impietatem detestaretur? Sin autem excusatione hac vti voluit Theophrastus, ne, prioris felicitatis famam iam morituri, exitu corrumperet, ac remedia sua infamaret: non magis prudens et |
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Non multo pòst Oporini vxor, qua cum octennium uixit, Lucernae obijt: quò bonorum suorum causa quotannis ascendebat. Amplam quidem haereditatem ex facultatibus mortuae coniugis sibi obuenturum putabat: tantùm tamen abfuit, ut aliquid obtineret: vt etiam iure rem experturus, fraude affinium non leue damnum fecerit. Docebat eo tempore Graecam linguam Basileae, magnus ille Grynaeus Heydelberga illuc accersitus. Is Oporinum propter ingenij et morum elegantiam, et Graecae linguae praestantem cognitionem, plurimum diligebat: et hic vicissim Grynaeum praeceptorem, omni cultus et pietatis studio reuerenter obseruabat. Proprium hoc bonorum virorum esse solet, vt eorum miserijs vehementer afficiantur: qui si in promtu esset emergendi facultas Reipu. aliquando ornamento forent: praecipuè cum suae durae quondam sortis memores dignum et pium existiment, pro virili sua, aliorum prostratas fortunas subleuare, ac constituere. Subinde igitur Grynaeus res Oporini promouere: studia eius et ingenium alijs commendare: omnibus denique hu- |
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Quare cum sacram scripturam explicare, authoritate senatus, Grynaeus iuberetur: effecit, vt in eadem profeßione, et collegij procuratione, cui antihac praefuerat, sibi Oporinus substitueretur. Ad studia itaque et secundas nuptias reuersus, magna cum laude et auditorum fructu, munere isto scholastico est functus. Mira enim in docendo erat perspicuitas, dexteritas, et erudita facilitas. Plutarchi vitas Graecè scriptas, frequentibus auditoribus, doctè et prudenter enarrauit: quorum pars aliqua Parens meus quoque fuit: tum temporis, vnà cum illustri Heroe Lazaro à Schuendi, et viro amplißimo Georgio à Steten Augustano, studiorum causa Basileae viuens. Domum cum suis discipulis, quos nominaui, et alijs compluribus, reuersus Oporinus praelecta, accuratè ab ijsdem exigere pro sua erga auditores propensione solebat. Huius beneficij, quo nihil maius, nihil sanctius, nihil diuinus, discipuli deinceps memores: gratitudienm suam Oporino praeceptori luculenter demonstrarunt. Nam ipse Schuendius Oporinum, fatalibus suis aerumnis tantùm non oppressum, non semel subleuauit. Par Stetensis fuit liberalitas. Parentis mei in Oporinum studium |
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Hac vitae conditione biennium ferè Oporinus exegit: cum vxore sumtuosa, tribus matris proluuium imi- |
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Non defuit tuo quoque crescendi cum dignitate occasio: nisi vis fati in Typographicas difficultates omnino eum abpreptum & demersum voluisset. Academiae enim praesides de Oporino ingenio ac profectu, multis iam maturae eruditionis testimonijs editis, probato, insigne & euidens in Rempub. emolumentum sibi polliciti: satis amplos ex Canonicatu D. Petri reditus (quos facultatum, vt vocant, professoribus, magistratus Basiliensis piè destinauit) ipsi, Iuris doctrinam explicantem Cl. Iureconsultum Bonifacium Amerbachium, quem, (licet enim ex ipsius ore haec dicere) socerum tum certè non sperasset: Et eo doctrinae genere ob id magis delectatum se eße, dulci recordatione iuuenilis studij, dicebat: quòd legum constitutiones, ex fontibus, sacrae scripturae deductas, Philosophorum saniorum, Platonis nimirum & Aristotetlis, riuulis irrigaret. Iu- |
[f. B5r]
Non esse hominis uiam eius: nec viri dirigere gressus suos, Oporini exemplo conspicuum esse potest. Nam vt Hercules apud Prodicum, in biuio subsistens, secum vtram viam ingrediatur deliberat: Sic Oporinus noster, in omnem occasionem experrectus, pluribus conditionibus propositis, haesit dubius. Sed tamen nec Medicum, à quo non alienus erat, nec Iurispurdentiae, ad quam honoris spes & ingens opum vis, inuitare et allicere debuerat, studium est |
[f. B5v]
Plenis itaque velis in typographicum mare delatus Oporinus, naufragium primim per Vuinterum fecit: qui vxoris luxu perditus, praeter officnam nihil reliquit. Hanc tamen à creditoribus, septingentis florinis aliunde mutuò acceptis (precio mercem longè superante) redimere est coactus. Ita prius, quàm in herba meßis esset, tristis hyemis saeuitia, autumno suus perijt fructus. His initiis, hoc aere, & antea cum Vuintero contracto: & tum emta ipsius officina acculumato, Typographicam negociationem coepit: Subinde versuram faciens, omni conatu ob pecuniarias difficultates, in nihilum, peiusúe relabente: Non aliter, quàm qui aduerso vix flumine lembum, Remigijs subigit, si brachia fortè remisit, |
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Atque illum in praeceps proro rapit alueus amni. Non enim tantum à parentibus nihil ad eum redijt, sed pecuniae numerum haud exiguum, sexcentos penè florinos excedentem, quem ab Ludouico Bero Canonico, suo à matre affini, iam destinatum sperabat, infortunio quodam mirabili amisit. Nam Francofurtum proficiscens: in hospitio Mulbergensi insignia gentilicia, Germaniae more, fenestrae inseri curârat. Pictor veritatis imaginem, fuscatam Religionem monastico habitu indutam calcantis finxit. Id cùm resciuisset Berus, indignè adeò tulit, vt nomen illius è tabulis eraserit. Tantis licet, molestijs laboraret Oporinus, neruis omnibus rei benè gerendae incisis: nihilominus in genti animo aerumnas omnes perferre ac superare: et vt eluctari poßit contendere, institutum in re litteraria iuuanda suum vrgere: doctorum virorum animis se insinuare, cùm litterarum crebritate ceu fomento beneuolentiam alendo, tum alijs officijs ijsdem gratificando. Deseruerat tùm parens eius artem suam, ne idola, & id genus imagines pingeret. Illum Oporinus innumeris grauißimarum expensarum molestijs, vndiquaque circummuentus, pi?e aluit, fouit, sustentauit, nihil´que ipsi, quàm diu superfuit, defieri est passus: Iisdem pietatis officijs sorores |
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Quod igitur ad primum attinet, omnes hoc libenter concessuros spero, optima et doctißima, cum vetustate, tum vtilitate veneranda, et magnifacienda scripta, ex Oporini officina prodisse: Reipub. magis commodo, quàm proprio fructu labores suas metientis. Sacra inprimis, in hominum manus cura sua & diligentia peruenire cupiebat: vnde à Casparo Bruschio, Palatini iure, datis etiam hac de re codicillis, Dei Opt. Max. notarius contra Antichristum & inferorum portas est nuncupatus. Oporini certè beneficio Biblijs à Castalione, viro doctißimo & innocentißimo in latinum sermonem conuersis, fruimur: quem etiam Religionis causa patria extorrem, cum familia satis numerosa, solus diu aluit: vt & plurimis alijs doctis certi subsidij loco semper Oporinus fuit. |
[f. B7r]
Erga operas praeterea, quas librorum impreßio postulat: supra facultatum rationem, & modum liber alitatem exercuit: vt earum misertus, non absque graui saepe detrimento, illas ab alijs Typographis nescio quid incommodi ex infrequenti mercatu metuentibus dimissas, susciperet, ac non rarò, supra quinquaginta sustentaret. Quid inde curarum et anxietatis ad Oporinum redierit, maior mea est imbecillitas, quàm vt oratione poßim exprimere. Herculeas potius aerumnas sibi quis optarit, quàm quotidie cum hoc hominum genere conflicati. Taceo quòd nullum opus, nisi à semetipso correctum lucem viderit. Quod porrò sumtus eam in rem fecerit, iam non attinet dicere. Facilè eos quiuis ex grauißima rei familiaris iactura aestimauerit. Non defuerunt tamen qui magnificentia sua, vbi ille defecerat, paratißimo ipsi subsidio erant, ac saepe omni ope destitutum tempestiuè subleuabant. Digna aeterna memoria & praedicatione magnificentia est Cl. & doctißimi virorum Ludouico Grempij I.C.ti celeberrimi, Reip. huius vrbis aduocati: & Ioannis Sturmij Rectoris & praeceptoris nostri, omni pietatis studio, perpetuò obseruandi: qui debitae pecuniae non exiguam summam Oporino mortuo remiserunt. Idem fecit Typographus doctißimus Henricus Petri, qui quadringentos florenos in vsum Typogra- |
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Altera Typographi cura est, vt cum fructu suo, exemplaria impressa distrahat: & laborum, sumtuum´que fructum percipiat. <griechisch> hanc partem vocauimus. Ea iucunda et larga superati laboris compensatrix, spe praemij: pro varijs aerumnis implere mercatores et singulari voluptate solet perfundere. Verùm & hîc omnia sibi aduersa est expertus. Francofurtum enim quotiescunque venit, non aliter, ac si in carnificina torqueretur, foeneratorum iniurijs miserè exagitatus fuit: adeò vt animi magnitudo & vis, vel hoc calamitatis genere perspicua, laudem, sortis autem atrox asperitas, commiserationem mereatur. Vulgò quilibet suae fortunae faber dicitur: quàm vere ipsa testatur experientia: eorum´que exempla, qui duriori aliquo preßi casu, homines´que Deos´que accusant: rati vel illorum iniquitate vel horum permißione, miserias in humanum genus inundare atque immitti: quas propria tamen culpa attrahunt, & attractas indiligentia sua cumulant. Incuriam hanc equidem, haud facilè Oporino nostro tribuerim: vel etiam vitio duxerim. Negari tamen non potest, rerum eum suarum, nimium ferè socordem in hac fuisse parte. Nam & in anno |
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Eò etiam perfidiae & iniquitatis quorundam est progressa malitia, vt neglecta omni pietate, charitate, & honestate: nulla habita boni, aequíue ratione, pro sorte centum florinorum, viginit, imò etiam triginta, vsurae turpißimae loco ab ipso exegerint: Quàm miseris modis, curarum aestus, & sollicitudo, hinc exorta, Oporinum exercuerit, dici vix potest. Tantum tamen abfuit, vt de pertinaci suo studio aliquid remitteret, vel laboribus & molestijs succumberet, varietate & magnitudine aerumnarum fractus: vt, quod Iuno apud Tragicum de Hercule queritur, superarit & creuerit malis, iráque fortunae frueretur: in laudes suas eius vertens odia. Summum iuuandis humanioribus disciplinis studium, & indefessum conatum vel illud Aldinum testatur, quod instituto suo accommodatum Musaei foribus praefixerat. |
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Quisquis es, rogat te Oporinus, etiam atque etiam: vt si quid est, quod à se velis, perpaucis agas: deinde acturum ab eas: nisi tanquam Hercules defesso Atlante, veneris suppositurus humeros. Semper enim erit, quod & tu agas: & quotquot huc attulerint pedes. Atque has quidem difficultates Oporinus est perpessus, Nonnunquam tamen eadem ipsa fortuna blandiori vultu, in amicum complexum veluti odio exaturata, libidinis´que sua ducta paenitudine, reditura videbatur: dum illum & principum gratiae: magnorum fauori: omnium verò amori & beneuolentiae felcitier insereret. Nam ipse Imperator Ferdinandus, hominis probitatem amplexus, clementißimè se Oporino dedit: et ut merces eius improfessae Brisaci (oppidum illud est ad Rhenum peramoeno loco, & natura, & opere munito, situm, vbi portorium Austriaci colligunt.) praeterueherentur, benignißimè conceßit. Sed Oporinus, futura compendia vel dispendia parum diligenter considerans, hanc quoque neglexit commoditatem. Palatinus etiam Elector Fridericus, Oporini integritatem, & in excudendo industriam admiratus, Heidelbergam eum accersiuit: vbi res suas forsan melius stabilire potuisset: nisi praenatalis soli dulcedine maximè opimas conditiones repudiasset. Expatiatus erat aliquando ad Ioan. Rodolphum |
[f. C1r]
Et vt ex infinitis vnum enumerem, Andreas Vesalius, cum Oporino familiarißimè diu est versatus, Anatomiae suae, opere typis ipsius commisso: cuius etiam consilio & instinctu, praeclaro quidem, sed inauspicato Arionis symbolo est vsus. |
[f. C1v]
In hoc laborioso vitae genere cum secunda vxore, Maria Ficina vixit Oporinus triginta & aliquot annos, grauißimis, hominum improborum iniuria, factis naufragijs. Mortua est illa, peste, marito Francofurti in nundinis absente, anno supra millesimum quingentesimum sexagesimo quarto. Eadem hora, manè quarte, qua eam expirasse domum reuersus cognouit, pulsum quendam, ad spondam lecti Oporinus sensit: quo aliquid mali portendi ad famulum, iuxtà cubantem dixit. Delectabatur illa, vt memorauimus, insolente pecuniae effusione: parùm sollicita, quanto labore, & periculis mediocres etiam opes constarent: Aliàs perita artium quibus indulgentiores mariti capiuntur, & ad obsequia vxorum flectuntur. Nam vt Menander dicit. <griechisch> <griechisch> Constat rara, vel potius nulla inter eos intercessisse iurgia: dum illa facilitatis mariti non ignara, ingenium eius blandè tractaret: & continuis Typographiae laboribus defatigatum ac tantum non oppressum, & morum & sermonis commoda elegantia reficeret: operarum praeterea ignaua importunitate concitatum prudenter permul- |
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Defuncta coniuge administrandae rei familiaris moles, ipsi soli Oporino incumbebat: cui oneri, alioqui sexcentis negocijs distentus, & numerosa operarum multitudine obrutus, cùm sufficere non poßet: rebus suis ita postulantibus & cogentibus: semestri elapso, tertiam duxit: Elisabetham, Eucharij Holzachij F. animi, corporis, & fortunae dotibus ornatißimam matronam, viduam Ioannis Heruagij iunioris, eodem pestilentiae malo extincddti. Huius officina cum Oporini coniuncta, maioribus eum inuoluit molestijs. Nam vxoris beneficio & opibus auctus: cùm aliquantulum à perennibus istis aerumnis resporare inciperet, & in portu, omni exemtus periculo Arion nauigare videretur: in Oceanum typographicum tunc demum est prouectus. Sed qualemcunque hanc prosperitatem immaturum coniugis fatum intercepit. Ea enim in Thermas Badenses Heluetiorum profecta, ex doloribus matricis, quarto coniugij mense Basileam reuersa expirauit. Tunc demum Oporinus grauißimum vulnus accepit. Nam breui illo tempore, gustum aliquem coniugalis amoris fidei, pietatis sensit: & quid esset in coniugio uiuere didicit. Erat ea festiuo et commodo ingenio: et opes suas ad publicam litterarum vtilitatem |
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Catastophen fabulae, laetiorem Deus esse voluit. Moerorem enim ex intempestiuo Heroissae suae obitu perceptum facilè discußit coniunx quarta (qui quidem quaternarius, vitae cum coelestis, quàm adeptus est: tum prolis susceptae, indicium statuatur) prudentia moderata, probitate, fide, ac pia in maritum beneuolentia, priori non inferior: eo etiam superior: quòd Oporinum in extremo iam aetatis actu, filio virtutis, eruditionis, & diligentiae paternae (fortunam enim & ille ex alijs discat) haerede beauerit. Ea est Faustina, Clarißimi Iureconsulti Bonifacij Amerbachij F. Vlrici Iselini, Iurisperiti, vidua: & ipsa mirando Dei consilio Oporino iuncta, cùm praeter nominis honestam existimationem nihil in Oporino, à muliere iuuencula esset expetendum. |
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Haec res mariti diligentius perpendens: eum´que aetate iam grauem, laboribus istis ferendis imparem esse videns: aßiduè instare ipsi & orare, vt vendita officina, sese expediret. Difficulter quidem coniugis precibus ceßit Oporinus: quòd stationem hanc, in quam à Deo esset collocatus, temerè deserendam, & priuato ocio publicum commodum postponendum non putaret: saepe etiam diceret: Molestiae typographicae finem, mortem ipsam, iam propinquam excepturam esse. Victus tamen iustis vxoris precibus, Typographiam vendidit, nunquam suarum rationem subducta summa. Non multò pòst suscepit filium Emmanuelem, prouidentiae diuinae testimonium, ipso natali suo 25. Ian. 1568. anni: quasi & hoc imminentis mortis, non dubium esset omen. Laetitiam quam inde percepit Oporinus, iudicabunt isti, quorum omnis in prole vnica, nominis & generis propagatrice, stat cura. Nullae ad doctos mittebantur litterae, in quibus Oporinuli (ita enim apud amicos vocitare solebat) non fieret multa mentio. Sed nec tum quidem liquido, & ab omni parte solido gaudio frui licebat. Complures enim molestae et impeditae curae ab importinis et malè feriatis hominibus inijciebantur: quae cùm senis animum acerbius ferirent, ac sauciarent, vitae tandem finem Opo- |
[f. C3v]
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Elatus est humeris Academiae, comitatu omnium ordinum honorificentißimo: sepultus in summo templo, in societate clarißimorum virorum, Grynae, Oecolampadij, Munsteri, & aliorum qui viuacibus ingenij monumentis nominis perpetuitatem sibi pepererunt. Concionem funebrem habuit, reuerendus vir D. Simon Sulcerus, Theologus doctißimus, & puritatis Euangelicae diligentißimus cultor. Mortem eius luctus omnium bonorum consequutus est: nec defuit foeneratorem strepitus, qui & viuum sceleratè expilarunt: & mortuo, contumeliosè insultare non erubuerunt: Cùm tamen ijdem ipsi, praeter paupertatem patriam: summam erga alios liberalitatem, aeris istius alieni non postrema fuerint causa: cuius numerum immanis illa secundae vxoris prodigalitas, vt dixi, & priuignorum profusio auxit. Hunc vitae finem, Ioannes Oporinus habuit, de studijs nostris optimè meritus: & ob id dignus, cuius memoria, cum virtutis perpetua commendatione omnium bonorum labijs celebretur atque efflorescat. Qualiacunque n. ea fuerint, quae mortem eius exceperunt: eiusmodi tamen sunt, ut nec aeternam illius beatitudinem, cuius initia moriturus percipiebat: |
[f. C4v]
Quin potius, eam speramus fore posteritatis gratitudinem: vt praeconijs suis existimationem Oporini sit confirmatura, qui etiam in tanta rei familiaris angustia: ex tam paruis atque exilibus initijs incremento sumto, in curanda Typographia, adeò magnificus esse potuerit. Gratias verò vobis ago, grauiss. & doctiss. auditores: quòd & me de Oporino balbutientem audire tam patienter: & Oporini manibus nobiscum parentare non estis dedignati. |
[f. C5r]
Mortis Ioan. Oporini praesagia Coelius II. Curio obseruauit & scripsit.
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[f. C6r]
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[f. C6v]
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Catalogus librorum per Ioannem Oporinum excusorum, secundùm ordinam alphabeticum, adiecta impreßionis forma.
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FINIS.
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AETERNITATI
IONNES OPORINVS BAS. TYPOGRAPHVS: DOCTVS, OPEROSVS, ELEGANS LIBRIS INNVMERIS, VIRTVTVM HAEREDE EX. IV. CONIVGE, VNICO RELICTO: PVB. LACHRIMIS: PRIVATA PIETATE: SEXAGENARIO MAIOR. HEIC CONDITVR. FRVGIFER Autumnus perijt. DIS notus et orbi Orthion elapsus natusi, meditatur Ario. Quantula sint hominum corpuscula disce viator:
[...] |
[f. G4r]
FINIS.
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Bibliography
A
— VD16 J 305.
— View at Google Books here or here or here
B
— View at Google Books here
— View at Google Books here
A reissue of the 1711 edition with a new title-page and preface only (Titelausgabe).
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT on 28 February 2023. Attention: This translation is a machine translation by artificial intelligence. The translation has not been checked and should not be cited without additional human verification.
BY ANDREAS JOSEPHUS GOCZ, PROFESSOR OF ETHICS IN THE SAME ACADEMY.
We have appended a catalogue of books printed by Johannes Oporinus.
EVEN AGAINST PIRATES: WHICH IS PERMISSIBLE THROUGH PIRATES.
STRASBOURG, Printed by Theodosius Rihelius, 1569
Greetings to the distinguished man, Lord Ioannes Crato de Crafftheim, Imperial Councilor and Physician.
Not long ago, in our academy, we paid tribute to the late Oporinus with a brief speech, most distinguished Crato, dear patron and lord. His outstanding contributions to the literary republic deserved this demonstration of our respect and piety towards him, which we offer through this expression of tribute to Oporinus. There were several reasons why I hesitated to make this public, for fear of being accused of rashness by those who might believe that his life was not well described, given that they may not have been as familiar with his habits as he was. However, since it is customary for good and learned men to view this act of benevolence and humanity favorably, and I learned that they wished for this testimony to be made public, I acted in accordance with their authority, knowing that I need not fear the accusations of the wicked. During the same month that Oporinus was afflicted with his illness, he kindly entrusted me with a financial matter to be settled with a friend of great renown (whose assistance he had experienced before), as I was descending to Argentum. I took this opportunity to discuss his difficulties, his life course, which he had pursued since the beginning of his printing business, up until that day. Much of what he experienced during those tumultuous times was revealed in that conversation, although I omitted many details that could have caused pain to others. Many of the details about Theophrastus and the continuation of history were related to me by several distinguished and learned men who had heard them directly from Oporinus himself. Therefore, I need not be accused of being biased. I have always detested the insolence of those who attack the living with a certain satirical sharpness or ridicule them, and who point a finger at them. Or those who malign and insult even the dead, contrary to the sacred law of Athens. However, especially in your distinguished name, dear patron, I wanted to show that I was aware of how highly you valued Oporinus, and that if those of a different medical persuasion attempted to attack me in a more vicious manner, I could count on your certain and steadfast protection. Your honesty will prompt you to regard my efforts favorably, and your benevolence will continue to support me as it has in the past. If my studies are worthy of honoring your excellence and erudition, I will conduct myself in such a way that you will understand that it was not a lack of opportunity but rather a lack of readiness on my part. Farewell to the dead. In Argentum, on the fourth Ides of March, MDLXIX.
Speech on the Birth, Life and Death of Johannes Oporinus of Basel, the Prince of German Printers, given at the University of Strasbourg by Johann Heinrich Hainzel of Augsburg.
There are two main things that shape our lives: precepts and examples. The former, derived from the principles of natural law, teach and prescribe what should be followed and avoided. The latter, like a mirror, reflect people's behavior and demonstrate what is useful to each person. Both certainly have a significant impact and importance for cultivating virtue in noble minds. It has recently been said excellently about teaching precepts and discipline to live with honor and virtue. As someone who has been assigned these speaking roles by custom and the authority of my mentors, I thought it appropriate to provide an example to inspire young people to strive for both the glory of virtue and diligent pursuit of studies.
I will provide a brief and simple account: a true narrative about the birth, life, and death of Johann Oporinus, the prince of German printers, by the testimony of all the foremost authorities, I hope. He who was recently taken from human affairs left his mourning family and a great longing for his goodness, leaving a clear example of human fragility and slippery inconstancy for all to see. For he shone, more than in any other, in our Oporinus, as a plaything of deceitful fortune, which in this one illustrious document demonstrated how fragile our affairs stand, subject to perpetual vicissitudes and various, even frequent, changes. It is an act of humanity to honor the memory of the deceased with piety and to vindicate their honest reputation from the calumnies of the wicked with any protection. But it is our duty to do justice to Oporinus, who has so well deserved of our literary Republic, which brings these rightful things, which, although they fill a spacious orb with the light of his own virtue, bring little fame to the name of Oporinus. Thus they openly testify our piety towards the deceased.
Once there was a famous and honorable contention among many cities about the homeland of Homer, which promised much splendor from the illustrious citizen. So an obscure homeland became famous because of the virtue of one. There is also a great number of those for whom the nobility of their homeland has brought not a little weight to eternal fame and the so-called happiness. So it would not be difficult to show by examples that mutual services are handed down on both sides for the perpetuation of their reputation. Therefore, it will be rightly acknowledged by us all, who sometimes desire to pay homage with similar piety, if we do not seem to detract from the happiness which the homeland increases for Oporinus or envy him this praise as a citizen, which our illustrious Argentum, which gave him birth and hospitably provided for Oporinus as a student of the rudiments of letters in this school, rightly asserts. I would indeed wish for the ability to speak that would correspond to the virtues of this man. But if I fail to satisfy the splendor of my speech for the most learned ears of my most grave listeners, I trust that you will show me favor for my lack of ease in speaking, especially since the narration of sad events shuns the adornment of speech, and even the rivulets of any eloquence dry up in the greatest grief, just and plentiful tears.
Therefore, John Oporinus was born in the year of Christ, above one thousand five hundred and seven, in the month of January on the day of the conversion of Paul. Basel welcomed his birth, a city celebrated for the natural beauty of its location, the mildness of its climate, and the fertility of its soil, as well as for being a safe and reliable residence for scholars. Some believe that it acquired its name from Basil Minucius, a former envoy of Julius Caesar in these lands, while others propose different origins for the name. Those who follow the evidence of ancient monuments believe that it was named after its free passage. However, it is not our purpose to delve into this matter at present.
Oporinus had a father, Johann Herbst, a distinguished painter by trade and a devoutly religious man of good character. The family name was later changed from its vernacular language to Greek. Oporinus borrowed the phrase from Martial: "If autumn gave me a name, I would be called ὀπωρινός; if harsh winter, the stars would call me χειμερινός," and cleverly and appropriately adopted it, foreseeing that someday he would enter into the printing business with Robert Winter, who later changed his name to Chymerinus.
Oporinus' grandfather held public offices in this city and served as an aedile. He was praised for his exceptional integrity, diligence, and outstanding character. When his son was a boy, he immediately enrolled him in the study of the liberal arts. However, his stepmother's wicked hatred thwarted his father's good intentions. As a result, he was driven out of his father's house by this evil, and was entrusted to a notary of the Republic. He used the notary's domestic habits to improve his writing skills. However, he was more inclined towards the elegant art of letters, and was drawn towards this art by his father's friend, a painter. When he returned home and was asked to demonstrate his diligence in writing, he confessed that he had devoted himself to the art of painting. His angry father treated him harshly and threatened that he would never be allowed to return to his sight. Thus, he became a refugee from his homeland, and excluded from the hope of recovering his father's love and property, he devoted himself entirely to the art of painting. With his successful diligence, he progressed to become one of the most prominent artists of his time. He left his homeland and devoted himself to learning everything about his art and the opportunity to establish himself.
And indeed, at that time he left his homeland and went directly to Switzerland in search of opportunities to learn his craft and establish himself. Not all plants thrive in every climate; many thrive better when transplanted elsewhere. Similarly, opportunities to excel are not always available everywhere. Plutarch said it well: "Virtue, like a strong and enduring plant, takes root in every soil, nurtured by a kind nature and a diligent soul." Themistocles also responded correctly to a Seriphian who accused him of seeking glory not for himself, but for his country: "You speak the truth," he said, "for neither I nor you would have achieved fame if you were a Seriphian or I an Athenian. For the power of virtue is such that, having acquired a good nature, it takes root anywhere in the world, and, being stimulated by frequent and honorable actions, it produces the most abundant harvest." Oporinus' father clearly approved of this, as he diligently cultivated his natural goodness and so brilliantly illuminated his own virtue with the fame he received from his city that he proved himself a worthy citizen of his country. While he was practicing his craft in Switzerland, he lost his father, so they sent people to find his only heir, his son. They arrived in Switzerland, where they had agreed he would be, but the man who was looking after him, fearing a loss of profit that he was making from the young man's industry, denied that he was with him when the young man left. Thus, due to the greed and injustice of his master, he was deprived of his paternal inheritance, which was quite ample, and went to Basel, where he so demonstrated his industry that he easily won the favor and goodwill of the good people of the country. Delighted with the place and the people's ways, he settled there and married Barbara Kupfart, a woman of good reputation. From her, he had three daughters (one of whom, a great citizen of the literary republic, gave birth to the outstanding philosopher and doctor Theodorus Zwingerus; and after her first husband's death, she was given in marriage to Conrad Lycosthenes, whom she supported with her diligent care even when he was sick and lost), and he had this Johannes in the year I mentioned, just a little before a parricide was torn apart with white-hot tongs. His mother, still carrying him in her womb, witnessed this horrific event and was so shaken by it that she impressed the marks on Oporinus.
Beyond the dowry, he received nothing from his wife, and he himself had brought nothing but industry to their marriage. Therefore, such great difficulties were presented in every matter that they could barely scrape by with their own labor. Thus, due to this domestic poverty, the prosperity of their children seemed to depend more on their own industry than on the abundance of inherited wealth, and so the parents diligently sought to place certain and lasting safeguards in themselves, after God's blessing.
The father, therefore, carefully taught his son the rudiments of letters and took him to public schools, demanding and reviewing what the teachers had taught. The mother, for her part, neglected nothing that would become a woman's hands. With this diligent care, the domestic hardships were sweetened by the children's success and the harsh labors of their calling were alleviated.
As a young man, he was better educated in school, as his studies were now enriched by the efforts of learned teachers and the works of good authors, which had been restored to their integrity and circulated among people. Therefore, when his intellectual acumen shone through in his childhood, and his character promised a certain richness and autumnal fecundity, the father did not overlook anything that was thought to adorn the son's natural goodness, even though everything that could provide an opportunity to rise was extremely limited.
After he had successfully acquired the rudiments of learning at home, due to his father's poverty, he came down to Strasbourg and lived for nearly four years in the company of poor scholars. At that time, Gebwiler, a learned instructor of youth, was teaching in the city and serving as a mentor to Oporinus, adjusting his teaching according to the demands of the time and Oporinus's abilities. Under this master and guide, Oporinus made so much progress that he could speak Latin correctly and fluently and was not entirely ignorant of the Greek language, earning the admiration of many. Having attained maturity of age and judgment, he returned to his homeland, led by the praise of having obtained a complete education, which he had the greatest opportunity to acquire there. Diligently attending to learned men (of whom Basel was always fortunate in the abundance of), he learned from their guidance how to judge of the liberal arts, the taste for which he had acquired. However, he could not continue this course for long, as poverty in his homeland denied him domestic support, and he had no hope of obtaining aid from elsewhere. He therefore went to St. Urban's Abbey (a monastery located in Switzerland under the rule of Lucerne), where he taught the youth who were to be admitted to the college someday. At that time, the indolence of the monks and the misuse of good things had not yet prevailed over the custom of instructing boys in this way.
While living there under those circumstances, he came into acquaintance with Xylotectus, a canon at Lucerne: they were brought together by their similarity of intellect (which has great importance in bringing together souls) and refined culture of literature. Xylotectus was a learned and elegant man who, as they say, wrote poetry during that time, and Oporinus was no less capable. Not long after, Xylotectus embraced the purity of the Gospel and abandoned his vast wealth, taking his wife and settling in Basel, where he later died after being infected by the plague.
Oporinus, tired of monastic school, followed his friend and returned to Basel, intending to continue his studies and complete them with honors. However, as no assistance was provided by anyone, he took up the task of describing Greek theologians, such as Irenaeus and others, whom Johannes Frobenius had translated into Greek for the public. Thus, the constant financial difficulties and severe poverty hindered Oporinus. Finally, in 1527, he married Xylotectus' widow, believing that he could only merit his friend's greatness by enduring the burden of a morose and austere old woman. What he endured from her, however, is not pleasant to recount. Anyone can easily imagine the bitterness of the troubles that were imposed on him by his imperious and harsh wife, for Oporinus himself often said that he suffered the same fate as Socrates, who learned to philosophize under Xantippe's tutelage. Indeed, Oporinus' tolerance in enduring his wife's insults was no less than that of Socrates. Just as Socrates was bombarded with many insults, he merely replied that he knew that after so many thunderstorms, rain would eventually come. Likewise, Oporinus endured his wife's insistent behavior with great patience in similar cases. At that time, Oporinus was running the literary school of his country, and he was a skillful craftsman in handling young minds' studies, as he moderated the education of brilliant minds. There are still quite a few people who attribute their knowledge of the first rudiments and solid education to Oporinus. However, his academic life was quickly interrupted.
For when the excellence of nature urged him on to nothing but the highest, and stimulated by the praises of the learned men who were then alive, he could not rest. Perhaps he was also ashamed of his present insignificance (which usually accompanies the most arduous labours of schoolmasters) and began to think of another method of study which would place him in a more secure and enduring position of prosperity, freed from those constant annoyances. While Oporinus was pondering over this, Johannes Oecolampadius, who was the first to profess the sincere doctrine of Christ's Gospel at Basel, observing the remarkable and versatile talents of the man but noticing that he was hostile to litigation, suggested that he devote himself to the study of medicine, especially as Theophrastus Paracelsus was then there boasting arrogantly that he would make an outstanding doctor within one year. Theophrastus came to Basel at the beginning of the Reformation and, on the recommendation of Oecolampadius and with the approval of the Magistrate, was received into the city as a professor of medicine. At that time, the University was completely scattered and the professors had either been expelled or had left the city voluntarily. Therefore, with the help of Oecolampadius, he easily obtained a position in medicine at the University.
Following Oecolampadius' advice, Oporinus joined himself to Theophrastus and never left his company as long as he was in Basel. He even served him as his personal assistant, performing the duties of his servant and amanuensis, hoping that by his diligent service he would attain a perfect knowledge of the art which this Doctor boasted of so much. Therefore, with great admiration and a large following, even of those who were famous for their wisdom and learning in that excellent art, Theophrastus taught Oporinus carefully, and he faithfully translated what was said in German by Theophrastus (for he taught medicine in the vernacular, contrary to custom) into Latin. Theophrastus indeed had a very limited knowledge of Latin, as Oporinus often affirmed, but his memory was so fortunate that he could recite entire passages of Galen accurately and rapidly. Everything that Oporinus translated from his mother tongue, whether it was not understood in dictation or received confusedly in reading, Theophrastus approved. This made Oporinus often suspicious that there might be some deception involved in such ready agreement. When Theophrastus went out with his disciples to collect herbs and came across a plant whose name he did not know, he would say that it was of no use. The ardor for learning that was in Oporinus can be recognized from this, that he patiently endured the mad behavior of a drunken man so that he could progress in the study of medicine with some benefit, worthy of such great labors.
They say that Hippocrates was so devoted to learning medicine that he did not hesitate to taste excrement to explore the material of diseases. Laëtius writes that Cleanthes was also so passionate about knowledge that he would make a profit by drawing water at night from a gardener (hence he was called Φρεάντης) to support his poverty and be able to devote himself to philosophy during the day.
Likewise, there was no less ardor for learning in our Oporinus, and he endured the difficulties with unwavering tolerance. For when Theophrastus asserted against the views of other physicians that the temper of a person could only be known by their urine being alkaline, he who had fasted from all food and drink for three days, Oporinus also starved himself for three days and brought a small amount of urine to Theophrastus for his judgment. But Theophrastus laughed and called him foolish for obeying so easily, and he slammed the flask against the wall.
Moreover, Theophrastus used to get drunk on wine and fight imaginary monsters with a drawn sword for almost half an hour at night, not without Oporinus, who hid in the same room on his bed, with great fear and danger. Then he would wake Oporinus up to take notes, which were recited so skillfully that Oporinus often said he thought he had suffered them by the instigation of demons. And indeed, many of those notes that have been printed were written by Oporinus himself, who, being easy-going, communicated them without difficulty to people of that sect. What about the fact that he was often forced to indulge in drinking bouts, which the doctor enjoyed excessively, but was not constant in them, as his energies were more suited to literary pursuits than to revelry, and frequent drunkenness could not be borne. Oporinus's faithfulness and diligence are extensively praised by Theophrastus, who admits in a certain booklet that he had experienced only one faithful Oporinus among many servants.
With these habits and in this condition, Theophrastus lived in Basel for almost two years, during which time he proved his art to be so successful that he was greatly admired for curing desperate illnesses. There was a certain noble Canon from Lichtenfels there who suffered from a lamentable illness. Theophrastus agreed to a price of a hundred florins (which the Canon promptly offered and promised to pay even more willingly) and successfully restored him with three pills of his Laudanum (a type of medicine used only in extreme necessity). The cured Canon, though healed in a short time and apparently easily, did not keep his promise, and was indeed worthy of being tormented by longer illness and pain. Therefore, Theophrastus went to court. When the usual and prescribed settlement was reached by the magistrate, Theophrastus was so dissatisfied with the meager price of his art that he repeatedly attacked the magistrate, to the point where the injured magistrate feared punishment. So, some men of great authority, who were eager to honor him, warned Theophrastus not to persist, even to Oporinus himself, and he went down to Alsace, leaving behind his alchemical vessels with Oporinus.