Poem, no date (1567), by Balthasar Flöter (BP085)
| Author: | Philalethes [Balthasar Flöter] |
| Type: | Poem |
| Date: | no date [1567] |
| Pages: | 2 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Quote as: | https://www.theatrum-paracelsicum.com/index.php?curid=2061 |
| Editor: | Edited by Julian Paulus |
| Source: | Paracelsus, Astronomica et astrologica, ed. Balthasar Flöter, Köln: Gerhard Virendunck for Arnold Birckmann (Erben) 1567, sig. [unsigned]1v–[unsigned]2r [BP085]
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| Translation: | Raw translation see below |
| Back to Paratexts Back to Texts by Balthasar Flöter |
[sig. [unsigned]1v] In Theo[phrasti] Paracelsi [sig. [unsigned]2r] Icona, carmen.
[sig. [unsigned]1v]
Corpore talis erat Theophrastus, is alter Apollo:
Haud feret Apelles, pectore qualis erat.
Ipse Lepram, Phthisin, Podagram, Hydropem, abstulit:
Ceu Hermes, Dium fundere nouit Azoth:
Doctor Doctorum doctissimus, arte medendi, ipse.
Qualibet ac Sophia, quam Philotechne colis.
Hunc relege, & normas Paracelsi cum Paramiro
Disce, eris hoc omni tutus ab interitu.
Hunc ape per Canones Theophrastum cum Paragrano:
Erronum næuos non imitare tetros.
Hunc sequere, & nugas Galeni cum Microtehna,
Et Labyrinthæis linque, relinque Libris.
Hunc Lyra mireris, Ptolemæe hunc, hunc Stagiritia,
Bartole siue legas, siue Auicenna legas.
Huic adpicta vides, nostro bene congrua Seclo,
Fatidico quondam quæ dedit hicce sono.
Ecce sinister ibi Doctorculus, orbus ocello est,
Gemmam, aurumq́ue gerens, nunc quoque vincla gerunt.
A dextris Medicos Rediuiue librosq́ue schedasq́ue
Tam laceras propter dogmata manca stupes.
Post Insigne notat tacito multa abdita sensu,
Per triplicem Mundi sphærulam, & octo Cruces.
Orbibus affixos Flores perpende sacratos,
Cur trifida in medio cælica gemma nitet.
Adlatus omne, pias cernis, dicta aurea, voces,
Perpetuò has viuens pectore & ore tulit.
[sig. [unsigned]2r] Hoc duce, Naturam atque Deum sectabimur vnos
Doctores, placitum non Cenotechne tuum.
A Ioue principium, medium, finem quòque duxit,
Commisso soli seq́ue suisq́ue Deo.
Directam ipse suis Sacra Biblio fixit amussim
Scriptis, quæ mentis sint monimenta piæ:
Subquorum æthereos perspexit cortice Fructus,
Qui Fructus oculos non latuêre suos.
Denique Naturæ penetralia nouit alumnæ,
Quod de Alazothe, Sale, & Sulphure cuncta creat.
Quatuor hinc docta bene condidit arte Columnas,
Omnibus has posuit, saxea fulcra, Sophis:
Singula quò scitu iucunda & commoda nobis,
Non dubia fierent obuia, plana, fide.
Pharmaca nulla fide, sed sensu vera probauit,
Et si Animæ constet Speq́ue, Fideq́ue salus.
Fidus enim à morbis Populosq́ue, Ducesq́ue Machaon
Ipse Machaonia sæpe leuauit ope.
Quid moror? hic doctus, verax, minimeq́ue superbus,
Pauperibus gratam ferre paratus opem:
Candidus & iustus, tum castis moribus, almæ
Integrum vitæ rite peregit iter.
Ergo vipereo Theophrastomastiges ore
Innocuum nocui non lacerate Virum.
Lumine pro tanto, Medico sit gratia summo,
Ingenio is similes det Theophraste tuo.
Philalethes f[ecit].
English Raw Translation
Generated by ChatGPT-4 on 7 April 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.
In the Image of Theophrastus Paracelsus, a poem.
Such was the body of Theophrastus, like another Apollo:
No Apelles could depict his heart, so noble was he.
He himself took away Leprosy, Consumption, Gout, and Dropsy:
Like Hermes, he knew how to pour out the divine Azoth.
Most learned of learned doctors, in the art of healing, indeed.
In every way and with Wisdom, which you, Philotechnician, cultivate.
Read him, and with Paracelsus and Paramirus learn the rules,
By this, you will be safe from all destruction.
Follow him through the Canons of Theophrastus with Paragrano:
Do not imitate the vile errors of others.
Follow him, and leave behind the nonsense of Galen with Microtehna,
And in the labyrinthine books, leave and abandon them.
Marvel at this Lyre, this Ptolemy, this Stagirite,
Whether you read Bartolo or Avicenna.
To this you see, well suited to our age,
What once the prophetic voice gave here in song.
Behold, on the left is the little doctor, lacking an eye,
Holding a gem and gold, now also bearing chains.
On the right, the doctors and the resurrected books, sheets and pages
So tattered and torn due to false doctrines, you marvel.
After the emblem notes many hidden meanings in silence,
Through the triple sphere of the world, and the eight crosses.
Consider the sacred flowers attached to the circles,
Why the celestial gem shines with a triple aspect in the midst.
On every side, you see, holy sayings, golden words,
Living forever in his heart and mouth, he bore these.
With this guide, we will follow Nature and God as one,
Doctors, not your pleasing Cenotechnical art.
From Jupiter, he drew the beginning, the middle, and the end,
Trusting only the Earth and his own God.
He himself fixed the Sacred Bible in a straight line for his people
Writings, which are monuments of a pious mind:
Under their surface, he saw the heavenly fruits,
Fruits that did not escape his own eyes.
Finally, he knew the innermost parts of Nature's daughter,
Which creates everything from Alazoth, Salt, and Sulfur.
From here, he wisely built four columns,
He placed these stone supports for all the wise:
So that each of them, delightful and helpful to us in knowledge,
Would become evident, clear, and without doubt, in faith.
He tested drugs not by faith, but by true sense,
And if the soul's salvation consists in Hope and Faith.
Indeed, faithful Machaon from diseases, peoples, and leaders,
He himself often relieved them with Machaonian aid.
Why delay? Here he was learned, truthful, and not at all arrogant,
Ready to bring welcome help to the poor:
Sincere and just, with pure morals, and nurturing
He rightly completed the whole journey of life.
Therefore, let not the serpent-mouthed Theophrastomastix
Harm an innocent man who did no harm.
For such a great light, may there be gratitude to the supreme Physician,
May others like you, Theophrastus, grant your genius.
(Theophrastus had a body like Apollo, an unparalleled figure; Apelles could not capture how great he was at heart. He himself cured Leprosy, Consumption, Gout, and Dropsy; as Hermes, he knew how to dispense divine Azoth. A most learned teacher of teachers, skilled in the art of healing, possessing wisdom and the knowledge of techniques you cherish. Read and learn his teachings, and master the principles of Paracelsus and his Paramirum; you will be safe from all destruction. Embrace the teachings of Theophrastus alongside Paragranum, and do not imitate the hideous errors of others. Follow him and leave behind the trivialities of Galen and Microtehna, as well as the labyrinthine books. Admire him like Lyra, Ptolemy, and Stagirite, whether you read Bartolus or Avicenna.
Behold, on the left is the little doctor, blind in one eye, bearing gemstones and gold; now, they also carry chains. On the right, you gaze upon revived doctors, books, and tattered manuscripts, all due to the crippled teachings. Many hidden meanings are denoted by the emblem, through the triple sphere of the world and eight crosses. Consider the sacred flowers affixed to the orbs; why does a heavenly gem shine in the middle with its threefold brilliance? On every side, you discern pious sayings and golden words that he always carried in his heart and on his lips. With him as our guide, we, the learned doctors, will follow Nature and God, not your pleasing Cenotechne.
From Jupiter, he derived the beginning, middle, and end, entrusting himself and his work solely to God. He established an accurate standard for his sacred writings in the Holy Bible, which would serve as monuments of a pious mind. Beneath their surface, he glimpsed heavenly fruits, which did not escape his sight. Ultimately, he understood the inner workings of nature's disciple, which created everything from Alazoth, Salt, and Sulfur. From this knowledge, he skillfully built four columns and placed these stony supports for all the wise. So that each, delightful and useful for us, would be clear, level, and trustworthy.
He tested medicines, not with blind faith, but with true understanding, and if salvation depends on Hope and Faith, he was steadfast. For he often relieved people, leaders, and Machaon from diseases with his Machaonian aid. Why should I linger? He was learned, truthful, and not at all arrogant, ready to offer generous help to the poor. He was honest and just, and with virtuous morals, he completed his life's journey with integrity.
So, do not harm this innocent man, Theophrastus, with your venomous tongues. May there be gratitude for such a great physician and may others with similar talents arise, like Theophrastus.)
