Della Porta Magia Naturalis (German 1713)

What Claudius AelianusA 3rd-century Roman author and teacher of rhetoric who wrote "On the Nature of Animals.", Julius SolinusA Latin grammarian and compiler from the 3rd or 4th century., AthenaeusA Greek rhetorician and grammarian, author of the "Deipnosophistae.", NicanderA Greek poet and physician known for his works on venomous animals and antidotes., OppianA name attributed to several Greek poets who wrote about fishing and hunting., PhilesManuel Philes, a 14th-century Byzantine poet who wrote about the characteristics of animals., Joannes TzetzesA 12th-century Byzantine poet and grammarian., Albertus MagnusThe famous 13th-century German Dominican friar and polymath who wrote extensively on natural philosophy., Vincent of Beauvaisoriginal: "Vincentius Belluatenſis"; author of the "Speculum Maius," the most influential encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. (or rather William of Conchesoriginal: "Guilielmus de Conchis"; a 12th-century Scholastic philosopher.), the Cyranidesoriginal: "Kiranides"; an ancient collection of magical and medical texts, often personified as an author in this era., Gerolamo Cardanooriginal: "Hieronymus Cardanus"; a major Renaissance mathematician, physician, and polymath., and many others have written concerning physical and other natural matters—and with how many errors these books are filled (because it was not possible for those authors to take everything into closer personal consideration)—we will here pass over in silence. We only wish to state this few things in advance: that such books are to be read with great caution, and one should not greedily believe everything that the authors themselves (were they alive today) would not believe.

On the contrary, the above-mentioned famous Giambattista della Portaoriginal: "P. J. Baptiſta Porta"; an Italian polymath known for his work on optics and natural magic. proceeded very accurately in all his Secrets of Nature original: "Arcanis Naturæ". He did not easily accept or believe anything unless he had first tested it himself. If he found something not to be in accordance with the truth, he did not entirely reject it, but rather suspended his judgment The author refers to the scientific practice of "epoche" or withholding judgment when proof is insufficient. and merely cited the words of the original authors without presenting them as the truth—as the intelligent reader will find for himself upon a careful reading. That he has revealed many hidden things to today’s world, particularly in his Natural Magic original: "Magia Naturali" or 20 Books (the contents of which may be read on the following page) concerning the wonderful workings of nature, is clearly evident in this little work. Because many delightful and highly useful matters for household managementoriginal: "Hauß-Wirthſchafft"; this refers to the practical application of science to domestic tasks, farming, and daily life. are found therein, and since previous copies found such favor that there has been frequent demand for more, we have again resolved to produce this special edition. In doing so, we wish to serve the curious lovers of physical matters with all due devotion.