ARCHIDOXES OF LORD

THEOPHRASTUS PARA-

CELSI,

FIRST BOOK.

How great is human misery.

F mimme, 1658

The inconveniences and imposture of the old medicine.

Jan 1658

The sublime mysteries of Nature.

If we consider our misery, dearest sons, through which we dwell in a heavy and dark domicile, subject to hunger and, moreover, to very many and various accidents from all sides by which we are overwhelmed and surrounded, so that it has barely been permitted for us to flourish, or even to live, as long as we have imitated the Medicine prescribed by the ancients. For we were continually surrounded by many calamities and bitter conditions, and held by dire chains, and all things were daily going to be worse for us, as for many others who were weighed in the same balance as we, whom even the ancients could not help or heal to this day with their books. Therefore, we do not bring forth the various causes of this evil in this place: we say only this, that very many Doctors have gained and deserved very little of praise or honor through that path of the old writers, but have indeed compared such great riches with mere lies. Having considered this, we wished to write this small memorial work of ours elaborately, so that we might arrive at a greater, happier practice, where those things occur to us which are more to be wondered at than they can ever be investigated: the Mysteries of Nature. For this reason, it has come to us to consider how the art itself agrees with the Mysteries of nature, against those who have not been able to arrive at the art until now.

The powers of the Mystery of Nature do not hinder their bodies in any other way than one who is held in prison in chains and fetters, whose mind is free. For in its works, this Mystery is like some fire in green wood, which would desire to burn, but cannot because of the humidity.

How the Mysteries of Nature are to be held. The excellence of Alchemy.

The greed of old physicians is noted.

Since, therefore, the impediment comes to it from things, we must see to it that it is liberated from them: with which liberated, this art of separations is not to be compared to the art of Apothecaries, but light to darkness. We do not say this with arrogance, but because those enormous wickednesses which happen in pharmacies and are instituted by Physicians treat us very poorly. For which reason we not undeservedly call them darkness, or dens of thieves and impostors: since in them very many are treated for money by ignorant men: whom, if they did not have money, would be judged healthy or well immediately at the beginning, since they know there is no remedy or help in their consultations.