PRÆFATIO.

tum. The Magpie, when sick, restored its health by placing Laurel leaves into its nest. The Swallow left the name of Celandine original: "Chelidonia" to the plant discovered. This is to be held regarding countless others. And let us not rashly marvel that Kings of Kings left the eternity of fame to themselves from the search and discovery of certain plants, and to Posterity from the plants, whose name will not fade or perish as long as those herbs remain green and flourish. Thus Chiron, thus Mithridates, thus Gentius, thus Lysimachus, thus Artemisia—what names!—we hear every day passing through our memory. Shall I proceed to other investigators of the Medical art? And shall I summon Juba, Hieron, Attalus, Philometor, and Archelaus? The pinnacle of all dignity is to be conferred upon Medicine by the Romans. Yet I will not insist upon those ruder ones numbered from Faustulus, and Romulus and Remus, from whom [come the] Equitii, Tauri, Vituli, Portii, Ovinii, Caprilii, [and] Caprae. I go to the Augustan Emperors, and I seem to see Vespasian for myself, and his companion Pliny, and Antoninus Severus, at whose side is Oppian. Nor are those unworthy to be ranked with them: Boethius and Paulus Sergius, the Roman Consuls, and other Princely Men who stood by Galen so many times as he dissected animals. The one name of Solomon