A rectangular decorative woodcut headpiece features two horizontal rows of repeating stylized floral rosettes.

BY DAVID LIPSIUS OF ERFURT

Doctor of Philosophy and Medicine

A SINGULAR DISSERTATION

ON THE NATURAL AND WONDERFUL LOATHING, HATRED, AND ABSTINENCE FROM FOOD AND DRINK OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

I have no doubt at all, Reverend and Distinguished Lords Deans of the Faculties, Most Illustrious and Eminent Lords Doctors and most refined Licentiates, Most Gracious and Learned Lords Professors, Masters, Bachelors, and you, most studious Young Men—I have no doubt at all, I say, nor am I unaware in my own mind, that many of you will be struck by a considerable sense of wonder. This is especially true of those who are more inquisitive and critical than the rest, and who always take up the censor's rod original: "virgulam censoriam," a metaphor for the stick used by Roman censors to mark or punish citizens, here meaning a harsh judgmental attitude over the actions of others. You may wonder why I—who possess neither the age nor the authority, neither the talent nor the learning, nor any skill in eloquence—should now have risen and occupied this chair to complete the business for which today's public assembly was officially called. This is particularly notable since, as you all know, the right to the Professorial Chair original: "jus Cathedræ," the formal right to speak or teach from the academic seat of authority has until now been denied to me by the prescribed statutes on account of "exotic laurels" original: "exoticas Laureas," referring to academic degrees or honors obtained from a different or foreign university rather than the one currently hosting the assembly. Truly, I do not come forth onto this stage of my own accord, listeners, nor am I led by some tickling of vanity or the vice of ambition—from which my mind has always been, is now, and shall hereafter be most distant—