PAULUS ALPAGUS OF BELLUNO

Physician, to the thrice Illustrious and most Reverend Lord,

Alexander, Cardinal Farnese, his most

worshipful lord, wishes happiness.

A large decorative woodcut initial 'V' depicting several figures in an interior room, possibly scholars engaged in a discussion or medical consultation.

THRICE Illustrious and most Reverend Lord, my uncle Andreas Alpagus of Belluno Andreas Alpagus (c. 1450–1522) was a renowned Italian physician and scholar who lived in the Middle East for decades to master Arabic medical texts., a distinguished philosopher and physician, had translated from the Arabic into the Latin language—vindicating it from countless errors—the great volume of Avicenna Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna, was a Persian polymath and one of the most significant physicians and philosophers of the Islamic Golden Age. on the subject of medicine. With what great success he did so, very many who have it in their hands can see. With what great labors, expense, and dangers he did so, I myself saw; for while I was still a youth and he was already advanced in years, I never departed even a finger's breadth from his side while he sought out the secrets of the Arabic language and the reliability of manuscripts in Cyprus, Syria, Egypt, and almost the entire Orient. I was even a companion to his pen and his nightly studies. That work was first published by me some years ago, and a second time very recently, somewhat more corrected. My same uncle had also translated these golden booklets by the same Avicenna: namely, the Compendium on the Soul; On the Mahad original: "De Mahad" — a Latinization of the Arabic term 'Ma'ad,' referring to the place of return or the afterlife., that is, on the state of souls after their separation from bodies; the Aphorisms on the Soul; On Definitions and Inquiries; and On the Divisions of the Sciences. These works lay with me longer than was right or than I desired, covered in darkness and neglect, as I was hindered both by working on that larger volume and by private business. When I finally thought to bring them to light, lest both the author be defrauded of the praise of his genius and my uncle of the praise of his labors, [the opportunity] presented itself...