Commentaries on the Six Books of Dioscorides on Medical Matter

I shall intentionally pass over how becoming it is original: "quàm deceat". For those men, led by the nobility and delight of this science, and likewise by a zeal for helping posterity and securing for themselves everlasting fame, did not hesitate to commit themselves to various life-threatening dangers while traveling through many unknown regions, so that they might attain a true and lawful knowledge of simple medicines simple medicines: "simplicium medicamentorum" – individual medicinal plants or minerals used as ingredients, rather than complex mixtures.. Furthermore, that the skill or discovery of plants—besides the immense pleasure and utility it brings with it—also produces eternal glory and praise, has been known not only to the wise men of the entire world and the most diligent investigators of things, but even to the highest and most powerful kings. Indeed, having admired the renown which had its origin chiefly from this source, and believing that in this most ancient faculty there was the highest splendor and singular excellence, they devoted so much leisure and study to perceiving and illustrating it, that most of them composed books on the history and powers of plants.

Some composed noble antidotes, so that they might provide for their own lives and the use of other mortals. Others, although they had made themselves illustrious through deeds famously performed in counsel and arms, yet saw that they could be made even more distinguished if they themselves also pursued the most renowned faculty of plants with their own zeal; they took care to have rare and noble plants, sought out at great expense from the most remote regions of the earth, brought to them, so that they might describe their certain and true history. Nor certainly did this escape them: that if they were to occupy themselves studiously in this matter for a long time, and found anything remarkable or handed it down in writings, their name would endure, celebrated in every age. For indeed, the herbs—which every year live again, sprout anew, and turn green again—perpetually recall to human memory those who discovered them, or who brought forth something concerning their history and powers for the memory of posterity.

In this matter, we find they were by no means deceived. For everyone is sufficiently persuaded that the herb Gentian original: "Gentianam" was discovered by Gentius, King of the Illyrians, and borrowed its name from him, while in return it granted him renown and immortality. Similarly, Lysimachia Loosestrife (as Pliny is the author) celebrates with perpetual praise Lysimachus, King of Macedonia, who discovered and named it. Likewise Scordium Water Germander commends to the eternity of his name that great Mithridates, King of Pontus, from whom it received the name of the Mithridatic herb; and even Eupatorium Agrimony, named after the same man surnamed Eupator, by whom they maintain this herb was discovered and named. Furthermore, the herb Clymenos bestows eternal fame upon King Clymenus its discoverer; Euphorbium upon Juba of the Mauritanians; Telephium upon Telephus, King of Mysia; and Echium Viper's Bugloss and Anchusa Alkanet upon Alcibiades, the Athenian leader.

From this source also shine Attalus, King of Pergamum, and Euax, King of the Arabs; for the latter wrote much to the Emperor Nero concerning the powers of simple medicines, while the former (as Galen asserts), while he was preparing many antidotes against poisons and the bites of venom-spitting animals, expended a great deal of labor to obtain the legitimate plants. To these are added Archelaus of Cappadocia, Masinissa of Numidia, and Agamemnon, King of the Argives, whose names can be extinguished by no antiquity, on account of that [skill] which they possessed in knowing and describing...