On the Names of Plants

Ornamental initial 'I' decorated with vine and floral motifs within a woodcut frame.

IT IS FOR THIS REASON, MOST KIND READER, that for many who have undertaken either to translate or to interpret authors, it is almost a custom to preface their work with certain praises of both the author and the book. I, however, have decided at present to say nothing concerning either the author or his work, not only because "good wine needs no bush," as the common proverb holds, but also because the praises of both our author and of the most divine knowledge of botany have been copiously set forth in the two prefaces that follow. Therefore, setting these things aside, we shall proceed to other matters and say something regarding our translation. Indeed, I have undertaken this work not for the sake of displaying erudition (of which I am well aware I possess little or none) nor for the sake of chasing glory, but for this reason (as Master Wendelin, Master Tragus, and several others who urged me to this task are aware): so that, just as Tragus’s German commentaries on plants have benefited our own people, so his Latin commentaries might benefit those abroad. For since mortals consider nothing more detestable than ingratitude and envy, I truly do not see how we could free ourselves from the suspicion of both vices if we were unwilling to share with others those things which our Germany produces, the utility of which belongs equally to all. Moreover, unless we wish to appear the most ungrateful of all men, we cannot deny that very many and most excellent books have been brought into our Germany from foreign nations, both in every genre of good literature and especially in the field of botany. Now, so that we may not only give some token of gratitude, but also further incite and inflame toward such divine and useful studies those who devote themselves to this work with expense and labor in order to bind us to them with the greatest benefits, I judge it only fair that we also should candidly share our own works with them. It was certainly with this desire that I wished to grant these commentaries to the Latin language, so that all might understand that I hold nothing more important than to assist both our own people and all others through my labor. Therefore, I ask all students of botany that they judge and interpret my labors—which were undertaken with good intent—neither rashly nor enviously, but with candor and in a favorable light. For although I have by no means brought to this work that clarity and elegance of speech which the subject itself demanded, nevertheless, whoever compares my Latin with the German will realize that I have employed the utmost good faith in translating these commentaries. And I do not doubt that I shall find those who examine my labors more closely and possess even the slightest degree of candor to be fair judges. For