Appendix to the Books on Plants and Peripatetic Questions

We see this in the case of Oriental Balsam original: "Balsamo Orientali"; likely the Balm of Gilead, Commiphora gileadensis, which, although it had been granted only to Judea, as it is written, did not perish when that land was conquered by Titus and Vespasian Roman Emperors who oversaw the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. On the contrary, the gardens became more fertile under the cultivation of the Romans, as Pliny Pliny the Elder, Roman naturalist testifies. However, when that same region fell under the rule of the Turks, the gardens perished entirely along with the faith. Yet today, it has been found in certain places in Egypt and Arabia, from which its most pure liquid has begun to be brought to us—a sign, we must hope, of a reviving faith, which may God grant.

That this Balsam is most genuine can be gathered from the experiments handed down by the ancients. Indeed, I happened to see the finest and freshest sample in the presence of Francesco de' Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany original: "Franciscum Medicem Magnum Ducem Etruriæ", and again in the presence of Clement VIII, the Supreme Pontiff. The liquid is transparent and yellowish; a tiny drop of it, when dripped into a large cup of water, immediately disappears. It does not sink into the water, but spreads out over the entire surface like a most subtle veil, invisible at first. A little later, it can be gathered up like a transparent membrane, as thin as the skin of an onion—a proof of its thinness and purity seen in no other liquids. It possesses a most sweet scent, not medicinal or pungent, and it tastes of pepper. With age, it thickens and becomes more yellow.

In investigating foreign matters, I confess I owe much to you, for you provided a wealth of letters which Filippo Rossetto wrote to you from Goa in the East Indies concerning Cinnamon and Lycium a medicinal plant extract, possibly Berberis aristata, and other things noted by him with the testimony of his own eyes. Rightly, therefore, I thought these additions should be offered to you; once published under your authority, they may gain more certain credit among others, and you may understand me to be very much bound to you by this small gift.

Farewell. Rome. The 19th day of January, 1603.