Introduction to Astronomy

¶ Here begins the introductory book into astronomy by Albumasar of Balkh. original: "Albumasaris abalachi." Abu Ma'shar (787–886 AD) was a leading Persian astrologer and Islamic philosopher in the Abbasid court in Baghdad.

A large historiated woodcut initial 'S' marking the beginning of the main text. Within the loops of the letter, two figures are depicted, likely representing astronomers or scholars. The upper figure is seated, holding a book and gesturing upwards; the lower figure holds a celestial sphere or globe. The initial is set against a background of decorative floral and foliate patterns. Scholars are accustomed to prescribing the principles of the arts at the beginning of books, which is considered an external art of the book. I have found no authentic written record of this in my own language The translator, Hermann of Carinthia, is referring to the lack of such formal introductory structures in the Latin tradition compared to the Arabic.; rather, it is prepared only by the individual opinions of learned men. Among the Arabs, on the other hand, there are two methods. Indeed, they seem never to have noticed the first, even if they occasionally adopt it in a scattered or particular way; yet in our judgment, it is not a little necessary. Regarding the second, they did not think it worthy of being written down, as if they had committed some excellent discovery of writing to memory. Therefore, the author of this work, beginning from this second type, says there are seven things intended at the beginning of every treatise: the intention of the author, the utility of the work, the name of the author, the name of the book, its place in the order of disciplines, its classification between theory and practice, and the divisions of the book. Among us referring to the Latin/Western tradition, a five-fold division is often sufficient: namely, the title of the work, the intention of the author as the final cause, the subject matter to be treated, and the order—all of which seem necessary and sufficient for almost every introduction to a treatise and its subject. However, he Albumasar gives his own reason for each.

Since I loathe prolixity and things that lack substance, and knowing this custom among the Latins, I was prepared to pass over these things and begin the treatise itself. But you, my special and inseparable companion in all studies, and my sole partner in all affairs and actions, met me with a reminder, saying: "Although, for the sake of your love, my dear Hermann Hermann of Carinthia, the translator, nor for any skilled interpreter of a foreign tongue, should a lowly opinion be disregarded in the translation of things; nevertheless, you should take care not to follow a foreign path too blindly. I will not allow anyone who has read this book in the Arabic language to see it in Latin and think it was begun without its proper introduction, as soon as it meets the reader's eye; they might attribute this not to diligence but to ignorance, and perhaps the integrity of the work would suffer, and they might accuse us of a devious digression."

Indeed, it is a small matter, and I have undertaken this labor chiefly at your prompting, so that if anything is added to the Latin store from this study of ours, the merit may be repaid to you no less than to me. For you are the cause of the labor, the judge of the work, and the most certain witness of both; having experienced, nonetheless, how difficult it is to change anything from that fluid style of speaking which exists among the Arabs into something suitably consistent in Latin, especially in those matters which demand such a strict imitation of facts. These things being settled, lest the beginning of the treatise be delayed any longer, let us take up his own words.

The exposition of the intention, he says, by proposing the sum of the matter briefly and absolutely, prepares the mind of the learner to be attentive and teachable. The promise of utility, by lightening the labor, sometimes adapts a certain affection of the mind. The name of the author is necessary for two reasons: first, so that it may render the work authentic; second, lest others, while the name is vague and uncertain, should prepare unjust glory for themselves by ascribing it to an uncertain name. The name of the book serves as a testimony to the intention...