Commentaries on the Six Books of Pedanius Dioscorides on Medical Matter

...I attribute this greenness to nourishing itself. Hence, I say, it must be inferred that since God has adorned man with such immense gifts, He by no means neglected to teach man the powers and nature of all things with but a single breath of the divine spirit. For no gift, however precious, would be valued by anyone unless they knew for what use it would serve them.

Since all the works of God are entirely without any defect, we must certainly judge otherwise; for we are certain that it was never hidden from God Himself that the human race would be subject to so many and such great evils. To remove and soothe these (as becomes a pious father), He would never have failed to teach men the aids and remedies inherent in plants, which were created solely for the sake of man, so that he might not despair in the afflictions that arise from the most atrocious diseases. In these moments, we are granted a great solace when we see the present aids of medicines at hand.

From the age following Adam, the parent of all, they maintain that humans possessed knowledge of all things; and thereafter, as human industry increased, they began to investigate the matter more deeply and diligently. Thus, from this origin, the field of herbalism original: "rei herbariae" first received much of its knowledge and distinction. When wise men later noticed this and recognized that the excellence and utility of this faculty The term "faculty" here refers to a branch of knowledge or a specific power/skill. were supreme, they were captured by its delight and devoted their own study to investigating and knowing the nature of plants and the other subjects treated by the medical art.

Yet their care was not merely focused on those things which are pleasing to sow or which serve as food; they also searched the pathless peaks of mountains, hidden solitudes, and every fiber of the earth. They discovered what power each root possessed and to what uses the leaves of herbs pertained—even those left untouched as fodder by four-footed beasts—turning them instead to the service of health. I could not easily say how much we owe to these men, since the reward for such a benefit can be compensated by no treasure at all.

The first writers on herbs.

Regarding herbs, however, Orpheus wrote most accurately of all those known to memory among the Greeks, and after him Musaeus and Hesiod, who were instructed by the Egyptians (as antiquity relates). After these, Pythagoras—renowned for his wisdom—was the first to compose volumes on the powers of plants, attributing everything he had received to Apollo and Aesculapius. Democritus also composed volumes on plants after first traveling through Persia, Arabia, Ethiopia, and Egypt.

Others followed this path, attracted by the nobility and delight of this divine faculty; indeed, for the sake of helping posterity, they did not hesitate to commit themselves to various dangers of life while traversing many unknown and harsh regions to attain a true and legitimate knowledge of medicines. Among these I find were Hippocrates, Crateuas, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Diocles of Carystus, Pamphilus, Mantias, Herophilus, Dioscorides, Galen, Pliny, and many others, whose names I gladly pass over lest I seem more long-winded than is proper.

Furthermore, that the skill or discovery of plants—besides the greatest pleasure it brings—also yields utility, glory, and everlasting praise, was known not only to the wise men and most diligent investigators of the world, but also to the highest and most powerful Kings.

The wondrous zeal of ancient Kings in the investigation of plants.

Indeed, admiring the fame which had its origin chiefly here, and believing that in this most ancient faculty there was the highest splendor and singular excellence, they devoted so much leisure and study to understanding and illustrating it that most of them composed books on the history and powers of plants, and some composed noble antidotes Mattioli likely refers to famous royal remedies like Mithridatium, named after King Mithridates VI., so that they might look after the lives and health of themselves and other mortals.

Others, although they had made themselves illustrious by deeds performed in counsel and arms, yet seeing that they could be made even more illustrious if they pursued the famous study of plants, took care to have rare and noble plants—sought with great expense and labor from the most remote regions of the earth—transferred to themselves, so that they might describe their certain and true history. Nor did it escape them that if they remained busily engaged in this matter and discovered or recorded anything remarkable, their names would endure, celebrated in all ages. For herbs, which revive, sprout anew, and turn green again each year, perpetually recall those who found them to the memory of men...

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