De anatomia

On Anatomy

For I have found a certain book, having supposed the name of the author, which I have recently heard read in the churches. One may find individual sentences of both, and you will know this by what follows. You will find the plebanus parish priest Palladius in his book on agriculture. Most excellent is Galen. A small decorative flourish in the margin, possibly a stylized bird or leaf. Platearius and others are the authors who have distinguished well regarding the nature of the body, actions, and the virtues of herbs for the use of medicine. And I have inserted in different places a summary and useful knowledge of the philosophers. I have also inserted the physical or 'of the physicians' ones, who, even if they professed few things, they were good. But not according to the norm, for many others were not their own; yet the authors themselves are not irreprehensible, those who boast of the assertions of their predecessors, and while they place their opinions to be refuted. For antiquity should be honored by the Italians, provided they are not discordant with the truth. If not yet, under Alexander the Great, fifty volumes were published at his command, which are to be sought briefly in the editions of the ancients. I have passed over many men, and we have placed the great ones, the masters and the principal ones: Theophrastus, Mandig, Diogenes, Dorotheus, Authamef, Demetrius, Apollonius, who wrote on beasts. Dionysius the Middle, who wrote on pipes, Mago the Carthaginian, who wrote on rural matters, Gerastides, Orpheus, Pythagoras,

Menander, Homer, Virgil, Petronius, Diagoras, Andreas, King Juba, Marcellus Philometor, and others. Apollonius, Aurisong, Archilaus, Perumbrinans, Aflemo, Ustisus, Seneca, Cicero, and many other philosophers were authors of their own, and we have distinguished in a few clear words the piety of their morals and the significations of things, and this not to be confused with tedious multiplicity. Without this, how much this work may benefit and how much utility it may provide to those who wish to insist upon the preaching of it to fully know man, and the name of man, unless to whom in the depth of things divine wisdom has given understanding. For Aristotle says in the eleventh book On Animals: What is most noble to be known is that which, by testimony, was the end of the ignoble, and it was the cause of great decorum for those who can, by their names, consider the forms of nature. And to be delighted by the artificer who makes them, whose artificial work is manifested in the inspection, and because of this, art should be intended toward the nature of vile animals, and not that which is noble, which in all natural things is wonderful. And things of nature to us, which is not of any natural origin, neither casual, but has a reason for some completion. And some things are considered most useful, the whole order ennobled, to play in this work, the considerations of the ends of natures, and deaths, and the effects of those things.