IUSTUS LIPSIUS

A Praise of this book.

You who alone have thoroughly known the old and new Flora Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers and plants.,
And alone the old and new Hygeia Hygeia was the Greek goddess of health, referring here to the medicinal use of plants.
You have penetrated to the innermost recesses
Of Nature, my friend CLUSIUS:
Whatever our world or the other world Lipsius refers to the "other world" meaning the New World or the Americas, from which many new plants were then arriving. holds,
You alone grasp with your mind and reveal with your pen:
How your Pannonian Pannonia was an ancient Roman province covering parts of modern-day Hungary, Austria, and the Balkans. labors
Delight us! Throughout the Pannonian lands
You diligently gather a thousand armies of herbs,
A thousand flowers to be read by us,
And not only to be read, but also to be seen,
Which you offer in this brief little book,
A learned, by Jupiter, and good little book!
The reader who does not love and value this:
Loves neither the old nor the new Flora,
Loves neither the old nor the new Hygeia.

A play on the name of Clusius.

* The name by which Apollo was called by the ancients, meaning "the opener."

While you reveal all the secrets of Nature, Clusius:
You should no longer be "Closed" The name Clusius sounds like the Latin word "clausus," meaning closed or shut. to me, but instead "THE OPENER" original: "APERTA." A reference to Apollo as the god of hidden knowledge who "opens" or reveals things..