On Medicine in Eight Books

which would not have been unbecoming to a noble man. In a word: I believe he was such a physician as Cato was, or as the chief physicians archiatri chief court physicians of Kings are today. Although they do not watch over everyone, they cannot refuse their aid to miserable persons who flee to them as if to some Aesculapius; knowing that in no way does a human come closer to God than by giving health to men. Besides these points, which can either be said in the same vein or brought as objections, they have already been either occupied or refuted by others: so that it is not necessary to waste time repeating them, or to blunt your learned ears, which are intent on more serious cares. I will say only this: whatever our author may have been, he is most worthy, both for the cultivation of his doctrine and the elegance of his polish, not only to be read, but to never be put down from one’s hands. I confess, I am more affected and instructed by the reading of no one since Hippocrates.