Medical Works of Rhazes (The Comprehensive Book)

For the style of the Arabs is so alien to the Latin language that it cannot be successfully transferred into it. Furthermore, due to the injury of the interpreter and time, everything had been most corrupted and monstrously depraved—not to mention the singular difficulty of this book due to its subject matter. Nor have we only accomplished this in this work, but we have also vindicated all his other books—which were indeed most defiled—and the earlier ones even more accurately from infinite and foul errors. But because I fear the calumnies of sycophants after having undergone so many labors, I had to seek some tutelary deity under whose temple, as an asylum, I might rest safely. Therefore, C. T. R. P. likely referring to a specific patron/abbot, you occur as the one from among all to whom I might dedicate these little works of mine, whatever they are, and this most excellent medical author, so that under your happy
Causes of the dedication.

auspices they might come into the light, and if some chance were to bring it about, they might be defended by the patronage of your most clear name, and by that fact declare, at least in some part, my benevolence toward you, to which I am incited by that singular esteem in which you are held by most serious noble and learned men. For everywhere I hear one person admiring the generosity of your mind, another following your clemency and piety toward God and men with the highest praises, another your integrity, outstanding erudition, and munificence toward all good and honest men, but especially toward those whom you observe to have combined sincere doctrine with integrity of morals. Others extol your many other excellent gifts of mind and body to the stars with full cheeks, all of which I let pass for the present, because if anyone were to try to commemorate each one, he would weave a volume rather than a letter. But that truly gave us the greatest handle for dedication: namely, that you alone almost from your flock, not to mention other Princes, cherish and most liberally elevate learned men with your patronage and wealth. And this treasure, namely letters, which you judge to be things to be cared for first of all, you do not consider it enough that you yourself, with intense study—as much as is given amid such waves of business by which you are overwhelmed on all sides—devote to the Muses in spare work and cultivate your own studies, unless you more greatly promote the studies of others and revive those lying prone today with your kindness. In sum, you act as a most liberal Maecenas in all ways toward those who are studious of good letters and virtues. Therefore, I do not wonder that you are competed for and sung with encomiums by all the studious. There was also for us an ergodioktes taskmaster/prompter of this inscription, a famous herald and trumpeter of your praises, Ioan. Huoberus, a most adorned man, most skilled in the Apollonian art medicine and excellently instructed in every liberal discipline, and the household physician of your most illustrious Highness at Basel. Therefore, receive, most worthy Father and most shining Prince, for your solemn humanity and accustomed clemency, these our vigils, whatever they are, and excerpt from them healthy precepts for maintaining health and banishing diseases, and may you fare most vigorously. For you are truly worthy of second health, so that you may long preside over your domain and be of service to the Christian commonwealth. Farewell, O glory of the Abbots and all of Germany, most clear Prince, and consider this little gift, small indeed, but proceeding from the heart, as a good thing, and you will receive another much greater and more magnificent in the future if we understand that this was pleasing.