A large horizontal woodcut headpiece ornament featuring symmetrical scrolling acanthus leaves, floral motifs, and decorative rosettes.

The Most Illustrious and Most High Lord,

SIMON HENRY,

Ruling Count and Noble Lord

in LIPPE,

When I look upon the ancient shores of the Dulgibini original: "Dulgibinorum"; a Germanic tribe mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus and the field famous for the Varian slaughter original: "Varianâ clade"; refers to the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, where Germanic tribes annihilated three Roman legions situated within your domains, most illustrious Lord, my mind is immediately struck by that race, once untamable in war and never truly subdued by the victorious eagles of the Romans. Yet those ancestors of ours in the age of Arminius The Germanic leader who defeated the Romans placed all their glory solely in the strength of their limbs and in the skillful handling of arms, being far too indifferent toward the other arts. Thus it happened that the Greeks, and the Italians following in their footsteps—who ambitiously claimed to be the champions of literature—translated those men by hardly any other name than the shameful title of "Barbarians," exposing them to contempt because of their unrefined and rustic way of life.

But indeed, by the favorable kindness of fate, the inhabitants of later centuries have struggled out of that ancient filth; they have won for themselves the prize original: "adoream"; literally a reward of grain given to soldiers, here meaning glory or honor of genius and erudition once held by insolent Rome through many a great effort. Nor, while they were polishing their minds—fearless in battle—with the elegance of the fine arts, did they meanwhile allow their sword-points to be eaten away by rust (as their trophies testify). Instead, the Lords of the Teutoburg The region of Lippe, ruling not far from Aliso A Roman fort mentioned by Tacitus, likely in the Count's territory as recorded in the annals of Tacitus, have shown the world at large that the arms of Mars The god of war can join in a reciprocal benefit with Pallas Pallas Athena, the goddess of wisdom.

It would require little laborious diligence here to weave together the praises of these Heroes, and especially to admire in you, Most Illustrious Lord, not only the glory of military fortitude but also your August favor toward letters and those who cultivate them—were it not that I recognize myself as inferior to the task of recounting the ancestral virtues of your Most Illustrious House. Therefore, I did not remain in doubt for long before I humbly placed this literary monument at your feet, Most Clement Lord, consecrated to your patronage. For I have learned that the way to your favor is open to those who profess Pallas no less than to those of Mars.

Since, therefore, it has pleased your Illustrious Highness to most graciously call me from an academic profession to the office of Counselor and Chief Physician Archiater: A senior physician, often specifically a court or royal physician, I feel all the more bound to prove my services to your Illustrious Highness and to attest to my veneration by this public dedication. You, best father of the fatherland, do not turn away from these papers nor from the spirit of your client, who is devoted to your service as long as life shall last.

Detmold, March 1st, 1684.