Disputatio de melancholia

TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS MEN, MASTER SEBALD HAVENREUTER AND MASTER ULRIC CHELIUS,
Chief Physicians of the Republic of Strasbourg, masters and patrons to be honored forever,
Greetings.

Decorative drop cap 'P' featuring floral and foliate scrollwork.

As I am about to depart from here for Italy, most distinguished men, I judged it entirely appropriate that, before I leave, I should bid farewell to the entire order of physicians in Basel and declare my gratitude and goodwill, especially toward those from whom I have received instruction in the medical art for a year and more. In order to do this, I have prepared these theses of mine, as you see, in accordance with the modesty of my talent, and I have presented them for public discussion. I did this, first, so that in this way, as much as lies in me, I might confirm the praiseworthy decree of the physicians of this Academy, by which they desire a medical disputation to be held every month; and also, so that I might leave behind some memory of myself among my fellow students. Although I have hesitated greatly whether I should wish to offer you these first-fruits of my labors, to whom it was proper that nothing be sent unless it were perfect in talent and elaborated by industry, nevertheless your kindness and benevolence toward me have ensured that I am clearly confident that you will receive this small gift with a fair mind. Wherefore I offer and dedicate this, whatever kind of gift it is, to you: not because I think that by this act your merits toward me could be repaid in any way, nor because I have forgotten other friends in the meantime, but so that I might at least pay my respects to you along with them; duties which, however, I shall not cease to ensure that you and all other friends understand have always been, and remain, most ready for you. Now I only ask that, if these extemporaneous theses do not satisfy your expectations, and if many things in them appear as paradoxa paradoxes, yet as I believe not entirely paraloga illogical/irrational, you would be willing to attribute this both to the shortness of time and to the distraction of my mind due to the impending Italian journey, and that you continue, as you have done until now, to hold me and my studies in your regard. Farewell.

Yours most observant,
Caspar Esthius.