§99.
9.
Μετὰ τουτέων δὲ πάντων μέγα ἂν τεκμήριον φανείη ξὺν τῇ οὐσίῃ τῆς τέχνης, εἴ τις καλῶς ἰητρεύων προσαγορεύσιος τοιαύτης μὴ ἀποσταίη, κελεύων τοῖσι νοσέουσι μηδὲν ὀχλεῖσθαι κατὰ διάνοιαν, ἐν τῷ σπεύδειν ἀφικέσθαι ἐς καιρὸν σωτηρίης.
In addition to all these things, it would appear a great proof, together with the very essence of the art, if someone, practicing medicine well, does not shrink from such address, ordering the sick not to be troubled in mind, while they hasten to reach the opportune moment of salvation.
Ἡγεύμεθα γὰρ ἃ χρὴ ἐς τὴν ὑγιείην, καὶ προστασσόμενος γε οὐ διαμαρτήσει.
For we lead in what is necessary for health, and being commanded, you indeed will not err.
Αὐτοὶ μὲν γὰρ οἱ νοσέοντες διὰ τὴν ἀλγεινὴν διάθεσιν ἀπαυδέοντες ἑωυτούς τε [ἀποῤῥίπτοντες] μεταλλάσσουσι τῆς ζωῆς· ὁ δ’ ἐγκεχειρισμένος τὸν νοσέοντα, ἐὰν ἀποδείξῃ τὰ τῆς τέχνης ἐξευρήματα, σώζων οὐκ ἀλλοιῶν φύσιν, ἀποίσει τὴν παρεοῦσαν πικρίην ἢ τὴν παραυτίκα ἀπιστίην.
For the sick themselves, on account of their painful condition, giving up and [casting themselves away], lose their life; but he who has been entrusted with the sick person, if he demonstrates the discoveries of the art, saving him without changing his nature, will remove the present bitterness or the immediate distrust.
Ἡ γὰρ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εὐεξίη φύσις τίς ἐστι φύσει περιπεποιημένη κίνησιν οὐκ ἀλλοτρίην, ἀλλὰ λίην γε εὐαρμοστεῦσαν, πνεύματί τε καὶ θερμασίῃ καὶ χυμῶν κατεργασίῃ, πάντη τε καὶ πάσῃ διαίτῃ καὶ τοῖσι ξύμπασι δεδημιουργημένη, ἢν μή τι ἐκ γενετῆς ἢ ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς ἔλλειμμα ᾖ· ἢν δὲ γένηταί τι, ἐξιτήλου ἐόντος, πειρᾶσθαι ἐξομοιοῦν τῇ ὑποκειμένῃ· παρὰ γὰρ φύσιν τὸ μινύθημα καὶ διὰ χρόνου.
For the good health of man is a certain nature which has by nature acquired a movement that is not foreign but highly harmonious, fashioned by breath, heat, and the concoction of humors, in every way and by every diet and by all things, unless there is some defect from birth or from the beginning; and if some defect occurs, since it is vanishing, one must try to assimilate it to the underlying nature; for the diminution is contrary to nature and occurs through time.
§1010.
10.
Φευκτέη δὲ καὶ θρύψις ἐπικρατίδων διὰ προσκύρησιν ἀκέσιος, ὀδμή τε περίεργος· διὰ γὰρ ἱκανὴν ἀξυνηθείην διαβολὴν κέκτησαι, διὰ δὲ τὴν ὀλίγην, εὐσχημοσύνην· ἐν γὰρ μέρει πόνος ὀλίγος, ἐν πᾶσι ἱκανός.
One must also avoid the affectation of headbands for the sake of meeting a cure, and any superfluous odor; for through excessive unusualness you acquire disrepute, but through a moderate amount, decorum; for in part, a little effort is sufficient, but in all things, a great deal is needed.
Εὐχαριστίην δὲ οὐ περιαιρέω· ἀξίη γὰρ ἰητρικῆς προστασίης.
And I do not strip away gratitude; for it is worthy of medical protection.
§1111.
11.
Προσθέσιος δὲ δι’ ὀργάνων καὶ σημαντικῶν ἐπιδείξιος, καὶ τῶν τοιουτοτρόπων μνήμην παρεῖναι.
And concerning the application through instruments and the display of signs, and things of such kind, memory must be present.
§1212.
12.
Ἢν δὲ καὶ εἵνεκα ὁμίλου θέλῃς ἀκρόασιν ποιήσασθαι, οὐκ ἀγακλεῶς ἐπιθυμέεις, μὴ μέντοι γε μετὰ μαρτυρίης ποιητικῆς· ἀδυναμίην γὰρ ἐμφαίνει φιλοπονίη· ἀπαρνέομαι γὰρ εἰς χρῆσιν ἑτέρην φιλοπονίην μετὰ πόνου ἱστοριευμένην, διὸ ἐν ἑωυτῇ μούνῃ αἵρεσιν ἔχουσαν χαρίεσσαν· περιποιήσῃ γὰρ κηφῆνος μετὰ παραπομπῆς ματαιοκοπίην.
But if you also wish to deliver a lecture for the sake of the crowd, you do not desire ignobly, yet not indeed with poetic testimonies; for such diligence shows incapacity; for I reject for another use a diligence that is researched with pain, which therefore has a graceful choice in itself alone; for you will only acquire the vain talk of a drone with pomp.
§1313.
13.
Εὐκτέη δὲ καὶ διάθεσις ἐκτὸς ἐοῦσα ὀψιμαθίης· παρεόντων μὲν οὐδὲν ἐπιτελέει· ἀπεόντων δὲ μνήμη ἀνεκτή.
And we must pray for a disposition that is free from late-learning; when things are present it accomplishes nothing, but when they are absent, the memory of them is tolerable.
Γίνεται τοίνυν πάμμαχος ἀτυχίη, μετὰ λύμης νεαρῆς, ἀφροντιστεῦσα εὐπρεπίης, ὁρισμοῖς τε καὶ ἐπαγγελίῃσιν ὅρκοις τε παμμεγέθεσι, θεῶν εἵνεκεν, ἰητροῦ προστατέοντος νόσου, ἀναγνώσιος ξυνεχείης, κατηχήσιός τε ἰδιωτέων φιλαλυστέων λόγους ἐκ μεταφορῆς διαζηλευομένου, καὶ πρινὴ νούσῳ καταπορέωσιν ἠθροισμένοι.
There arises therefore an all-fighting misfortune, with fresh ruin, neglecting decorum, with definitions and promises and immense oaths in the name of the gods, while a physician presides over a disease, with continuous reading, and instruction of laymen who are fond of gossip, while he eagerly pursues metaphorical words, and they are gathered even before they are afflicted by disease.
Τῶν μὲν οὖν τοιουτέων ὅποι ἂν καὶ ἐπιστατήσαιμι, οὐκ ἂν ἐπὶ θεραπηΐης ξυλλόγου αἰτήσαιμι ἂν θαρσαλέως βοηθεῖν· ἱστορίης γὰρ εὐσχήμονος σύνεσις ἐν τουτέοισι διεφθαρμένη.
Therefore, wherever I might preside over such things, I would not boldly ask them to assist in a consultation of treatment; for in these men the understanding of decent inquiry has been corrupted.
Τουτέων οὖν δι’ ἀνάγκην ἀξυνέτων ἐόντων, παρακελεύομαι χρησίμην εἶναι τὴν τριβὴν, μὴ τὴν τήρησιν δογμάτων ἱστορίης.
Therefore, since these men are of necessity ignorant, I advise that practical experience be useful, and not the observation of the dogmas of inquiry.
Τίς γὰρ ἐπιθυμεῖ δογμάτων πολυσχιδίην ἀτρεκέως ἱστορέειν, μή γε χειροτριβίης ἀτρεμεότητι;
For who desires to investigate accurately the multi-branched complexity of dogmas, without the stability of manual practice?
διὸ παραινέω τουτέοισι λέγουσι μὲν προσέχειν, ποιέουσι δὲ ἐγκόπτειν.
Therefore, I advise to pay attention to them when they speak, but to hinder them when they act.
§1414.
14.
Ξυνεσταλμένης διαίτης, μὴ μακρὴν ἐγχειρέειν· τοῦ κάμνοντος χρονίη ἡ ἐπιθυμίη· ἀνίστησι καὶ ξυγχωρίη ἐν χρονίῃ νούσῳ, ἤν τις προσέχῃ τυφλῷ τὸ δέον.
When the diet is restricted, do not undertake a long course; the desire of the patient is long-lasting; concession also restores him in a chronic disease, if one pays attention to the blind patient what is necessary.
Ὡς μέγας φόβος φυλακτέος, καὶ χάρας δεινότης.
How much great fear must be guarded against, and the intensity of joy.
Ἠέρος αἰφνιδίη ταραχὴ φυλακτέη.
Sudden disturbance of the air must be guarded against.
Ἀκμὴ ἡλικίης πάντα ἔχει χαρίεντα, ἀπόληξις δὲ τοὐναντίον.
The prime of life has all things graceful, but the decline has the opposite.
Ἀσαφίη δὲ γλώττης γίνεται ἢ διὰ πάθος, ἢ διὰ τὰ οὔατα, πρίν τε πρότερα ἐξαγγεῖλαι, ἕτερα ἐπιλαλεῖν, ἢ πρὶν τὸ διανενοημένον εἰπεῖν, ἕτερα ἐπιδιανοεῖσθαι· τὸ μὲν ἄνευ πάθους ὁρατοῦ λελεγμένου μάλιστα ξυμβαίνει φιλοτεχνοῦσιν.
Unclearness of tongue occurs either on account of disease, or on account of the ears, and before uttering the first things, speaking other things, or before saying what was thought, thinking of other things in addition; this indeed, without any visible disease being mentioned, happens especially to those who love their art.
Ἡλικίης, σμικροῦ ἐόντος τοῦ ὑποκειμένου, δύναμις ἐνίοτε πάμπουλυς.
Sometimes, though the underlying subject is small, the power of age is very great.
Νούσου ἀταξίη μῆκος σημαίνει· κρίσις δὲ ἀπόλυσις νούσου.
Irregularity of disease indicates length; and crisis is the release from disease.
Μικρὴ αἰτίη ἄκεσι λύεται, ἢν μή τι περὶ τόπον καίριον πάθῃ.
A small cause is resolved by cures, unless it suffers in some vital place.
Διότι ξυμπάθησις ὑπὸ λύπης ἐοῦσα ὀχλέει, ἐξ ἑτέρου συμπαθείης τινὲς ὀχλεῦνται.
Since sympathy arising from pain causes trouble, some are troubled by the sympathy of another.
Καταύδησις λυπέει.
Loud speaking causes pain.
Φιλοπονίης κρατερῆς ὕπο, παραίνεσις, ἀλέα, ᾠδὴ, τόπος ὀνησιφόρος.
Under severe industry, exhortation, warmth, song, and a beneficial place are helpful.