Den latinske tekst er på grundlag af et håndskrift, der formentlig stammer fra Borch selv. Se en redegørelse for teksten med signaturforklaring, eller se den latinske tekst alene. -- [Klammerne] er Borchs egne. \Kiler/ indeholder indsat tekst. *Stjerner* henviser til variantnoterne.
Den engelske parafrase er ved H.D. Schepelern, fra Schepelern 1983, s. xv-xxi. Den bringes med venlig tilladelse fra Det danske Sprog- og Litteraturselskab. Der er foretaget enkelte ændringer, herunder er alle bogtitlerne oversat til engelsk fra latin. -- I [klammer] sættes henvisningsnumre i Christensens Borch-bibliografi 1926 med tilføjet årstal, eller blot årstal.
| (1) Olaus Borrichius lucem hanc mortalem aspicere primùm coepit, anno à nato Salvatore MDCXXVI, ipso die Soteriorum, patre Dn. Olao Claudii, paroeciarum "Borch", in Ripensi Cimbrorum dioecesi sacerdote, matre Margaretâ Laurentiâ. Mox optimorum Parentum ductu et avspiciis vineæ Christi insitus, et qvàm primùm ferebat ætas, initiatus Musis, partim curâ domesticâ, partim Magistrorum in ludo literario Coldingensi, Ripensiqve ita profecit, ut anno labentis seculi XLIV maturus æstimaretur Academiæ. | Borch was born on Good Friday, April 7th, in 1626 in the rectory of Bork in Western Jutland. His father was Oluf Clausen, priest of that community, his mother was Margrethe Lauritsdatter. His good parents did not hesitate to have him christened and at an early date he was initiated into the service of the Muses, first in the paternal home, then in the grammar school at Kolding and the diocesan school at Ribe. Here he made such good progress that in 1644 the headmaster, Johannes Mejer, considered him ready for the Academy | |
| (2) Qvem ergo id temporis è palæstrâ suâ Ripensi emisit Vir clariss. M. Johannes Mejerus, eum protinus benevolo sinu amplexa est studiorum liberalium mater Academia Hafniensis [Rectore D. Nicolao Pavli Scandorphio, Decano Mag. Johanne Christophori] detinuitqve inter Musas varii generis ad annum usqve MDCL. (3) Interea inter cæteros sapientiam literariam professos præcipuè coluit Dn. Olaum Wormium Medicinæ et Antiqvitatis Patriæ statorem, Dn. Thomam Bartholinum, Anatomicorum principem et polyhistorem, Dn. Simonem Pavlli*, Archiatrum Regium et Floræ delitium: qvorum placitis ita constanter insvevit, ut divelli se postea à studio Medico non pateretur, cui tamen amor Philosophiæ, Poëseos, et Philologiæ accessit. | and despatched him to Copenhagen to be enrolled as a student at the University under the principal Nicolaus Schandorph and the dean Johannes Christophersen. Until 1650 he pursued various literary disciplines. Professor Olaus Wormius, the physician and antiquarian, together with Thomas Bartholin, the anatomist, and Simon Paulli, the Court physician and botanist, gave him an inclination for medicine, to which he remained faithful for the rest of his life. Meanwhile he far from neglected the study of philosophy, poetry and philology | |
| (4) In eo dum erat, nè qvàm diu Hafniæ inter excitatos docendi artifices versabatur, publico usum sui, si qvâ in didacticis arte valeret, videretur subtrahere, evocatus ad erudiendam in sextâ classe scholæ metropolitanæ juventutem à viro nobiliss. et celeberrimo M. Georgio Hilario ejusdem ludi Rectore paruit, et, qvid multa? ob infatigabilem diligentiam vitæ innocentiâ comitatam placuit; (5) dilectus hoc nomine optimo cuiqve studiorum juvenilium censori, et in iis Viro consummatissimi judicii Dn. Casparo Brochmanno, Selandiæ Episcopo, acerrimo studiorum scholasticorum exactori; atqve per eum, generosiss. Cancellario Regio, Dn. Christiano Thomæo; qvô effectum est, ut in uberiora studiorum incrementa à providentissimo Regum Friderico III, Canonicatu Lundensi præter exspectationem omnem locupletaretur. | and, living among excellent teachers, Borch escaped no duty to let others benefit from his talents. Jørgen Eilersen, headmaster of the Metropolitan School of Copenhagen, asked him to take charge of the sixth form at his school. Borch assented and did not fail to gain the approval of the better pupils and, furthermore, Caspar Brochmand, bishop of Sealand, recommended him to the Royal Chancellor Christen Thomesen (Sehested). Influenced by the Chancellor, King Frederik III favoured Borch with the extra income from a canonry at the Scanian cathedral of Lund. | |
| (6) Postqvam avtem in illo docendi stadio qvadriennium exegisset, invitatus à generosiss. Viro, Georgio Rosenkrantzio ad regendam scholam illustrem Herlovianam, modestâ excusatione spartam oblatam declinavit, qvòd videret hac viâ interpellari studium, cui se devoverat, Medicum, et peregrinandi desideria: (7) licet Urbs regnatrix pestilenti, eâ tempestate, contagio tantùm non succumberet, cadentibus pavcos intra menses novem *millium hominibus, et qvod excedit; in qvâ lue tot funeribus atroci prima Medicæ praxeos tentamenta avspicatus est, et qvid pharmaca humana possent adversus tam violentum hostem didicit experimentis. | In 1654, the chancellor of the school of Herlufsholm in Sealand, Georg Rosenkrantz, offered him the post of headmaster, but Borch modestly declined this fearing a break in his medical studies and the risk of forgoing his prospects of foreign travel. During a plague in Copenhagen in the same year, which cost the capital more than nine thousand lives, Borch had his first serious experience of medical practice and was taught the advantage of remedies against such a virulent enemy. | |
| (8) Qviescente tandem malo, postqvam annum adhuc unum discipulis ad pietatem et bonas artes formandis impendisset, destinato ad exteros itineri accinctus, in Avlam illustriss. Viri, Dn. Joachimi Gerstorffii, primarii tum ministri Regii ex improviso accersitur ad regendos generosiss. filiorum annos: hic, licet proseqvi decretum iter maluisset, promptè obtemperat, havd ignarus in sanctâ illâ domo et studiis suis privatis relinqvi locum, et domino ipso nihil reperiri eruditius, humanius, sapientius. Qvinqvennium tenuit avlica illa vivendi ratio, nec poenituit interea vel illustr. Gerstorffium electi ad hoc munus Borrichii, vel Borrichium officiosissimi sui obseqvii. | For a year after the alleviation of this affliction Borch continued to further the advance of his pupils in the literary arts, and to prepare himself for travel when, quite unexpectedly, Joachim Gersdorff, the High Steward, offered him the post of tutor to his noble sons. Suppressing his desire for travel, Borch did not hesitate to obey this summons, well aware that his studies would prosper in a pious and noble household, the High Steward being renowned for his learning, courtesy and wisdom. Thus, for five years, he enjoyed a courtly life, during which time Gersdorff had no reason to regret that he had summoned Borch, nor Borch that he had answered the summons. | |
| (9) Verùm qvia iter ei continuò in oculis, in desideriis, solutâ demum obsidione Hafniensi* Borrichius à sacrâ Reg. Majestate Professioni Philologiæ, Poëseos, Chemiæ et Botanices in Acad. Hafniensi destinatur, factoqve mox in publicâ, pro cathedrâ dignè tuendâ, dissertatione periculo; (10) atqve impetratâ pavllò pòst ad exteros proficiscendi veniâ, à Domino suo inter optata vota, *qvibus annectebatur illud: Coepisti apud me, Borrichi, virtutibus tuis excitare fortunam, qvam ego redeunti fabricabor, dimissus patriâ excedit circa festum D. Martino sacrum, anno Christi MDCLX. | He did not lose sight of his plans for travel, however, and when Copenhagen was relieved from the Swedish siege, he obtained a Royal appointment to the University as professor in Philology, Poetry, Chemistry and Botany in 1660. He disputed for the chair and obtained leave of absence from his duties as tutor. "My dear Borch, your virtues have made your fortune in my house, I shall complete it on your return", were Gersdorff's farewell words to him. Setting out on St. Martin's day in 1660 | |
| (11) Et primus qvidem in Belgium ferebat impetus, nisi qvòd Hamburgi tantillum subsisteret, \Schuppii, et/ celebrium Medicorum, Cassii, atqve Mich. Kirstenii humanissimâ inductus conversatione. (12) In Belgio præter florentissima ubivis oppida, multitudo Eruditorum oculos, animumqve invitabat; qvos inter familiaris illi ultra biennium consvetudo cum Lindenio, Sylvio, van Horne, Hornio, Gronovio, Vossio, Vorstio, Coccéo, Rumpffio*, Blasio, Barbettio, Origano, Kekelio, Marcgravio, aliis; unde non potuit non ad disciplinas, scientiasqve Apollineas experrectior, paratiorqve discedere. | he directed his course towards the Netherlands, spending a little while in Hamburg, where he had discourse with Schuppius and the-celebrated physicians Cassius and Michael Kirstein. In the Netherlands, the flourishing towns and the multitude of learned scholars attracted his eyes and his mind. For two years he enjoyed being familiar with Linden, Sylvius, van Horne, Hornius, Gronovius, Vossius, Vorstius, Coccejus, Rumphius, Blasius, Barbettius, Origanus, Kekelius, Marcgravius and others, gathering from them the indispensable fruits of progress in knowledge and learning. | |
| (13) Interea funesto percussus nuncio de obitu magni sui Gerstorphii*, Patroni exspectatissimi, serò recognovit, qvàm vitreæ sint res mortalium, qvàm caduca vota, et qvàm in rebus humanis securum nihil. Collegit se tamen, et advenientes non ita multò pòst in Belgium Gerstorphios filios jam utroqve Parente orbos, rogatu Amicorum, in contubernium suum recepit, viam, qvâ ad virtutem, honestatem, eruditionemqve eundum, admonitione fideli aperuit*, nihilqve reliqvit intentatum eorum omnium, qvæ legitimè ad honores grassantibus curæ esse solent. | The death of his best advocate, Joachim Gersdorff, was a fatal blow to him, and made him realize the frailness of the human condition, the transience and wantonness of our wishes and expectations. Soon, however, Borch had to pull himself together, friends of the deceased prevailing upon him to resume the tutelage of three of Gersdorff's orphan sons, whom he received into his lodgings to be guided towards virtues and honest discipline, which Borch faithfully did, to the best of their future high position. | |
| (14) Inde exacto inter studia cum ipsis familiaria anno, comitantibus iisdem per Flandriam, Brabantiamqve visenda speculatus Londini sistitur mense Junio, anno reparatæ salutis MDCLXIII, et mox Gerstorphiis suis per illustrem Svanium aditum patefacit in Regiam, sibi per freqventia alloqvia in amicitiam Dn. Cancellarii Reginæ Matris, Kenelmi Digbæi, Roberti Boylæi, Charletoni, Möseleri*, Polemanni, aliorum; (15) Oxonii qvoqve familiariter usus D. Willisio, Wallisio, Edmundo Dichinsohno, et Roberto Sharrochio. | First he spent a year conducting their studies before taking them through Flanders and Brabant to London. During a month there he won the favour of Swan, whose influence gave the young Gersdorffs access to the Royal Court in June 1663. Borch himself forged friendships with Kenelm Digby, Chancellor to the Queen Mother, and with Robert Boyle, Charleton, Moseler, Poleman and others. At Oxford he conversed with Dr. Willis, Wallis, Edmund Dickinson and Robert Sharroch. | |
| (16) Inde digressus per amoeniora Provinciæ Glocestriam, Bristolium, Wellisium, Sarisburium, Cantuarium*, et qvicqvid in itinere illo vel ars commendabat, vel arcanior naturæ genius, attentè inspexit, (17) tandemqve adulto jam Avgusto mense in Galliam se se cum Gerstorphiis suis transtulit, Dieppam in transitu, Rothomagumqve perlustrans, Parisiis sedem constantiorem elegit, ut in qvâ urbe hominum, exemplorumqve feracissimâ nobilis illa Gerstorphiorum triga ad virtutes, spectato tot bonorum præmio accenderetur, à vitiis abhorrere disceret tot malignorum supplicio. | Travelling through the counties of Gloucester, Bristol, Wells, Salisbury and Canterbury he took note of anything concerning the arts and the secrets of nature. Towards the end of August, they travelled to France, inspecting Dieppe and Rouen before settling in Paris, the city whose considerable population furnished examples of virtue rewarded to encourage the young Gersdorffs in their honest ambitions, and, likewise, of depravity punished to deter them from vice. | |
| (18) Et nè ipse sibi interea deesset, toto, qvod ibi transegit, biennio, doctis, curiosis, rerum expertis se se adjungens planè ex animi sententiâ vixit, inter profuturas cum illustribus Viris, doctisqve hominibus conversationes, qvos inter ex infinitis pavci enumerantur, D. Habertus Mommord, libellorum supplicum in Regiâ magister, D. Gobelinius Parlamenti Parisiensis Præses, D. Bourdelotius, Thevenotius, Patinus, Avzotius, Justellus, Boucaudius, Martellus, de L' Oberie*, Borellus, Tamponettius*, ut innumeri alii prætereantur. | Borch himself was content to stay there for two years in the company of erudite, experienced men with a thirst for knowledge, discussing problems with renowned scholars such as Dr. Hubert Mommord, Royal Librarian, Dr. Gobelin, President of the Parisian Parliament, Dr. Bourdelot, Thévenot, Patin, Auzotius, Justell, Boucaud, Martell, de l'Oberie, Borellus, Tamponettius and several others. | |
| (19) Cumqve tandem in Daniam ad Curatores suos ob rationes rei familiaris evocarentur Gerstorphii, jam tantò curis alienis solutior Borrichius instituto suo alacriter institit, et spectatis cum curâ ad Ligerim urbibus, Avreliâ, Blesis, Richeliade*, Thuronio, Salmurio, Andegavi inter Medentum cathedras variè tentatus supremis demum in Arte Medicâ honoribus avctus est, brabevtâ Tournesio. | At length, when the guardians of the young Gersdorffs had summoned them home to Denmark for family reasons, Borch was so much relieved of other duties that he could continue his zealous pursuit of the goal at which he aimed. When travelling to the towns of Orleans, Blois, Richelieu, Tours and Saumur on the Loire, he was, at Angers, examined in the medical arts by those holding the medical offices there, and awarded the degree of M.D. by Tournesius. | |
| (20) Inde per Flexiam, Cenomanosqve Lutetiam reversus, post brevem moram Italico accingitur itineri: Et Lugduni qvidem ad Araris, Rhodaniqve fluenta nonnihil commoratus est, amicitiæ D. L' Amoniere, Bertetti, Busenasii*, Schalæi, Vilettii illigatus: (21) mox Gratianopoli à Præside rationum Parlamenti D. Boëssio Salvagnio, et Visancurtio humanissimè exceptus, per grande illud Carthusianorum in Alpibus monasterium, per castellum Sabavdiæ Mommelianum, per Anessium consecratione Francisci de Sales \tum/ celebre Genevam perrexit, (22) et non ita multò pòst secundo Rhodano Viennam Allobrogum, Avenionem [vbi colloqvium illi cum Barone de Villeneuf, ex familiâ antiqvi illius Arnoldi Villanovani adhuc superstite, et rerum Chemicarum non imperito] Tarasconem, Nemavsum [in qvâ urbe cum Dn. Guiran*, Consiliario Regio, et Antiqvitat. Romanarum scientissimo fructuosa illi conversatio] adiit, Monspelium contendens: vetus illus Medicinæ domicilium, nè nunc qvidem Machaonum gloriâ destitutum, \ubi/ præter cæteros affecit nobiliss. D-ni Beauxhostes prolixa humanitas, et sacratioris Philosophiæ cognitio. | Passing La Flèche and Mans he returned to Paris where he remained briefly while making ready to go to Italy. In Lyon, situated between the rivers Saone and Rhône, he was detained for some time by his friendship with l'Amoniere, Bertetti, Businasius, Schalaeus and Vilettius. At Grenoble he was kindly received by Dr. Boissy Salvagne, the Parliament Treasurer, and Visancourt. He passed the great Carthusian monastery in the Alps, the fortress of Mommelianum in Savoy, Annecy, famous for the consecration of Francis of Sales, and came to Geneva. Following the Rhône to Vienne, he conversed with Baron de Villeneuf (of the ancient, still extant family to which belonged Arnold of Villeneuf), who was far from inexperienced in chemistry himself. Borch visited Tarascon and Nîmes (where he had fruitful discourse with M. Guiram, Royal councillor and a connoisseur of Roman antiquities). Reaching Montpellier, that ancient residence of Medicine not yet bereft of Machaon's glory, he was impressed by the abundant courtesy and able knowledge of sacred philosophy imparted to him by M. Beauxhostes and others. | |
| (23) Inspectis deinde, qvæ fama commendabat, oppidis, Arelate, Aqvis Sextiis, Massiliâ per Alpes maritimas Herculi olim tritas, vallemqve Pragealam Valdensibus habitatam Pignarolum intravit, (24) et mox in Italico solo Avgustam Tavrinorum; ubi à Marchione Pianezzâ, primario Ducis Sabavdi ministro splendidè exceptus, et cum Archiatro Torrino de verâ cordis fabricâ, inventisqve recens vasis salivaribus amicè disceptans toti mox Avlæ innotuit, ad familiare colloqvium postea admissus à Marchione de Caraglie, Marchione de S. Amian, aliisqve; ostensumqve qvicqvid in totâ urbe spectatius, inprimis vastum illud opus Pyrrhi Ligorii, et Isiaca tabula Pignorio tantopere æstimata. | Having seen Arles, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille, he crossed the Maritime Alps, formerly trodden by Hercules, then, entering the Praly valley, the home of the Waldenses, he came to the province of Pignerole and a little later to Turin in Italy, where he was heartily welcomed by Marchio Pianezza, Prime minister to the Duke of Savoy. With the chief physician of Turin he had a friendly dispute about the true structure of the heart and the recently discovered salivary ducts. He won fame within the whole court circle, being invited to private colloquy with Marchio de Caraglie, Marchio de S. Amian and others. He was taken to see all that was noteworthy in the town, especially the vast work of Pirro Ligorio and the Isiac table, so highly estimated by Pignorio. | |
| (25) Mediolani nihil tam acceptum, qvàm Viri optimi Manfredi Septalæ* summa urbanitas, et scientiarum, artiumqve reconditarum notitia; ut taceam delitias illustris Bibliothecæ Ambrosianæ, humanitatem Dn. Terzagi, D-niqve de Lermâ, Generalis Militiæ præfecti Hispanici. (26) Ticini antiqvam illam Regum Longobardorum sedem contemplatus admirari non desiit fabricam urbis, præsertim avtem turrium, qvæ ibi plurimæ, adhuc constanter olere septentrionem. (27) Bononiæ avditi doctores Academici, inprimis verò instituta* cum Baptista Ricciolio, ut insigni Mathematico, ita Poëtâ non poenitendo colloqvia. | At Milan, his best experience was the kindness and profound knowledge of secret matters revealed to him by the eminent scholar Manfredi Settala, not to forget the amenities of the famous Ambrosian Library and the courtesy of Terzaghi and Domenico de Lerma, the Spanish commander general. Inspecting the fortress of the Lombardian kings at Ticino, he could not help admiring the still preserved Northern character of the town, especially its numerous towers. At Bologna he attended the lectures of the university professors, having special discourse with Baptista Riccioli, the mathematician and able poet. | |
| (28) In reliqvis Italiæ oppidis vix qvicqvam spectatum Florentiâ vel florentius, vel urbanius; ubi ipse Magnus Dux, alter tum Apollo, et magnus literatorum stator; qvin et germanus frater Principis Leopoldus, postea Cardinalis Medicéus, redivivus itidem Mecænas humanissimè advenam excepit; familiariter dilexere Lavrentius Magallotti, Franciscus Rhedi, Carlo Dati; repræsentata ad usum exoptatum bibliotheca Medicéa exqvisitis MSStis referta. | As to the other Italian towns, he found none more flourishing and elegant than Florence, the Grand Duke as a patron of learning being a true likeness of Apollo and his brother Prince Leopold, the later Cardinal Medici, receiving Borch like a Maecenas regenerated. Lorenzo Magallotti, Francesco Rhedi and Carlo Dati admitted him to their friendship, giving him access to the exquisite Medicean library filled with rare manuscripts. | |
| (29) Inde postqvam obiisset* Pistojam, Lucam, Pisas, Sienam, tandem in Urbe Româ sedem deligit, Anno MDCLXV mense Octobri, ibiqve inter Eruditorum, et bibliothecarum freqventiam medius, hyemem ex voto transigit; (30) unâ tantùm excursione Neapolim factâ, ut Vesuvium tum flammantem, et alia naturæ miracula oculis liqvidò usurparet, atqve adeo Thomæ Cornelii Consentini, clarissimi per id tempus Medici Neapolitani frueretur consvetudine. (31) Romæ avtem familiariùs utebatur Leone Allatio, Abbate Gradio, Falconerio, Michael-Angelo Riccio, Carolo Puteano, Francisco Corvino, Athanasio Kirckero*, Lavrentio Scythio; adhibitus et qvandoqve colloqviis Cardinalis Pallavicini, et sæpe accersitus ad disserendum cum Reginâ Christinâ, de arcanioris Chemiæ studio, veritate, experimentis, qvibus tum sacris se Palladia virago devoverat. | Leaving Florence he visited Pistoia, Lucca, Pisa and Siena, finally settling in Rome in October 1665. Through the winter he took advantage of the many scholars and libraries, also making an excursion to Naples to enjoy the sight of Mount Vesuvius, just then in eruption, and of other miracles of nature. Thomas Cornelii Consentini, the most renowned Neapolitan physician of his time, also granted Borch the pleasure of his conversation. In Rome he was on friendly terms with Leo Allatio, Abbate Gradi, Falconieri, Michel-Angelo Ricci, Carolo Puteano, Francesco Corvino, Athanasius Kircher, Lorenzo Scythius. Occasionally he was invited to converse with Cardinal Pallavicini, and often summoned by Queen Christina to communicate to her the secrets of chemistry and to demonstrate his experiments in that art for which the Palladian virgin had then a liking. | |
| (32) Sub exitum Martii, Anno MDCLXVI, Româ egreditur, sed pæne invitus, nec nisi vacantis in patriâ officii *admonitu stimulatus; factoqve per medium Apenninum itinere ædem Lavretanam, Anconam, Ariminum, Pisavrum, Ferrariam contemplatus Venetias salutat, Patavium consulit, ibiqve postqvàm amiciùs innotuisset Ferrario, Marchettis, Petruccio, Offredo, Comiti Zabarellæ, Venetias repetit, satiatusqve colloqviis Ludovici de Comitibus, Tackenii, Bustroni, aliorum, (33) memor inornatæ in Patriâ spartæ, in Germaniam pavllatim contendit, et Tridento, Monachio, Avgustâ Vindelicorum, Tubingâ, Argentorato, Heidelbergâ, Francofurto, Coloniâ Ubiorum in Belgium, secundo qvidem Rheno, sed inter adversa omnia [qvòd lues pestifera agros, Urbesqve latè popularetur] defertur; et redintegratâ ibidem cum doctis, qvibus Libitina pepercerat, amicitiâ, Franeqverâ, Groningâ, Embdâ, Hamburgo, Lubecâ, Chilonio Hafniam redit mense Novembri, transacto inter peregrinandum sexennio integro. | Towards the end of March, 1666, Borch left Rome, rather unwillingly, but recalling the fact that his chair awaited him at home. However, having crossed the Apennines, he visited Loreto, Ancona, Rimini, Pesaro and Ferrara before entering Venice. In Padua he made friends with Ferrario, Marchettis, Petruccio, Offredo and Count Zabarella. Back in Venice, he conversed with Lodovico de Comitibus, Tachenius, Bustroni and others, but the idea of his empty chair soon forced him to depart for Germany. Passing Trento, Munich, Tubingen, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Frankfurt and Cologne, he travelled up the Rhine, favoured by the current but surrounded by the suffering caused by the contagious disease just then afflicting the country and its towns. Having revived his friendship with those men of learning whom death had spared at Franeker, Groningen, Emden, Hamburg, Lubeck and Kiel, he was back in Copenhagen in November after six years of travel. | |
| (34) A reditu mox officio suo administrando se accinxit, et licet hinc praxeos Medicæ curis in Urbe districtus, illinc, ex qvo inter Medicos Regios numeratus, in Avlâ jussus* apparere, partibus officii in Academiâ adeo non defuit, ut docendo, disputando, scribendoqve \plenâ operâ,/ sarcire laborârit, *si qvid peregrinando neglectum: immò* se publico non intermissâ viginti annorum diligentiâ usqve eò probavit, ut nec necesse habuerit unqvam vel conscientiæ suæ testimonium, vel Magistrat–s, Collegarumve, vel deniqve civium Academicorum formidare judicia. (35) Docuit avtem interea varii generis disciplinas, partim officii ratione inductus, partim voluntario impetu, ut esset in qvo \diversè/ genium suum periclitaretur juventus, studiis liberalibus addictior. | After his return Borch devoted himself to carrying out his official duties. Though often distracted by medical practice in the town and also by court duties after being appointed a member of the board of Royal physicians, he in no way neglected his obligations towards the University but made efforts to fulfil them by means of lectures, disputations and writings. Indeed, his unceasing industry throughout twenty years secured him such public approval that never did he have any reason to fear either the pangs of own conscience, or the verdict of the authorities, his colleagues or the students. In that period he taught various disciplines, partly such as were within the scope of his official duties, partly others, Borch always being open to the demands of young people to get an opportunity to exercise their talents in different liberal arts. | |
| (36) Et qvidem in Philologicis prolixè commentatus est de Scriptoribus Antiqvis Latinis, cujus industriæ specimen minutum prodiit in lucem, inscriptumqve est: Conspectus præstantiorum Scriptorum Lingvæ Latinæ, ipsum opus adhuc plutei asservant. Qvin et adjecit Cogitationes suas de variis Lingvæ Latinæ ætatibus, et scripto G. J. Vossii de Vitiis Sermonis; atqve non ita multò pòst Analecta Philologica, et Judicium de Lexicis Latinis, Græcisqve hactenus editis. Postea, ut tyrones ex ipsis veluti fontibus havrirent limpidiùs, Antiqvæ Romæ imaginem sex Disputationibus ita oculis exposuit, ut res Romanæ, mores, instituta multum inde \lucis,/ claritatis\qve/ avcupentur. | In the field of PHILOLOGY he gave an ample commentary on ancient Latin authors, abridged and published under the title: "Synopsis of the More Prominent Latin Writers" [30: 1679]. The main part of this he still keeps in his desk. Later he enlarged it with his "Considerations on the Different Ages of the Latin Language and on G. J. Vossius's Treatise on Linguistic Errors" [25: 1675], soon followed by "Philological Analects" and "Opinion on the Latin and Greek Dictionaries" edited so far [35: 1682]. In order that beginners might have an opportunity to drink, as it were, from the very springs, he put "The Look of Ancient Rome" before them in six disputations [37: 1683-86], through which Roman matters, customs and institutions could be comprehended by them in clear daylight. | |
| (37) Cumqve non sine navseâ adverteret imperitum vulgus pharmacopoeorum, immò* nonnumqvam Medentum negligentiores in \enunciandis justâ morâ/ pharmacis, inqve sanandi instrumentis variè sibi excidere, Lingvam Pharmacopoeorum formavit, huic malo obviam euntem. | Hearing with disgust how the common herd of illiterate pharmacists and more negligent physicians, too, were falling short of the correct pharmaceutical pronunciation, and how inconsistent was their nomenclature of medical instruments, he took measures against the evil in his "Language of the Pharmacists" [21: 1670]. | |
| (38) In Poësi qvid præstiterit, vel ex eo liqvet, qvòd et freqventer ipse, occasione invitante, carmen pepigerit, præsertim Epici generis, et iam olim juvenis, cùm Smetii errores diversos notâsset, de syllabarum qvantitate evulgârit compendium, cui titulum fecit: Parnassus in nuce. (39) Sed et annis provectior justum opus, licet succinctum De Poëtis Græcis, Latinisqve inde ab initio natæ artis, ad usqve nostra tempora \scripsit,/ Sosiisqve imprimendum permisit, in qvo simul vernaculi Poëtæ erectioris genii, Itali, Galli, Hispani, Lusitani, Angli, Scoti, Belgæ, Borussi, Dani attinguntur, subjectâ de plerorumqve venâ, et felicitate judicii censurâ, non illâ \qvidem/ ad Phidiæ statuas ubiqve comparandâ, sed tamen desiderantibus in hoc studio proficere havd dubiè profuturâ. | Evidence was given of his exploits in POETRY on the frequent occasions that inspired him to write poems himself, mainly epics. At an early age he observed a number of errors in Smetius and himself published a summary on the quantity of words with the title "Parnassus in a Nutshell" [9: 1654]. In his later years he continued with a regular though concise work "On the Greek and Latin Poets", dealing with the art of poetry from its early beginnings till our days, and gave it to the publishers to be printed. [28: 1676-81]. In this book he also deals with the better vernacular poets of Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Prussia and Denmark, often commenting upon their talents and their fortunes; to be sure, they do not all deserve comparison with the statues of Phidias, but are, all the same, useful to anybody interested in such matters. | |
| (40) In Chemicis prodromum initiô concinnavit De ortu et progressu Chemiæ, et pavcis post annis, impulsus mordaci H. Conringii dicacitate, plenum Opus De Hermetis, Ægyptiorum, et Chemicorum sapientiâ. Sed et bis in publico Elementa Chemiæ universæ à capite ad calcem percensuit, novisqve ex disciplinâ observationibus locupletavit, scriptum in privato larario adhuc custoditum. (41) Qvin et, ut civibus in metalliferas regiones ituris evidenter prodesset, brevi et facili compendio modum aperuit examinandi omnes ubiqve venas metallicas, saxa, arenas, aqvas, argillas, ut de earundem præstantiâ liqvidò constet, cui opusculo nomen imposuit: Docimastice metallica, transiitqve scriptum illud \postea/ non modò in lingvam Germanicam, sed et hodie in Vernaculam. (42) Sparsit et Chemica qvædam hinc inde in Actis Medicis Hafniensibus, ut et Botanica atqve Medica, qvæ publico jam innotuere. | In CHEMISTRY he issued an introduction "On the Rise and Progress of Chemistry" [20: 1668]. A few years later he wrote the more copious work "On the Wisdom of Hermes, of the Egyptians and of the Chemists" [24: 1674], challenged by the mordacious dicacity of H. Conring. Twice, too, he gave public lectures on the elements of chemistry, enriching these with new observations, work still kept in his desk. To the obvious benefit of those mining metals, he laid down his observations in a brief and accessible summary of the ways in which to examine all seams of metal everywhere, in cliffs, sands, waters and clays, and how to evaluate properly their quality. Its title was "Assaying of Metals" [29: 1677], and it was soon translated into German and now into Danish, too. He also dealt with chemical matters that were introduced into the "Acta Medica Hafniensia" [45: 1673-80] together with botanical and medical observations, now well known to the public. | |
| (43) In Botanicis id \egit/ potissimùm, ut tyronibus necessaria notiora evaderent, qvàm nimia. Hinc de Afris, Indisqve plantis non ita sollicitus, vernis, æstivisqve in suburbana excursionibus juventuti vernaculas herbas præcipuè monstravit, et, qvod caput rei est, usum earundem ex qvotidianis in praxi Medicâ* experimentis securè tradidit, identidem admonens, esse in patriâ nostrâ tot diversi generis plantas, ut si exoticis omnibus destitueremur, non ideo apud nos deficeret vera, et conveniens medendi ratio. Qvâ imbuti apud nos cognitione cives, ubi ubi eos tandem constituit fortuna, possunt inemptis germinibus et de suâ familiâ, et de egentioribus ubiqve bene mereri. (44) Utqve tenacius hærerent, qvæ sylvas, et prata hinc inde perambulando discipulis in hoc genere inculcârat, ea omnia in Lycéo explicatius dictavit, methodumqve utendi, fruendi intelligenter exposuit. \Edidit et scriptum De usu *plantarum \indigenar./ in Medicinâ./ | In BOTANY his main concern was that beginners should become acquainted with the indispensable rather than with the extraordinary. Disregarding African and Indian plants, he showed the young students indigenous plants on excursions outside the town on spring and summer days. The point of this being, through experiments, to demonstrate the use of herbs in medical practice, to bring to the minds of his compatriots that our country is so rich in various herbs that, when exotic ones are out of our reach, we need never lack remedies, and, wheresoever fortune sets us down, there will be seed-buds enough, costing nothing, to serve our own family and our poor neighbours. In the class-room he explained in detail the material studied in woods and meadows on these perambulations, to make it stick better in memory, and he gave a reasoned exposition of the ways of utilizing it. He also published a treatise called "On the Use of Native Plants in Medicine" [41: 1688]. | |
| (45) In re Medicâ iterum, iterumqve non Institutiones duntaxat Artis saluberrimæ Auditoribus interpretatus est, sed et Universam Praxin, inde ab exordio ad finem docendo prosecutus multum qvidem antecedentium scriptorum tribuit placitis, sed et plurimum ad lectus ægrorum disci experiundo notavit. Sæpe fabricam ossium in corpore humano oculis discipulorum subjecit, usum designavit, et varia chirurgorum filiis (=?) salutaria* adspersit. | In MEDICINE he interpreted the principles of the art to the students several times, combining this with a complete practical course. Not content with merely following in the footsteps of others, he stressed the importance of bedside experience to control theory. He demonstrated the osseous structure of the human body, explaining its functions and adding salutary advice for the benefit of future surgeons. | |
| (46) Sunt et alia varii argumenti, de qvibus, qvoties vocabat opportunitas, disseruit; in qvibus exstat tractatus ejusdem De somno et somniferis, De Cabala characterali, \De cavsis diversitatis Lingvarum,/ Memoria Dn. Oligeri Vindii, Oratio Jubilæa Evangelica. | In various treatises written on certain occasions, Borch contributed to different branches of learning: for example, "On Sleep and Soporifics" [32: 1680], "On Cabbalistic Signs" [3: 1649], "On the Causes of the Diversity of Languages" [26: 1675], "Commemoration of Mr. Holger Vind" [36: 1683]; "Speech at the Jubilee of the Reformation" [19:1667]. | |
| (47) Taceo orationes ejusdem in promotionibus Academicis natas, sed nondum prælo commissas, De variis modis excitandi ignis, atqve de Phosphoro; de naturâ sangvinis, et transfusione ejus; de oraculis Antiqvorum; de contagio non solùm morborum, sed et vitiorum; de furore Poëtico; de vero usu Logices; de lixivo et acido atqve utriusqve pugnâ; de experimentis Botanicis; de veris succini natalibus; de qvalitatibus occultis; de usu studiorum Academicorum, etiam in re Militari; de formâ serpentis, qvi Evam decepit; de naturâ dulcedinis; de somno animalium ad plures menses continuato; de studio purè loqvendi latinè; de menstruis Chemicorum. | As yet unprinted are the following speeches delivered at academic festivals: "On the Various Ways of Making Fire, and on Phosphorus"; "On the Nature of Blood, and on Transfusion"; "On the Oracles of the Ancients", "On Infection, Not Only with Diseases, but also with Defects"; "On Poetic Frenzy"; "On the Proper Use of Logic"; "On the Lixivial, the Acid, and the Conflict between them"; "On Experiments in Botany"; "On the True Genesis of Amber"; "On Hidden Qualities"; "On the Use of Academic Studies, Even in the Military"; "What Kind of Snake Eve Was Deceived By"; "On the Nature of Sweetness"; "On Animals Sleeping Continuously up to Several Months"; "On the Effort for Pure Latin Speech"; "On the menstrua of the Chemists". | |
| (48) In Decanatu Philosophico, qvem Magistratum, Dn. Collegis ita volentibus, integris annis XII impigrè administravit, post examinum sollennia MDCCXXVI creavit Academiæ Cives, CLXII Magistros, DXLII Baccalavreos. Qvibus adjiciendi meritò aliqvot Medicinæ Doctores ab eo summis in eâ Arte honoribus insigniti. Rectoratum Academiæ bis gessit, et primum \qvidem/ eo inter purpuratos Regios ordine, qvem primæ sanctiones Academicæ huic officio attribuunt. | As dean of the faculty of letters, a post held by Borch for twelve years by the unanimous votes of his colleagues, he enrolled 1796 students after appropriate examination, he created 162 Masters of Art and 542 Baccalaureates. To these it is just to add a number of Medical Doctors decorated by him with the highest degree of the art. Twice he was elected principal of the University, the first time [1675] taking his seat among the Royal courtiers according to the precedence given to that office. | |
| (49) Anno seculi labentis LX<XX>VI* inter Assessores justitiæ in summo Tribunali ab Avgust. Rege Christiano V considere jussus est, prorsus ex inopinato. A conjugio totâ vitâ abstinuit, ut eò philosopharetur expeditiùs. *{De futuro judicabunt futuri.} | In the year 1686 His Majesty King Christian V appointed him a member of the Supreme Court of Justice, an honour quite unexpected by him. To give himself more time for studies he preferred to remain a bachelor. {Posterity will judge about the sequel. (:cancelled)} | |
| (50) Disceptatis in supremâ justitiæ curiâ cavsis Anno 1687 Candidatos Medicinæ in praxi Medicâ exercuit, plantarum usum Medicum sollennibus in agrum Hafniensem excursibus edocuit, et privato collegio Docimasticen metallicam cum celebrioribus operationibus Chemicis non voce tantùm, sed et ipso opere avditoribus demonstravit. | Having acted as an arbitrator before the supreme Court of Justice in 1687, he gave practical instruction to medical students and taught them the use of simples during excursions outside Copenhagen. Before a private audience he demonstrated metallic docimacy through acknowledged chemical methods not only in lectures, but also practically. | |
| (51) Anno 1689 novis, ita volente sacrâ Reg. Majestate avctus est honoribus, titulo sc. Consiliarii in Cancellariâ Regia, sed et ita volente sacratiss. Divina Majestate, novo in vesicâ \arrosâ/ genere tormenti, cui Christianâ patientiâ occurrit, *donec-- | In 1689, by Royal order, he was honoured with the title of Councillor to the Chancery, but about the same time, His Majesty God the Almighty placed upon him another burden, a tormenting stone in his bladder, which he bore with Christian patience until... | |
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