PUBLICATION OF WEYER'S "DE PRAESTIGIIS DAEMONUM"--1583

Weyer的De praestigiis daemonum（1563年及以后的版本）是 在文艺复兴时期的文学作品中， 巫术作为第一个重要的贡献， 对巫术传说和 对所谓的女巫的镇压和残忍的态度 教会和民事当局的。 魏尔（1515-1588）， 他担任威廉杜克的宫廷医生近30年 Julich Cleve和贝格。 这个公国的气氛是 对天主教徒和新教徒都异常宽容， 这是一个可怕的宗教冲突和战争的时代。 韦尔，一个熟练的 和公正的人，有直接接触的情况下， 巫术，并在困难的情况下担任顾问。 出 他的经历和他对古典、基督教和 当代文学出现了《恶魔的祈祷》， 我经历了五个版本（以及德语和法语 翻译：在他的一生中。 这本书论述巫术 从四个角度-神学，哲学，医学， 法律的。 它分为六个部分，处理魔鬼， 魔术师，魔术师 被附身，被蛊惑，被下毒， 巫师女巫和毒贩子 韦尔的书 显然受到他同时代人的尊敬，如图所示。 各种版本和翻译;但，然后，它落入 随着理性主义的兴起而被遗忘（以及对理性力量的怀疑）。 魔鬼）和现代科学医学。 需要一个 关键的英语翻译已经变得明显。 的帮助下 一个专家小组和国家图书馆的赠款， 医学，翻译是1583年版（ 最新的魏尔的一生），完成了许多参考资料， 解释性说明和导言。 “中世纪和 州立大学的“文艺复兴文本与研究” 宾厄姆顿已经接受了手稿的出版。 是 预计这本书将有广泛的吸引力，以几个 观众，特别是感兴趣的人： 医学，特别是精神病学;民间传说;巫术及其 历史社会史;文学;宗教;女权主义研究。

Weyer's De praestigiis daemonum (1563 and later editions) is universally considered in the literature on the Renaissance and on Witchcraft as the first important contribution to a rational criticism of the belief in the lore of witchcraft and in the repressive and cruel attitude toward alleged witches on the part of ecclesiastic and civil authorities. Weyer (1515-1588) for almost thirty years served as court physician to Duke William of Julich, Cleve and Berg. The atmosphere of this duchy was unusually tolerant toward both Catholics and Protestants in an epoch of terrible religious conflicts and wars. Weyer, a skillful and unbiased man, had direct contact with a number of cases of witchcraft and served as consultant in difficult situations. Out of his experience and of his unusual grasp of classical, Christian and contemporary literature came the De praestigiis daemonum which went through five editions (as well as German and French translations) during his lifetime. The book deals with witchcraft from four viewpoints--theological, philosophical, medical, and legal. It is divided into six parts, dealing with the devil, the satanic magicians, the witches, the possessed, the help for the possessed, bewitched and poisoned, and the punishment for sorcerers, witches, and poisonmongers. Weyer's book was obviously held in esteem by many of his contemporaries, as shown by the various editions and translations; but, then, it fell into oblivion with the rise of rationalism (and disbelief in the power of the devil) and of modern scientific medicine. The need for a critical English translation has become evident. With the help of a team of specialists and of a grant from the National Library of Medicine, a translation was prepared of the 1583 edition (the latest in Weyer's lifetime), complete with many references and explanatory notes, and an introduction. "Medieval and Renaissance Texts and Studies" of the State University at Binghamton has accepted the manuscript for publication. It is expected that the book will have a wide appeal to several audiences, in particular people interested in: the history of medicine, especially psychiatry; folklore; witchcraft and its history social history; literature; religion; feminist studies.