INTRODUCTION. 33 
edly republished in most of the cities of Europe, 
translated into every language, and illustrated by 
voluminous comments. In the various hands through 
Which it passed, the text was subjected to many 
alterations, to omissions, additions, and corruptions, 
from illiterate or careless copyists, and still more 
from learned and presumptuous critics *. 
The earliest commentator was Arnaldus de Villa 
Nova, one of the most celebrated men of the 
thirteenth century, as a physician, a chemist, an 
» and a divine. By his own account he 
was born at Milan, the year of his birth is uncer- 
tain. After studying at Paris and Montpelier, he 
Visited the academies of Italy, and the Arabian 
schools in Spain, and was familiar with the Hebrew, 
the Arabic, and the Greek languages. Finally he 
established himself at Barcelona, whence he was 
styled Catalanus. He was the pupil of Peter de 
Apono, a celebrated divine, and the friend of Ray- 
mond Lully. In 1276, he cured Pope Innocent the 
fifth of the plague, by his famous tincture of 
- Was in great favour with James the second, king 
Arragon, who employed him in 1309 in a negotia- 
— See the catalogue of printed editions—of which I have 
cribed one hundred and sixty. See there specimens of 
various translations, 
