LatineEnglish
A DISPUTATION ON THE LENGTH OF LIFE of the ancient men before the flood.1
DISPUTATIO DE LONGITUDINE vitae priscorum hominum ante diluvium.
CAETERUM, quia longaevitas illorum hominum primae aetatis mundi visa est Gentilibus incredibilis & fabulosa, vindicanda nobis est ab eorum calumniis haec Mosis historia. Quatenus autem vita hominis naturaliter produci queat, ex syderalis scientiae rationibus & observationibus disputant Mathematici: sed in varias distrahuntur sententias, quarum varietas & discrepantia declarat rem esse incertam.
But, because the longevity of those men of the first age of the world seemed to the Gentiles incredible and fabulous, we must vindicate this history of Moses from their calumnies. But to what extent the life of man can naturally be prolonged, the Mathematicians dispute from the reasons and observations of the sidereal science; yet they are drawn into various opinions, whose variety and discrepancy declares the matter to be uncertain.2
Translator’s notes
- Major divider: a disputation on the longevity of the antediluvians, vindicating Moses's history against the pagans who found it incredible. ↩
- The pagans found the antediluvians' longevity incredible; Pererius will defend Moses's history. How far human life can naturally be extended is disputed by the 'Mathematicians' (astronomers/astrologers) from the stars, but their disagreement shows the matter is uncertain. ↩