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A.E Waite - Turba Philosophorum
A.E Waite - Turba Philosophorum
ALCHEMY
*//
THE
TURBA PHILOSOPHORUM
..
BY
Xon&on
GEORGE REDWAY
1896
PREFACE.
*lpHE
Turba Phiksophorum
is
indisputably the
many
in
Latin
respects
the
it
can
the original
the Arabic
and Syriac
is
irretrievably lost,
manuscripts treating
early chemistry are
in
numbers in the
considerable
preserved
of
and
have only
pages
the
second
recension,
is
2094035
ii.
Preface.
bad
The
because
state.
it
The
in its entirety.
version,
course pursued.
Monsieur Berthelot's
invaluable
text
and
It is to this
owe
to
of
his
the
and
subject,
forming
" Essai sur la Transmission de
Science
follows
Latin
referred
connects
which
which
Alchemy,
rightly
with
preceded
the latter
was
an
to
the
Arabian
itself
always been
Arabian source,
has
Greek
Science,
whom
all
because
sages, to
Alchemy
first
We
time,
iii.
Preface.
they
tion.
M.
are
Zosimus,
we now know
the
Panopolite,
the adepts of the school of Democritus, and the
other writers preserved in the Byzantine collecBerthelot, however, infers that the
phorum
was
derived
in
The Turbo,
direct
mediately
Philoso-
influence,
through
but
channels
The
"
sophorum, are those of the
Theatrum Chemi"
cum," the Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa," and
that of the smaller collection entitled " Artis
Auriferae Tractatus."
tions of the
also in
way
The
which they represent the original.
versions contained in Salmon's " Bibliotheque
des Philosophes Alchimiques," and in the " Tro's
in
Anciens Traictes de
la Philosophic Naturelle,"
collection.
iv.
Preface.
may be added
the
It may be added
period of Latin Alchemy.
also that the editor has collected a consider-
able
to the
Words
Book, for
and
the
begotten of Pythaa
disciple of the disciples
goras,
ARISLEUS,*
by the grace of
An
testify that
my
in the first
fact that
most names
master,
and
Wisdom
of
gift
God
of
dis-
ciples,
that
words
their
be
might
He
then
foundation
for
commanded
of highest
Iximidrus,
be the first speaker, who
council,
to
posterity.
said :f
*
The Greek
make no mention
describes
attributed
to
this
quoted.
t The
variations
sayings of the
introducing
more
prudent
Pythagoras
the
among
the
Philosopher,
scholars,
that
The book
by
Master
is
also
IXIMIDRUS
saith
of
beginning
Nature, which
all
is
testify
things
that the
a Certain
is
perpetual, coequalling
moned.*
Now,
instruct
you that
Philosophy.
scholar, Eximidrius, to
But
of
commanded
Pythagoras
begin the
discourse,"
&c.
his
The
which he had
collected,
extent, in
own words.
his
which
it is
as
it
knowledge
of the
Sacred Art
is
given."
B2
lest that
He has created
Do you not
up.
which
should be burnt
when
it
rises in
the air?
presently
If,
the
then,
breathe
forth
air
did
not
those winds
that lives.
is
kept
check by the air, which thus conquers because it unites the heat of the
in
Sun
to its
own
heat,
of water to
air.
The
fire,
therefore,
water, by means of which the air conquers the fire itself. Thus, fire and
water
are
between
enemies
which
there
is
fire
the air
lish peace.
is
And
"vapour of the
being
joined
air,
to
the
humour, there
becomes
spirit
and
life
to all creatures.
disposed in such
manner by the will of God, and a
coruscation appears when the heat of
All this, however,
the
is
cloud.
EXUMDRUS
do magnify the
air according to the mighty speech of
Iximidrus, for the work is improved
thereby. The air is inspissated, and
made
also
it is
saith
and becomes
thin
its
it
when
warm
inspissation
it
is
divided
elongation of the
rarefaction is when, by the
Sun
becomes warm and
exaltation of the
in
air
is
is
grows
The
cold.
Sun
heaven, the
rarefied.
It
which
neither
is
of
time,
cold.
For
the distinction
Spring,*
warm nor
Crates,
Book of
enjoined that the operation of the
where
philosophical
regulated
it
fire
is
after the
moreover, represents
seasons
still
treatise,
philosophy as using the same illustration. It is probableTurba in its original form antedated the Book of
that the
Crates.
The
altered.
therefore, is inspis-
air,
Whereat
is
TURBA
the
said
Excel-
and
ANAXAGORAS
saith
make known
all
is
those things
weight and
weight
is
And know,
all
ye
Turba,
in
body.
the
that
The
original
is
by the
obviously to connect
it
Hebrew
or Arabic original
seems
signifying compactness.
8
fire
falls
into
air,
the
together with
received from the
the
air,
water
spissitude
fire,
of
spissitude
into
falls
fire
and
four elements
is
conjoined in earth
The
Thou
Verily the
is
He
answereth
Fire
is
the
But
it
is
warm and
than
moist,
fire,
while
because
fire
is
is
therefore,
He
is
which
is
PYTHAGORAS
:
Well have ye provided, O
Sons of the Doctrine, the description
of these four natures,* out of which
saith
God
hath created
all things.
Blessed,
reply
make
:
own
Let
us, there-
They
Speak thou,
up
told
Know
that
it
is
by means
of these four
elements are
fire
and
down.
Two
air
TO
But PANDOLFUS
saith
signify
to-
from
It
it.
would
They answer
Thou
But
continueth
hidden
is
in the
that
The
which
air
is
which
sustains
the
earth,
it
that water.
The
fill
up and to make
between
diverse
separation
things, that
is to say, water and earth, and it is
is,
therefore, to
constituted
gave an
between
peacemaker
water and
fire,
The TURBA
saith
illustration hereof,
it
If
you
would be
He
stand.
those
clearer to
answereth
An egg
an
is
conjoined
medium
The
water.
The
Greek alchemists.
to the
under this
title,
short treatise
Egg, which
is
composed of
world.
It
is
copper, the
Armenian
tin,
lead.
is
The white
it
The
The
seed
seed
part
is
The
the shell
symbolically,
is
is
after
it
divine water,
is
yolk
oily part
shell is likened to
of the egg
is
it
the
It is
itself
extant
stone, &c.
is still
is,
(?
copperas,
the chicken)
is
sometimes
the similitude of a
the white and the yolk are the flesh, and the watery
the breath, or air.
12
from
water
the
fire.
But the
lower air
and
air,
is
than
and
yolk,
is
Conse-
ARISLEUS
is
hill
saith
Know
and not a
reason the
plain, for
which
all
rise in
moment
PARMENIDES
briefly,
saith
Arisleus
13
Is there
us
Yet
that
testify
God
is
one, having
Him
earth and
is
tenuous
and
because
fire,
and
light,
it
fire
rules
is
all
fire.
LUCAS
saith:
four natures
of
you
and
things which
have been created out of them return
four natures,
the
In these
into them.
living creatures
DEMOCRITUS,
answereth
the
Thou
disciple
of
LUCAS,
14
LUCAS
acquainted with thy master
answereth: Albeit Democritus received
!
from
me
The
TURBA
answereth
he
When
he
will give
no
in
his
LOCUSTA
saith
All
those
creatures
alchemy.
It
SOPHORUM
15
known nor
for
it is
saith
Thou
hast
entered
upon
what
is this
thing which
is
neither
felt,
Then he : It is that
seen, nor known.
which is not known, because in this
world
it is
Crowd
the Philosophers,
of
not that
it
distinguish
know you
Similarly, a
is
fetid,
taste,
fact,
the deliberations.
remains
For
silent
" those of
his
own age
"
the
16
The
by touch.
TURBA
answereth
Thou
cognised in
none of these five ways is a sublime
creature, and, as such, is neither seen
but
is
perceived by reason
alone, of which reason Nature confesses that God is a partaker.
They
nor
felt,
answer
and
is
Thou
hast
excellently.
And
spoken
he
truly
will
now
hath a
same
light,
is
which
is
But
if
beings
may
is
so ordered that
attain
to
vision.
were removed,
fire, all
which are
For
17
God
And know
is
which
more
is
Know
light.
dense
is
composed
the
in
is
Consequently the
inferior
all
the created
that
world
and
also
sublime
Sun
creature.
rarer than
is
The
creatures.
TURBA
Thou
answereth
if,
offers
The shortened
version oi
some conspicuous
the second
variations,
and
is
Recension
literally
as
T8
PYTHAGORAS
saith
existed before
all
affirm that
God
and with
Him
things,
all
at
But
first.
that
I
Philosophers,
declare this in order that I may fortify
your opinion concerning these four
ye
arrive save
"
follows
reason
heaven.
felt,
Two
of which
is
known nor
neither
the other
whatsoever
is
in
by piety and
is
it is
realised, save
is
But there
seen,
will of
this
heaven or earth.
is
which contains
that
is
Now, reason
perceives
What ensues is
by the help of the five senses, &c.
substantially the same as the text, till towards the close,
.
which
is
as follows
As
to that nature
which
is
perceived
it is known by
by none of these, the same is sublime
reason and piety only, and is God Most High, who made
the light which is the Sun. Know that the Sun is more
;
it
may
light the
Nothing
He
of the
himself
creatures."
is
dense
more
is
in
Sun and
all
inferior
created
all
and the
inferior,
others,
from
tinated
19
because
He
predesall
that
beginning
the
judgments
therein.
before
He
all,
Consequently,
created
He
afterwards
ments, out of which
created what He willed, that is to say,
some
diverse creatures,
of which were
The
saith:
Master?
the elements of
* In the
works
Book
oj Balances,
and
of Geber, there
fire
is
He
The combination
dryness.
sesses cold
these elements
God
20
moon,
sun,
and
stars
are
composed.
more
lucid than
is
less
position of fire
saith
And
and
what
air.
TURBA
The
concerning
Then he
the
Heaven ?
God
created the Heaven out of water and
air, whence this is also composed of
creation of
course concerning these three, and rejoice our hearts with thy sayings,
which are life to the dead. But the
other answereth
God
hath further
notify to
made
you that
creatures out
;
out of three
And
tures
he
fire, air,
21
fire,
and
air,
all
and
Yet
fire.
fire, for
in vegetables there is
no
And
fire.
He
fire ?
answerelh
is
Out
of the heat
concealed therein
have
fire
is
have
spirit
and
soul.
Adam
The
treatise
observes that
But out
is,
of Olympiodorus
Adam was
and
of
On
of four
his sons
fire,
air,
the Sacred
Art
22
and
water,
stand,
all
likewise
Under-
earth.
how
every-
Judgment.
is
The
death
definition of
there
Death consists
simple, for it is one.
in the separation of the soul from the
body, because anything formed out of
two, three, or four components must
disintegrate, and this is death. Understand,
further,
that
no
complex
fire eats,
drinks,
in
libraries
of
Zosimus, by
Adam
The
The nature
name
signifies light
and
fire.
they eat and sleep, does not seem to have been discussed
by Greek, Syriac, or Arabian alchemists. Zosimus
either
was revealed
to mortals
by
The
TUKBA
answereth
23
How
is
it,
fire is
Hence
ye
each
doubt,
'And he
his
having
simple
fire
eats
not,
but thick
fire.
The
is
exceedingly thin,
drink, nor sleep.
most
they
And
simple
and
neither
eat,
the
TURBA
it
is
to
them
and
it
was
24
May God
carry such great things.
reward thee for the sake of thy disof
ciples, since it is with the object
instructing future generations that thou
hast summoned us together from our
countries,
the
Judge
Seeing
fail
come
that
of
recompense
!
which
to receive from
ARISLEUS
thou
hast
the
saith
us
gathered
more
are,
The
TURHA
all
the
definitions in
answereth
Should
it
becomes
tions.
And
he:
If
please you, I
will begin the disposition here, since
envious men in their books have
it
will
put
at the
TURBA
think
saith
Whereat
where
it
clearest
And
he
for
the
you
future
will
place it
will not be recognised by the
generations.
it
be
will
it
where
Place
25
foolish,!
Doctrine, for
it is
EXIMENUS
saith
God
hath created
all
and
fire,
which
He
coagulated,
and
The
is
one of the
Isis
herself is
sworn
to secrecy
been required
initiated]
of us to reveal
person,"
says
Synetius to Dioscorus.
t
The
which
this
composition.
fail
way
in
26
fire,
Out
another.
therefore, are
all
with
all
their natures
God, and
diversity
is
more than
is
But the
have stated
of diverse na-
Now
is
the
this di-
they were created out of diverse elements. Had they been created out of
one element, they would have been
humid.
27
four elements
means of increase, food, life, and government. Sons of the Doctrine, not without purpose have I described to you the
disposition of these four elements, for in
them is a secret arcanum two of them
;
and water.
But there
and
force
when
the
four
accomBut
being mixed, departing
plished.
from their own natures, they become
Over these let us
another thing.
is
meditate
very
carefully.
And
the
28
speak, we
Then
will give heed to your words.
that
and
I have now discoursed,
he
TURBA
if
Master,
you
well.
will
which
all
tincture
follow
will
ye
Know,
true
from
our
that
present,
made except
is
spoken.
no
The
and hence
is
composed of the
philosophical copper
reference throughout
all
is
alchemy.
four elements.
a subject of continual
Among
thorities, the
spirit,
is
alchemical process.
essential substance.
white copper
is
crude sulphur.
explains that
make
visible coins"
29
and then
Burn therefore
accomplish nothing.
the copper, break it up, deprive it of
blackness by cooking, imbuing, and
washing, until the same becomes white.
its
Then
*
M.
rule
it.
meaning of
anterior writers.
will
a misconception
The
reference
is
to
silver.
Numerous preparations
be found
is
for
in the Collection of
as, for
in the
first
an
operation
with
copper.
The book
addressed
by
copper.
is
According
is
an igneous regenera-
tion.
30
ARISLEUS
this work
Know
saith:
is
therefore, the
to
fire
it is
covered,
set
it
alchemy frequently
it
Zosimus
in definition
of the sea as
water
When
boiled,
and afterwards
It
is
identified with
It is
into gold.
It
is
also
becomes
eternal
water.
Interpreting
later
writers,
The
reference
mouth of the
vessel.
is
to
it
in
alchemy.
31
Brodium
until
Saginatum.
Etheliae until
is
Then
it
produced,
stir
in its
like
to
water of
Cook the
and the Flower thereof.
same with Permanent Water, which is
*
is
A short
excursus
On
the Diversity of
Burnt Copper
preserved
noted that
without."
whitening)
and
tinged within
and
32
PARMENIDES
that
saith
Ye must
men have
envious
dealt
know
volu-
you who
to deceive
after
knowledge.
aspire
Leave, therefore, all these, and make
the white red, out of this our copper,
taking copper and lead, letting these
stand for the grease, or blackness, and
tin
for
the
liquefaction.
Know
ye,
first
with the
first,
ye
destroys
turns
it,
it
33
to nothing,
it,
same.
ye
may know
what
putrefies
in
gentle
the
it
fire
in
similar fashion.
and sadness.
Consider, there-
34
body of
Sulphur
make the same
tell
gold.
itself into
Know
Nature.*
in
like
imparted to
their souls;
it
them by
digests
coction,
possession of them.
t
and
who
this
that treatise,
and
to
In one of the
The body
of
Magnesia
of
is
mentioned
whitened.
in the discourse of
According to Synesius
it
signifies the
mixture
of substances.
|
The
Turba Philotophorum
Nature rejoices
in
Nature
Nature
35
red.
those
celestial
natures,
will of
glad
!*
special and
God
the
cannot.
magnify
nothing
fire
more precious
tincture, or the
like
degree to be found.
overcomes nature
ruled by Nature
in
the true
in the
smallest
This
is
that truth
Nature
is
the Greek
Alchemists.
*
literally
writers
36
For when
it is
love.
If ye
highest operation is effected.
knew the truth, what great thanks ye
would give me
Learn, therefore, that
!
mastered the
it
interior.
And
if
endures
if
either
fire,
the
the
fire.
vapours
have
whitened
the
Know
ye seekers
after Wisdom, that one matter overcomes four, and our Sulphur* alone
interiors.
consumes
answereth
*
all
further, all
things.
The
Turba
all
Hermetic
liter-
Magnum
37
well,
smoke
is
to posterity, nor
whitened
how
the
same
LUCAS
saith
will
speak at this
Wisdom,
is
not from
because
with custom,
it
book
A
is
designed to be conveyed
other
is,
that in
for the
in
the
of the uninitiated.
t It
should
be noted
in
planets is not
never spoken of
Thus, quicksilver
is
38
namely, that you shall take the quicksilver from the male, and shall either
impose upon
copper, and it
tin, or governed
be whitened.*
iron,
will
White Magnesia
is
made
in the
same
and
affinity
the
iron,
rejoices.t
commanded you
to take,
its
The second
recension
is,
reads
governed
"Ye
iron,
shall
and
it
impose
be
shall
whitened."
t
The
rejoices in Nature."
J
39
is
and
white,
whitens
smoke
it
all
things.
is
said
it
be
and
become
coagulated
excessively
white.*
Roast this white copper till
it
germinates
since
itself,
the
Magnesia
the
suffer
of
to
spirits
shadow
of
because
Nature
escape,
coppert
to
the
appear,
Nature.
contains
Take, therefore,
or
ye Sons of the
all
Flower of White
*
The
Salt,+ until
alternative reading
is
" until
it
it
become
shall
become a
M.
The shadow
of copper
is
The
i.e.,
epistle
shadow
burning
is
a brilliant metal.
is
of
Pelagus
defines the
The second
40
Ethelia.
boiled
for
seven
days,
till
it
shall
become
it
great
mouth
fire.
Cover the
but
let it
be associated with
may
beware
lest
the
fire
to explain
Gadenbe.
this case
and
in
41
it
the
require the white. Afterwards coagulate the same until you attain the red.
Let your
fire
when
is
it
we
coagulated
it is
therefore,
it
is
call
This,
those .who
for
things,
TURBA
the
saith
Wise
you speak as
spoken, and that
follow you who do not
Master,
if
have
they will
to be
wholly
briefly,
wish
shut
in
with
darkness.
The Thirteenth Dictum.
PYTHAGORAS
saith
We
government which
is
posit another
42
root, but
it
differs in
ye seekers after
Wisdom, that whatsoever the envious
all
may have
cerning
in
savour there
diverse as possible.
Know,
also, that
companion without
magnet follows the
even as the
fire,
iron, to
which the
unto these.
which follows!
fire,
causes
And
its
many
when embracing
it,
this
same
thing,
companion without
colours
to
appear
every
The
mony
f
"
of the elements."
in
known by everyone
yet
and
43
of
of
Spume
Moon.
the
name
of one
is
This
the
stone,
name
its
is
one, yet
its
nature.*
The
TURBA
answereth
Master
known
is
common
Alabastron
it
The
salt.
may
inquirer after
among
it
known by
is
all,
is
is
most precious,
The preparation
The perplexities of
is
of recurring to
it.
44
names
And
for
he:
It is
late
it
a cinder.
Cook
it
shall
also with
become
of
Spume
stone
which we
call
by all names,
which assimilates the work and drinks
it, and is the stone out of which also
colours appear.
Take, therefore,
that same gum, I which is from the
all
The second
that milk
is
coagulated."
The
is,
after the
manner
The second
its
"
Ye
own
water."
J
The second
recension says
"
:
Gum
of Scotia," most
45
the
first
fire,
until
be
it
pounded.
water,
if
a gentle
fire,
the
and becomes a
stone, therefore,
many
same
is
stone.
when
it
coagulated,
Out
is
of this
broken up,
But
probably a
philosophical
misprint
gum
for
Scoria.
Rulandus
identifies
The term
but
it is
as clear as the
Chrysopeia defines
Greek Alchemists,
gum
for the
Lexicon of
among
is
gum,
46
herein,
if
and so ye
find
your purpose.
ACSUBOFEN*
PYTHAGORAS
reward thee
God
deliver
also
saith
May
ACSUBOFEN,
Then he Ye must know,
from envy
of
O Assembly the Wise, that sulphurs
are contained in sulphurs, and humidity
thee,
:
in humidity. t
The
envious,
The
TURBA
answereth
therefore,
us,
what
is
Tell
humidity ?
a venom, and
this
And he Humidity is
when venom penetrates
*
have
Acsubofen,
name
a body,
is
it
Assuberes.
Sulphurs are
The
theriac
subjects of discourse
Petrus
Bonus
seems with
all
among
the
sovereign remedy
authors to have had a destructive as well as
and,
indeed,
47
flee,
hold of
its
manner of
an
from the
fire,
when the
by M.
many
references
equivalent
is ios,
and
the
48
water
its
is
and place
therewith gradually in a
vessel, adding that tincture whereof the
colour was disagreeable to you. Then
it
until
shall
humour.
days
in
Then leave
its own vessel,
it
several
for
until
the most
an important
*
In
plays
part.
The use
of sea water
is
specified in
one
of the
Democritic treatises.
t
The second
moistened, after
recension reads
" until
it
shall
become
49
until the
fire,
own humour
until
it
But
if
therefore, in
its
ye wish to bring
it
which
which
is
until
it
imbibe
sea
the
its
own moisture
and
do
I tell
this day by day.
you that a
colour will thence appear to you the
like of which the Tyrians have never
And
made.
be a
the
still
gum
which ye
*
if
ye wish that
more exalted
in the
shall
it
should
colour, place
water of
talc.
50
Then
and the
water which
is
until
it
extract
Know
Seek, there-
FRICTES
saith
Wisdom, know
all
ye seekers after
this Art,
*
i.e.,
The second
Moon
recension substitutes
Luna
for
Lana,
for wool.
t The one nature, the one matter, the one way, are all
" The furnace is
one, the
conceptions of Greek Alchemy.
is
must
be
followed
one, and one is also the
way which
and
natures,
is
51
stronger than
more sublime
all
the
in
it is
But
for
it
Woe
reverence.
How
is
a thing which we
unto all ye fools
!
to
how
comes
all
this Nature,
is
Frictes
And
he
It
The ONB
work," says the Atsembty of the Philosophert.
furnishes blood to the OTHER, and the ONE engenders the
OTHER.
for
process
Serpent Ourobobot.
*
the Stone.
It
is
appears to be an
oil
which
rises
is
to
the
by no
52
fire,
which
Accordingly, the
to cold.
is
inimical
Wise have
said
Rule gently until the sulphur
becomes incombustible.*
The Wise
:
means
M. Berthelot supposes a
clear.
reference to the
Mercurial Water.
*
Take unburnt
puberty
fire) until
it
it
53
men have
son of
this
verts
Adam
thus described
burns
it.
the
For
con-
vinegar
body,
it into a cinder, and also whitens
it
becomes a coin of
and
be disintegrated,
dissolve and temper with
stone until
then
Cook, there-
it
Know
also, that
the
work
but
after
divine mystery.
disciples of
incombustible sulphur.
This
is
the
54
knew pure
SOCRATES
crowd of
those that still remain of the Sons of
the Doctrine, that no tincture can be
produced without Lead, which possesses
saith:
Know,
how
thrice-great
"
is
vinegar,
reads
that so often as
55
is
the
until
fire
destroyed,
common
with a number
Zosimus, the
by the appearances
Panopolite,
says
may
it
possesses in
be cited
All substances
The
is
he
for
i.e.,
it
is
Zosimus
significance
accurately Kohol,
On
in
is
of the
term
Kuhul,
to be found in Syriac
or
more
alchemy
it
Berthelot seems to be
fact,
is
the pure
impure.
56
water
the
therefore,
comes
being
above
clean,
Kindle,
rejected.
it
abounding
in
precious
Pound
metal, and exceedingly white.
it afterwards with dew and the sun,
and with sea and rain water for 21 days,
for 10 days with salt water, and 10
days with fresh water,* when ye shall
find the same like to a metallic stone.
Cook
the
of nitre
know
when
that
drinks
swiftly,
because
it
'
The second
it
humour
is burnt lead.
Take
it be burnt. Thus we
up what remains of
with dew,
becomes dry
it
recension reads
its
" Afterwards
pound
it
for
Great Mystery.
of Democritus,
process
dew
is
of whitening,
Philosophical
Egg
it is
mentioned
and
in
in
the
tabulated as a
connection with a
fragment
name
on
the
of the white
M. Berthelot suspects
57
call it
the
demonstrated
white lead,
Now,
therefore,
have
all
the
for
the
lead,
receiving
the
because she
is
in
Mix,
orpiment.*
with
the
orpiment
female
rejoices
in
M. Berthelot
of the ancients.
Greek
The word
itself
which
it is
found.
who
58
and
wish
that
to put
it
it
is
on
mud
Now,
if
ye
(colour), seeing
already dry,
with vinegar.
But
again imbue
therefore,
have
notified to
which
is
will laugh.
vinegar which
It is
the Ethelia of
become
spiritual.
Know,
all
ye seekers after
Art,
that
make
cannot
59
unless ye whiten, ye
red, because the two
white.
is
Know,
!*
also, that
fire
lastly, there is
fruits are
matured, which
is
Autumn.
save yourselves.
Thou
The
TURBA answereth
mence by making
perfect
and
solid.
60
Take
red.*
the
Master
at
the
the
copper
ordered
you
of
beginning
to
his
which
take
book,
let
equally,
for
if
this,
So when
tingeing spirit in spirits. t
the male and the female are conjoined
there is not produced a volatile wife,
but a spiritual composite. From the
composite turned into a red spirit is
of the world.
The
substances
various
of
which
alchemists
Minium, Rubric,
con-
etc,,
are
oxydes
t
spirit
vermillion,
some
of iron.
The second
among
recension reads
spirits."
" becomes a
mighty
Behold
this
is
61
we have
called
MUNDUS
saith
TURBA The
Art must know that
the
to
who
find
O how many
Know
that this
gum
is
the
labours
when Mundus
in
identifies
Gum
words
tinctures
we
is
62
held the
labours,
tincture,
and are
will explain
know
it
do hold
it
all
those
who
more honourable
because out of
gum
with a
little
a small
price.
Take,
therefore,
one
gum
63
Then mix
heat.
fig,
and
cock
it
it
moisture
that
till
Then
moisten
until
it
be dry.
gum which
equipped with
all manner of colours, and cook strongly
until the whole force of the water
perish
and the
entire
is
body be deprived
64
of
its
Then
thereof be kindled.
forty days.
Let
it
remain
dismiss for
in that tritura-
tion or decocting until the spirit penetrate the body. For by this regimen the
made
and
fly
off in
pass
fumes.
These
This,
purposed.
arcanum
therefore,
is
the
have concealed
in their books.
DARDARIS
saith
It
is
common
Now,
it
is
introduced
The
this dictum, is to be
in the
in
commixture,
and the whole regimen, it
contrition,
behoves
65
us
to
use
famous Permanent
who does
fore,
invariably this
Water. He, there-
not
may
understand
its
Art, because nothing is effected without the Permanent Water. The force
is a spiritual blood, whence
the Philosophers have called it Per-
thereof
manent Water,
having pounded it
with the body, as the Masters before
me have explained to you, by the will
of
God
it
for,
the
body
spirit,
and
the
spirit
the
same
the
incorporates
spirit
incorporates
the body into tinged spirit, like blood.
And know ye, that whatsoever hath
as well.
arcanum
*
hath
Remember,
blood
also
this
therefore,
The second
recension adds
spirit
body."
into
66
BELUS
saith
disciples,
ye have
PYTHAGORAS
discoursed excellently !*
answers :
Seeing that they are philosoO
Belus, why hast thou called
phers,
He answereth : It is
disciples ?
in honour of their Master, lest I should
them
Then
Those who,
in con-
PYTHAGORAS saith
Then he
"
;
Take
that stone
which
is
same time
name
one.
it
it is
has no
it, I
uttered.
given
to
its
67
the
Behold, what
is
and that
it
the
lest
is
by many names,
should recognise
foolish
Certain wise
after
called
men have
it.
designated
it
one fashion,
namely, according
the place where it is generated
others have adopted another, founded
upon its colour, some of whom have
to
termed
by other
some it is called the Stone of the most
intense Spirit of Brass, not to be mixed
it
with bodies
tion
;*
Spume
*
of
Luna
;t
some have
distin-
it
is
68
it
guished
astronomically
arith-
already received
of which the best is
has
it
metically;
or
thousand titles,
" That which
produced out of
metals." So also others have called it
the Heart of the Sun, and yet others
have declared it to be that which is
is
PANDOLFUS
much
said so
wanting
saith
who
in the Lexicons.
Rulandus,
It
is
seems
prescription
which
falls
from the
moon when
referred to as describing
where
it
it
waning," and he is
to be found, and how
is
is
it
Turba
recalls
mythology of
of mercury.
Selenite,
but to be "
Rulandus.
Moon,
Moon."
left
teach
stone
all
is
69
nothing to be
Howsoever,
ye seekers after
manent water
is
Wisdom,
water
that per-
mundane
of
is
gene-
it
so far
it
is
most
of contradicting
denominations.
f
J
also found
in
is
70
He,
therefore,
venom
the
and has
fallen into
becomes
red,
is
called gold
who knows
fore,
of the
Cambart
him is the
the hidden
to
Philosophers,
already revealed. The
Arcanum
answereth
Thou
hast
TURBA
even now intel-
he, there-
it is
On
annotation
specific
of
virtue
According to
A quotation
first) in
Zosimus On
the
his
Essay on
explanation of
its
referred to
significance,
by M. Berthelot
and
it is
in
without
of the Lexicons of
treatise,
is
of an adept.
its
71
thou
regimen nor
its
composition.
to take
it
in its vessel,
that
sight of this
very great
it
The Chemistry
"
Then,
is far
whitening of Magnesia:
if it
be black,
better to
cook
it
let
it
it
be cooked
till
it
in a glass-maker's
whitens, but
furnace.
it
Hide
whitening by decoction."
t It does not appear that
was
familiar to
Greek alchemy.
72
God
will
which
is
Cook
strongly,
and imbue
And know
accounts.
with the
The
it
out.
sentence
extremely doubtful,
immediately
have
is
is
is
required to
following.
make sense
The second
Know
also
rule
perfection of
this precious stone is
with
it
on us.*
the
that
work of
the
to
God
if
begun,
73
the
residue
the
of
of
the
till
the gluten of gold, which being desiccated, imbue the rest of the work
seven
times
until
the
other
two-
thirds be finished,
bibe them
on a hot
all.
fire until
flower
and be
are ye
if
I will
original
emendation given
is
its
Blessed
satisfactory.
ye understand
repeat to
The
But, if not,
the
you
perfection of
!
untranslatable;
in the text
the
conjectural
is
only
The
substituted,
74
Take the
the work.
is
true tincture;
which sand
is
is
the
made
Now,
therefore,
have
fulfilled
do I conjure you by
sure
Master, that you
your
truth, so
this great
wicked
the
God and
show not
THEOPHILUS
saith:
intelligently
and
Thou
hast spoken
elegantly,
Saith the
and
art
TURBA
all
ye seekers after
this science,
75
in
Philosophers have
books without
their
reading,
experiments, and
of
the Wise. For that
questionings
frequent
which
and
it
have treated
obscurely
than others.
Thou
The
TURBA
answereth
And
he
water.
it is
drawn out
into plates
cook
again
with
to seven in its
*
first
own water
recension
for
42 days
;*
76
finally,
open the
and ye
vessel,
into
shall
quicksilver;
For when
gealed.
it
is
congealed
it
Ac-
it
and cook
portion,
it
many
times until
its
*s
arcanum.
great
until
it
shall
Saith
the
TURBA
Boritis, according to
and
it
Rulandus,
is
late
The word
is
It is
of Oriental origin.
77
If, therefore, ye
permanent water.
rule copper and permanent water as I
have directed, there will thence result
the very great arcanum in the following
Take
fashion.
quicksilver,*
Magnesia and
mix with the male, and
white
But
ye
will
find
it
of
it
all
blackness by cooking
deprive
continue the cooking until its whole
nature be disintegrated, until the de*
The
second
recension reads
" Take
quicksilver
78
filement
perish,
until
be
it
found
you to
colour
which
CERUS*
The name
Bellus.
is
79
ruled for
is fitly
copper
no
is
affinity
why
And
he
I testify
direct
which
*
is
The second
recension adds
and water of the Philosophers. This affinity and combination is given to them in the space of one hundred days."
t
is,
perhaps,
and that
cinnabar
is
to obtain the
8o
becomes a
fluxible
its
body
until
it
become a
ing the
and
its
made
is
are
[two]
one.
all
for
already burnt,
companion, which
grated, and
is
its
defilement,
it
be disinte-
become
and
earth.
Know
find that
in
which
process of reunion,
charms Nature," &c.
is
sought
nothing can
succeed, for
Nature
81
until
becomes
it
Know
crocus.
also
most
excellent
companion we have
Cook it,
and imbue with the residual
desiccated with
its
name
given the
therefore,
of crocus.
BOCASCUS*
well,
saith
Thou
hast spoken
I follow
He
As it may
please you, but do not become envious,
for that is not the part of the Wise. And
BOCASCUS: Thou speakest the truth,
thy steps
and
answereth
thus, therefore,
the Doctrine.
Take
direct the
Sons of
is
produced
with gluten of gold and syrup of pomegranates until it be broken up. But you
*
The name
in the
second recension
is
Boratis.
82
and
it
has become
as water;
until
it
earth
Thou
hast done
Ye who wish
to
must mix
silver,t
it
by which
roasting.
It is that
easily volatilised,
become an
hemisphere
of the
above
all
employed
etherised
which
is
spirit,
it
Having
it
fire, until,
state of
wisdom.
difficult to retain,
\
is,
" With
is
it
mortal."
it
is
its
printer's choice
Until
and
it is
Afterwards cook
it
83
But
let
again,
be coagulated.
this be desiccated with its own
water until
this
it
itself.*
by
in
your vessel
it
it
MENABDUS
the
for
the truth
May God
saith:
reward thee
And he
know
posterity to
*
The second
make
bodies not
recension reads
bodies,
more
The second
in its vessel,
and pound."
" Place
it
once
84
For by
nature
With
extracted.
is
is
its
these bodies
assuredly,
if I
things
become
pound
Egg
bodies.
If
ye diligently
fire
and digest
Philosophical
" Unless bodies lose their
corporeal state,
is
assume
their
But Mary
is
two bodies
achieved."
into
The
in precisely the
one body, no
same
fashion,
desired result
make
will
be
Hermes
to impart
body to the
the
try
last
substance
is
well
known.
85
become
And know ye
mortifying and
bodies,
breaking up,
with one regimen, and the more it is
mixed and pounded with the body, the
more the body is disintegrated, while
the quicksilver
comes
is
For when ye
living.
shall dili-
this reason
unless
it
it
it
And know
colours.!
that no
body
can tinge itself unless its spirit be extracted from the secret belly thereof,
when
it
" one
according to the second recension,
which does not flee from the fire."
" all
bodies," which seems a preferable
t Alternatively,
*
That
is,
reading.
\
The second
colours
once
it
all spirits,
has been
recension
says that
itself
tinged."
"
all
it
holds and
things
when
86
which
a spiritual
out the
spirit,*
tincture,
is
from
it
which
man
wise
tinge
know
coloured. t
it is
said, that
unless
first
it
spirit is
The
spirit is
On
Democritus to the
<&c.
Virtue
and
Interpretation,
Zosimus
effect that
How
then,
if this
combination be
wanting, and before the copper has been tinged, can one
succeed in tingeing objects made subject to the action of
"
fire ?
are directed
87
to
water
of
for
sulphur,
sulphurs
ZENON
saith:
answereth
Inform
us
according
your own
in
to
this
Zenon,
opinion,
Then
and
beware
of
matter,
envy
he : Know that the colours which shall
!
the
The second
humid
recension reads:
are these
two
tinctures, the
condensed being
88
sublimate
five
Next
times in a vessel.
the
first
black
day
on the
citrine,
ture.
Know
also that
wherein there
it is
called a
body
But when ye
is
gold.
are composing the Ixir, beware lest
you extract the same hastily, for it
imposed upon
*
The
preferable
coins
reading
its
:I
is
tincture,
" Crocus
like
unto
sericus."
t
you
The second
extract the
recension substitutes
spirit
in
haste,
lor
perchance
it
will
perish."
|
The second
recension reads:
"And
imposed upon
coins."
many
things,
and
which
moves evil,
from which
Accord-
extracted.
is
it
have
Masters
the
ingly,
life
is
is
it
89
said
that
would sustain the tediousness of cooking until he gained his purpose accord-
God.
GREGORIUS*
it
to
is
have
to
like
be
ruled
marble
The name
Antimony,
in
in the
Alchemists
is difficult
until
its
is
Chambar.
The most
second recension.
is
And
splendour. I
Efflucidinus
coruscates
it
second recension
the
in
stone
Efflucidinus,t
it
venerable
the
called
no
later author
gleaming marble
is
Western
found,
among
in
made
its
It
may
be
use of
it.
it
splendour to
go
they
to
Show,
Then
posterity.
must
you
is
know
remains
vinegar, and
water.
becomes
it
it
brilliancy like
ye see thus,
direct
becomes
to
you
is
it
turned
into
ye see
it
and
colour,
Then
gold.
thus,
until
it
it
and
disintegrated
is
rule
when
red, because
When
colour.
when
marble, which,
is cooked till it
becomes earth,
red
Willingly ;
the copper
be congealed, and it
a coruscating stone with a
let
Finally,
it
is
it
with
until
until
he
that
commingled
ruled
what
therefore,
it
it
re-
alchemists,
transport,
"
all
ye investigators of
Exposition of the
Democritus.
Mark
proceeds
on the subject of
And
"
Now,
substances, the
which
is like
his Detailed
is
quoting
white sulphur
mystery."
in
again,
having
cited
is
If
the
there a great
Stephanus,
he
same
is
unto marble."
91
this Art,
this
and turn
into
it
until
earth,
which
envioust
the
ac-
it
;
then
water
ordered you to
ye rule
it
Know
that
shall see
ignorantly, ye
knew a
person who commenced this
body
also
natures
the
of
so relinquished the
therefore,
Observe,
the conjunc-
work.||
how ye make
" a small
quantity."
t
opprobrious term is omitted by the second
recension, and the reference seems to be to the division of
*
Otherwise
The
The second
Otherwise
|l
with
A common
many
variations,
92
and
if
ye
effect
death will
it
it
when it is turned to
make the same intense,! and
liquefaction, but
earth
imbue
it
until
colours for us
God
GUSTOS
Turba
saith
at
am
all ye
surprised,
the very great force and
:
into earth,
The second
That
is,
to
93
our water,
it
will profit
you nothing.
TURBA
answer eth
vious* created no
obscurity when
us to take lead and
little
they commanded
white quicksilver, and to rule the same
with
a coin-like
stone.
till
Then
it
becomes
he:
They
in
*
is
The
distinction
little difficult
to follow, nor
is it
envious had less wisdom than the wise, or the wise less
all
94
them there
is
a mixed
affinity,
without
may become
one.
Saith the
TURBA:
until
it
DIAMEDES
saith
Thou
hast
spoken
in
an
Moses*,
already,
ungrudging
manner, as became thee ; I will also
:
most
being
from a
man
themselves
mals
*
is
unto
This reference
is like
is
flying creatures.
95
in
com-
Nature
is
truly not
improved
ye do not neglect the precepts concerning her, but make use of venerable
Nature, for out of her Art cometh, and
*
"
When
In fact, even as
employed
have previously
sows man, so also
said that
Isis to
Horns.
g6
Know
out of no other.
less
you
rule
it,
Nature and
obtain nothing.
will
ye
therefore, that
who
male,
Join,
son to
is
Art
is
neither
add no
things,
conception
is
exceeding
that
nearer
is
it is
How
the nature of
is
precious
still. t
later
permanent water
earth
burning
soft stone.
fire
it
is
and frozen
It
is
makes and
is
made,"
some
&c.
treatise
lexicons, the
the
ascribed to Hermes.
Red Servant
is
According to other
The second
begotten."
recension
reads
"
:
true
frag-
son
is
red
that
without
slave,
97
which
the
He
answereth
1 will
Woe
He may
Why,
you
deprive
are
therefore,
of
art
this
envious
you
us, therefore,
what
is
thy
will
And
he
do not
conjunction into the bath
kindle the bath excessively, lest they
be deprived of sense and motion ;
;
in the
bath until
shall
upon
restore unto
their
again suffer
it
and beware
burning them
it
to die
lest
then give
it
rest,
ye evaporate them by
in
too
strong a
fire.
many meanings.
This passage
is
is
98
is
produced.
Science,
since
seekers
happy are
ye,
if
after
ye
this
under-
stand, but
if
yourselves, for
if
God knew
that ye
possessed a faithful mind, most certainly he would reveal unto you the
truth.
error
BACSEN
well,
saith:
Thou
O Diomedes, but
hast
spoken
do not see that
Rosy
Cross,
illustrate
Latin Alchemy.
It
pictorial
emblems which
99
in
many
with
Tell
manner
all
of names.
me, therefore,
it
Then he :
Bacsen,
ac-
cording
and that
posite,
The
it
lexicographers
of
com-
must be roasted
alchemy who
followed
Rulandus
is
after
His dictionary,
obscure, and
it is
by M. Berthelot.
The
speaker also
is different,
namely, Nephitus.
ioo
The
TURBA
answereth
Thou
Bacsen
hast
PYTHAGORAS
saith
How
does
the
substance
And
they
by
Name
Pythagoras
artificial
its
And
therefore,
it,
he
names
oh
Corsufle being
its
name
of lead, until
that
colour
TURBA
be deprived of
The
and become Ixir.
answereth:
well,
have
also
among
the others
it
Thou
Pythagoras
spoken
hast spoken
And
well,
may
he
and
Ye
some
discourse con-
Pythagoras,
all
thee,
by the
101
dead
is
(again)
is left
left for
in his
powder.*
God
is
it
certain nights, as a
man
will restore
and the
unto something
then turned and
like
unto
it
spirit thereof,
become a
boldly until
fire
cinder,
have mixed
it
The
text
recension reads
shall
that ye
when know
it
spirit,
and is imbued
is
:
becomes dust
like
it
IO2
with the
fairer
humour
until
colour than
it
assumes a
it
they convert
similarly, the philosophers cannot combine medicines for the sick slaves until
they also turn them into powder, cooking some of them to a cinder, while
others they grind with their hands.
The case is the same with those who
many
much
ye rule it subtly
proceed from it, even
for
things will
it
if
men cometh
God is their
from the
air,
which
after
life,
and
augmented
the
Hence,
better
is
multiplied
other things.
when copper
is
several
iterated
like
103
than
it
times,
was.
becomes
The
Turba
it
Bonellus,
manwas
A nd
he
because
will
I
it
is
do so
willingly
it is
its
have termed
it,
but
it is
really
an egg
It is
tending to become a metal.
afterwards broken and imbued, when
104
in
combustion, when
placed on
is
it
coins
into
gold,
Do
cooked
in the liver
an intense red
it
till it
colour,
not produced
be diligently
is
has acquired
which no
after
it
shall
But
if
this regimen,
among
the
NICARUS saith:
this arcanum
*
The comparison
Now
ye have made
The TURBA.
public.
of the progress of the
ol the embryo,
development
above reference, and
adepts,
is
is,
which
in fact,
is
work
to the
suggested by the
common
to all
Latin
among
answereth
And
he:
But
they
105
He
And
he
counsel pos-
And
they
the water.
to burn
part.
said copper, dissolved in that
water, is called the ferment of Gold,* if
For the
these, in Comarius,
who
is
fire
nourishes
womb.
*
M. Berthelot traces the original notion of the fermentation of metals to the sophistication called diplosis.
"
Recipes
more profound
was
reaiiy
fermentation."
in
many
make
multiplied by an operation
The
places by
comparable to
is mentioned
fermentation of metals
the Greek writers: " It
manner of
is
necessary
by
106
like
as
water
;
finally, by cooking they are
the red
congealed, crumble, and
fire
then
for forty
colours appear.
The Thirty-Fourth Dictum.
BACSEN
saith
On
account
of thy
dicta
Take
body to be tinged. As a
same manner that the leaven of dough, used
matter."
literal
*
little
This notion
cension substitutes
" It
seems needful
to lay stress
re-
upon
of the Corsufle
107
The TUREA
Explain to posterity what the
of the Corsufle.
belly
saith
nature
which
And
And
is.
is
they
tingeing spirit
and
coinlike,
:
Shew,
And
extracted.
and water
times
he
it
which
is
is
is
until
coruscates.
therefore,
he
how
it
It is
pounded,
poured upon it seven
it
absorbs the whole
:
"
It
was
different in the
days of Zosimus,
who
tells
more worked
in their
The increase
of the
own
io8
the
TURBA
Bacsen.
saith
And
direct
them
to
Be
red.
careful
spoken, O Bacsen,
also has spoken well
have
spoken
well,
and Nictimerus
Then he: If I
do one of you
continue.
The Thirty-Fifth Dictum.
But ZIMON
saith
Hast thou
left
Bacsen are of
little
good
to those
who
and
for this
all
who were
acquainted with
the
them
name
is
publicly.
rendered
Zeunon.
t The second recension has an important variation
" The words of the
Egyptians have led us into error."
ye seek
is
price.*
109
men knew
If
and how
this,
names, wherefore, certain envious persons have said It is a stone and not a
:
stone, but
of
gum
Ascotia,
con-
may
tinge
therewith,
is
effect in the
end
is
human
body.t
many
Greek alchemists,
But ye
as, lor
God
The second
reads
recension
is
in part at least
and
abject thing."
I
which
Otherwise
" Therein
is
health and
life
to bodies."
no
tegrate
both
spirit,
saith
Tell,
bodies
And
he
and
turned
are
:
They
Ethelia
posterity how
into not-bodies.
therefore,
are
till
pounded with
they become
And know
powder.*
not take
fire
place
contrition,
a moderate
*
The second
pounded
until
except
it
fire,t
recension
performed
not with
reads
"
When
hands,!
Ethelia
is
it is
evidently corrupt.
similar : " The fire
lest
the vapour
" Know
:
is
with
fire.
'
in
The
a small price.
They further said that
the nature was more precious than all
natures, wherefore they deceived those
who had
the
At
truth,
the
believest
sayings
of
the
the
disposition
And
he
of
testify
the two
is
to
consequence.
The
natures.
common,
up among interpreters
partisans of the
first
in
have
is
there
is
superior to man's."
Olympiodorus:
manual action
is
On
H2
nor the
common
It
all
ye
his
disciples
save
you
work
sublimate
to
And
vapour.
Nothing
the
TURBA
else helps
water
:
and
The whole
in the
fore,
vapour contains
rightly,
its
own
decoctions,
other.
its
way,
is significant.
it.
that
no place to escape
finds
made permanent,
are
the other, so
has no opportunity to
it
for
113
fly,
and
hence
it
all
falls,
and
extracts
it
perties which
elect,
and
its
God
alienates
it
it,
lest
it flee.
But
putrefaction
has
rust
and
not
and dies by
it
although it is
desirous to escape servitude then when
it
flight,
it is
free
it
its
spouse
but when
a
and
favourable colour
its
it
may
is
not as
was,
with
it
coins,
placed
beauty
is
befall itself
it
it
the black
humid
and forasmuch as in
humidity and
dryness, thus our work, which the
envious have concealed, is nothing else
wanting perlution
man
there
are
both
114
water
is
And
out
he
two
of
TURBA
The
and
I say that the work
the envious have
vapour
it
AFFLONTUS,*
the
Philosopher, saith:
substances at the
commencement by
the
regimen.
nature and
names
Know
in
vary
further,
every
that the
The name
in the
second recension
is
Assotes.
115
well
the
of
which
is
that which
but
powder
and this
becomes a
spiritual
not of hands.
Cook
until
them,
they
therefore,
become
converted,
Wherefore
powder.
Agathodaimon
is
successively
included
and
Agadaimon*
among
the makers of
It is stated
that he
is
Egyptian divinity
who
bore a
name
equivalent to this.
when his soul
in a vision
An
n6
saith
come a
gentle
and impose
until
be-
it
in its
own
vessel
then
know
that
then
powder
diligently.
But
if
been
it
ground
ye ask, how
made a powder
water
And
is
the
water
is
not water
to
is
be
is
therefore,
stated,
that
unless
into
the work.
for the
It
body
is,
to
therefore,
necessary
be so possessed by
that
fire
it
is
dis-
is
The second
into water."
recension reads
" unless
ye turn both
until the
117
whole be-
hearing of
water of the
fools,
is
out
companion, wherewith it is
made one. But this is the water which
its
so
the
he introduced
And know,
body.
this
Art,
spirit,
what ye
thing
ye
is,
will
desire,
enters
all
ye seekers after
ye take this
unless
that
in
by no means ses
because no foreign
nor does anybe pure. There-
therein,
dismiss
names,
if
the
multitude
for the
anyone
err,
nature
is
of
this
Art,
obscure
one water
118
and
struction,
keep
is
loses his
life.
Therefore,
this
foreign.
BONELLUS
saith
speak a little
The TURBA
will
Magnesia.
concerning
answereth
Speak.
Sons of the
And
Doctrine,
he
all
ye
when mixing
and
all
become water
therein
For
When
its
vessel,
and cook
for forty
up the moisture
There
is
But certain
The
is
obtained
persons uncover
119
it,
for
forty
then
humour
it
completely
of the decoction.
Wash
water,
become
the
Magnesia with
soft
is
fore they
yellow."
have said
M. Berthelot
explains
that
honey
signifies
As
philosophical dissolvent.
*
The
The Greek
is given by M. Berthelot.
and Virus, the Latin equivalent, are words
following explanation
los,
I2O
with
one
this
Science, that
the
is
it
work
Bonellus
If it please
art saying
time.
all
ye
in-
The
or
or
if
healing or hurting.
oxyde of metals.
all
its
phases, whether of
way
the
of
this
Art,
121
our
take
its
vessel, so long as
may seem
desirable
your purpose.
into
blackness
that
which
is
sufficiently
Again,
when
Zosimus,
is
So Olympiodorus
is
"In
called
122
The
red.
fire
TURBA
until
became
it
answereth
Show
by these things.
Ixir satis, by reason of the variation
it
of
its
there
colours.
is
nor opposition of
substances
make
to
necessary only
copper white and then red.
the
it
is
black
However,
the truth-speaking Philosophers had no
in
coruscating by reason of
its brilliancy.
finally,
own
123
humour
in
sulphur
mixed
comes
like
sulphur,
of
there
a great work.
But I
ordain that you rule the same with
dew
forth
appear to
you that
you.
there
until
your purpose
signify unto
For
are
two
kinds
of
and decoction.
But ye do
in
dew,
it
water of heaven
sun," &c.
solar rays.
dew
and
it
Mosheim and
t
red."
and
activity of the
symbolism
o* the adepts
" in
Or, according to the second recension,
making
124
Consider,
of this Art,
all
ye investigators
chief of the
how Hermes,
when he wished
manent
in
set
water,
over a gentle fire until
t Otherwise,
its
vessel,
liquefaction
" the
body and soul which are in the
takes
Then
place.
leave
125
until
it
and
made
it
When
earth.
this is done,
arcanum
is the
beginning
but do this many
of the water
two-thirds
times,
until
perish,
TURBA
The
answereth
spoken excellently,
Thou
Effistus
And
to
testify
dealbation doth
posterity
hast
that
Yet,
he :
the
by decoction.*
The Greek
first
second, white
and
becomes black
The
in
the
description
is
126
lest
it
in gradually,
do this
be exhausted. Now concerning this
the envious have said
Leave the
water when it has all been poured in
:
and
it
will
But
humour
is
glass vessel
for
forty
days,
has
it
it
in its
until
it
this
Thou
swereth
The second
spirits,
and the
recension
spirits are
made
reads
hot,
" bodies
become
127
BACSEN
ye seekers after
this Art, ye can reach no useful result
without a patient, laborious,! and
solicitous
saith :*
soul,
all
persevering
who
fore,
is
willing to
courage,
He, therepersevere in
this
who
must
to
back
his
over
the
his
books, devoting
*
The
speaker
in
leisure
second
the
of
study
our
thereto,
recension
is
called
Admion.
t
The
like exhortation is
Haste, indeed,
is
of the devil's
master.
Know
way
is
very long
therefore
128
Kingdom without
fail
he
until
die.*
Woe
Know
than
is
the regimen
Now,
is
inspiration.
through
met with a person who was
*
The
fear of
is
once
as
well
regarded as
planation
greater
The
ex-
to early experi-
The Greek
ment.
When
thou shalt
the only
God
attain truth
know
thyself, then
existing in thee
shalt thou
know
also
shalt
129
as
acquainted with the elements
I myself, but when he proceeded to
rule this disposition, he attained not to
of the Doctrine
Woe
due season
when ye
except
after
and
error,
world,
said
pound, cook,
reiterate,
and be
K
130
thou not weary. But when thus he divided the work, he signified commingling,
cooking,
assimilating,
roasting,
tingeing.
many
suffice
be
thereof.
to
you with
their words,
to speak in this
manner.
suffices
It is
venom
to complexionate
the
then cook
times,
many
it
me
needful
rightly,
and do not
it
should be ruled
131
is
yet
life
who
for reading is
which
is
is
living
same
Hence we have
speech.
we have
things which
narrated.
JARGUS
saith
Thou
hast
left
And
he:
in thy
Do
thou,
obscure
Bacsen
therefore, Jargus,
forth the same
clemency shew
The
shall
ye com-
132
And
he answereth
The copper
of which
be pounded
in its vessel
destroyed. But,
of
this art, it is
ye investigators
necessary to have a water by which
it is
all
the
you
sprinkle,* until
ZiMONt
uttered,
saith
*
The second recension reads " It is necessary to use
a water which becomes inspissated in proportion as it is
cooked."
:
t In the
name
is
Cadmon.
133
Turba hath
the
rotundum.*
spoken concerning
Then he
Speak,
opinion
ZIMON
concerning
saith
thine
therefore,
-.
O Zimon
it,
to
notify
posterity
the
one thing.t
The TURBA answereth
Inasmuch as
And
he
Willingly : it is necessary
to take one part of our copper, but of
:
have said
body,
Magnesia
*
but
;
parts
then
cooked until
become one
the envious
Take one
then
commingle
in this curious
with
manner
is to
temperate stone.
t
There
is
"
:
one thing."
134
rectified
of
earth
what
is
until
it
in
it,
But when
subject further into error
ye read in the books of the Philosophers
!
that Nature
is
man
The TURBA
thou wast treating
of
the
turn
When
first
unto
biguous
and
work,
the
hast
each
from
lo
second
thou
how obscure
thou
didst
How am-
thy
words
Then
he
of
position
TURBA
the
answer eth
up war
Stir
perform the
first
work.
will
Do
between
quicksilver, until
135
dis-
The
And
this.
copper
he
and
they go to destruction
copper
the
quicksilver
it
female,
them
changes
*
The
matter of
Matter
into
by means
all
of the Philosophers.
phers observes
mercury
spirit
of
"
The
first
is
mercury
But
of the philosophers
this
136
which tinges
The
TURBA answer eth :
every body.
Inform, therefore, posterity what is
lime
soul
therefrom,
And
that body.
sulphureous
by the
names
he
a natural
It is
which
thing*
called
is
of all bodies.
DARDARIS
saith
Ye have
frequently
treated of the regimen, and have introduced the conjunction, t yet I proclaim
:
Know
limation of Ethelia.
quicksilver
is fiery,
The second
is
that
fire,
recension reads
also
also mortifying
"
:
found
sulphur of nature,'
in
later
alchemical
writers.
t
137
bodies,
over to be destroyed.
When,
there-
produced that
Ethel nature, and a colour which is
tingeing* and not volatile, and it tinges
required, therefrom
is
which
is
Dardaris,
what sulphurs are
!
are
souls
which
inform
And
are
he
posterity
Sulphurs
hidden in four
:
" not
fleeing from the fire."
138
is
Know
TURBA
Why
I state
tinged, they tinge ? And he
that the four coins of the vulgar populace are not tinged, but they tinge
:
copper,
tinged,
when
and
it
populace,
tinges
that
the
copper
coins
of
is
the
MOYSES
saith
by three names
Name
it,
DARDARIS answereth
therefore,
for
posterity,
fifth."
vulgar."
body composed
it,
139
the three
is
the
Do
Cambar ?
quicksilver out of
DARDARIS answereth : What
dost thou
mean by
gold
tinges
Philosopher
is
says
sometimes
ment.
is
is
For the
this ?
from
from
he: Quicksilver of
Orpi-
orpiment
Cambar
Ye must,
composite.
that
putrefy, and
spirit
therefore,
with
thick thing
diligently
fiery
pound
be produced, which
is
mix
venom,
until
hidden in
But PLATO
saith
Masters,
*
Some
the passage.
times
it is
It
when
it is
" Some-
140
be tinged, for the spirit being separated from the body and hidden in the
other spirit, both become volatile.
Therefore the Wise have said that
the gate of flight must not be opened for that which would flee, (or that
spirit like
itself,
either
becomes
they are
made
aeriform
unto
volatile, since
But
the Philosophers seeing that which was
spirits prone to ascend in the air.
it
is
Quicksilver
Cambar
is
Magnesia," &c.
*
The reading
namely,
flight."
is
lest
clearer,
it
take
not
made
volatile
volatile
the
non-volatiles,
escape.*
like
body
iterated
They
them
and
extracted,
for
sopher
digested.
statement of the
the
that
made
one
is
concealed
spirit.
Know
humid
spirits is
is
as
Philo-
agent
be tinged are
it
to
refers
one of the
that
cold,
humid
another
in
also
the
But
tingeing
to
tincture,
spirit
is
to
were
they
with the
a body like
to
141
nevertheless
Therefore,
we
they
are
made
prefer these
one.
two bodies,
become bodies,
incorporeals
steadfast in the fire, because they are
until
"
142
For
but
spirits in
corporeals.
Incorporeals,
similarly flee
from bodies
therefore,
those, con-
into air,
fire,
fire in the
comes
Know,
also,
Nature,
that
Nature
Nature overrejoices
in
ATTAMUS
saith
It is to
be noted that
Rubigo, however,
Rubigo.*
is
ficti-
tious
answereth:
its
143
true
Name,
name,
calumniated.
therefore,
And he
Rubigo by
it is not
by
Rubigo is accord-
this
for
water
is
hidden
the leech
is
sulphureous gold as
in water ; rubigo, therein
former
gold equally.
The Forty-Seventh Dictum.
MUNDUS
treated
*
Thou
of
sufficiently
While
of metals,
saith:
it
this
term properly
was used
in
hast already
Rubigo,
many
O
oxide
in their idea
with other
because subtle
have made
spirits
it
it
asserts
will
the Ancient
who can do
not
Now I say
nothing.
ye Sons of the Doctrine,
profiteth
unto you,
all
ye
effect
spirit
names
*
all
more or
it
less
enters the
body
is
fire
we have
citrine
also white
smoke, identical
145
it
entirely,
The
spirit
and
them
torture
till
they be altered.
PYTHAGORAS
unto
all
saith
you seekers
We
must
affirm
But
enjoin
and
lastly the
show
that
Otherwise
my Lady
:
to the alchemists as to
Nicotine."
146
which
all
and alum
is
Know
it
is
an exceeding
strong composition, which is one of the
composed
is
it
called
and
lead.
is
com-
calcine
themselves, and
(substances)
generate themselves.
sometimes
whether
we
are intelligent."
and see
147
nothing else
and the sublimation of
is
than vapour
water, with the conjunction, also, of
body of Magnesia f
quicksilver in the
demonstrated
in
water
impure
their
of
have
sulphur
is
from
sulphur only, and no sulphur is produced without the water of its calx,
and of
quicksilver,
and of sulphur.
BELUS
saith
sition,
contact,
all
ye Philosophers,
not
have
dealt
sparingly concerning
ye
composition and contact, but compo-
one thing
*
nothing but
vapour and water, while the regimen is nothing but the sublimation of quicksilver and its union with the body of
t
magnesia."
148
This,
PYTHAGORAS
why
Belus,
hast thou
it
books,
have
And PYTHAGORAS
assembled
you
And
to
is
he
Willingly,
Master
It
is
sulphur alone,
but
is
composed
of
The
ment
is
reproduced
literally
by the Rosary of
the Philo-
sophers.
t According to the second recension: "the clean
water which is from sulphur is not derived from sulphur
Master, shall
which
strives with
the
fire
compose
these
one
149
the
for
fire
things
suitable
warm venoms
cooked
with that
of
the
physician
the
are
and other
Therefore our
like things.
Philosophers
are
made
like
to
the
" and
friendship
is
made
constant."
150
And
he
two
that
compositions,
to
is
say,
But after it
sulphur and magnesia.
is
reduced and conjoined into one,
the Philosophers have called it water,
spume of Boletus (i.e., a species of
and
fungus),
the thickness of
When, however,
into
it
gold.
it
when
sulphur
it con-
venom,
quicksilver,
of water;
because
which
they
sulphur
also,
ye know.
The Fiftieth Dictum.
PANDOLPHUS
saith
describe
the
dost
*
If,
Belus, thou
sublimation*
the
alchemists
of
of the
Byzantine collection made use of as the equivalent of sublimation, signified originally filings, as M. Berthelot informs
us, thus expressing the idea of the extreme attenuation of
matter.
The same
idea
was attached
later
on by the Latin
adepts to their term alcoolisation, "which signifies reduction to the condition of an impalpable powder.
(Collection
des Anciens Alchimistes Grecs, Int., 210).
of sublimation
tion
was
called stalagma,
by vapourisation or
filtration.
Another species
which meant
(16., 211.)
distilla-
And
future
for
sulphur
wilt
accomplish an
the
generations, thou
excellent thing
!
TURBA
therefore,
151
and
albeit
demonstrated
Orpiment,
*
According
Zendrio,
to
the
second
or
Sanderich,t
recension
" there
is
another sulphur."
t
The reading
Sandarac
is
realgar
in the
;
second recension
in the
Greek MSS.
is
it
unintelligible.
is
confounded
is
is
The
applied at the
152
or
Kuhul,
Ebsemich,
Magnesia,
Chuhul, and many other names.
Concerning this, philosophers have
ruled
said that,
being
men
(for ten
things), its
there
is
its
by
regi-
is
any shadow
therein.
it
Then
lead from
White
it is
has
ascended,
which
spirit
is
tincture.
and
body is thick.
Therefore, it behoves you to destroy
the thick body until ye extract a
its
is spirit,
its
Mix,
tingeing spirit from the same.
also, the spirit extracted therefrom
with light sulphur until you, investigators, find your design accomplished.
from colophon, and not known to the ancients under this
designation.
"
*
"
Throughout the second recension, Philosophers
"
or
the Wise," are substituted for this term.
153
HORFOLCOS*
nothing,
saith
Thou
hast narrated
last
Thou hast,
body
an
therefore, composed
ambiguous description for readers. But if its regimen
regimen of
this
TURBA
the
this
cerning
it
may
Speak,
to
so far as
posterity,
please you.
con-
therefore,
And
he
be-
It
like
For
it
colour
[?
heat]
may
extracted,!
which
the
t Otherwise,
I
is
of the copper
and
its
fire
body
154
envious have
said
Take
quicksilver
have
that
said
when
all
one,
bodies,
bodies
are
things
not-
made
become
And
know,
ye investigators of this Art,
that every body is dissolved with the
all
spirit
with which
without doubt
spiritual thing,
it is
it
fire, is
spirit
spirits,
altered
Blessed then
Him who
hath inspired
the Wise with the idea of turning a
body
colour,
and
phur
*
is
Otherwise
not-volatile,
venom
and incombustible
sons of learning,
make your
155
red by the
and then from that
fugitive spirit
most
thereof, by a
the
in
belly
subtle
regimen,
is
he
tinges every body,
patient
only
in spite of the tedium of extracting.
if
Wherefore
Know
the
that
out
humectated
is
is
thereof,
envious
have
said
of
copper, after it
the
moisture
by
pounded
in
its
water,
thing.
said :
are
Things that
diligently
in
the
sublimation
with
fire,
pounded
we
call
*
Water
of sulphur occurs
and
Mary
in the Detailed
in
among
one of the
the ingredients of a
treatises of
Zosimus,
156
we sometimes say
and copulated
is
coin.
doth
whitened
because
it
process occurs
calx
is
is
"
:
manfactured
compound
"pure" water
oi sulphur
which
is
obtained somewhat
differently.
*
The second
recension reads
Do you
remember
not
157
what
the
But when
not tinge ?*
is
it
tinged
it
tinges,
it is
when
which
the
they called
all
tion.
That
is
Democritus
is
" Before
it
following
is
" Minera of
Silver,
Chios, or Ochre, 2
called copper."
say, the
to
The
alchemists.
it
parts
Minium
of
Pontus,
part
You
cook over a
fire
a potent substance,
having the colour of cinnabar, coral, or minium. This
carefully
regulated.
will
find
(Coral
Democritus, says
The body
coral."
of
:
Gold)."
" Here is
And
how he
is
called Chryso-
Synesius,
quoting
expresses himself:
158
sophers,
because
one
are
they
thing,
one
opinion,
from
all
And know
copper.
silver,
when
it
is
marble
fire,
wholly quicksilver.
It is,
therefore, a
most great arcanum which the Philosophers have thus described, because
sulphur alone whitens copper.
Ye,
for
ab omnibus
is
substi-
it is
a printer's error.
copper until
it is
And know ye
of
this
it
also that
to
flees
it
bodies, and
then
sulphur
therefore,
159
it
the habit
is
When,
own thick
escape.
from
its
sublimated as a vapour,
behoves you to retain it otheris
Know,
and
own
Do
kind.
that because
not,
therefore,
think
it
escapes, it is
what the Philosophers are seeking is
the coin of the Philosophers, which,
unless
which
it
its
is
therefore, to
own
kind,
direct you,
together they
The second
recension substitutes
'
fixes
bodies,"
160
of two.
This
is,
its
own gum
flowers in a gentle
it
made
is
mutal
it
fire
is
is
cooked with
and
salt,
vinegar,
of which
nitre,*
and with
is
our coin.
ExuMENUst
laid
saith:
The
envious have
Art
with
the
make
coin-like
M.
t For
this
Obsemeganus.
name
till
the second
recension
substitutes
161
have named
it
washing,
in
whitening
the
turning
rubigo,
of Ethel, the art of
the
coagulating,
confection
the
frequently
fire,
and
into
names
Ethelias,
pounding
vapour
cooking
sublimating,
salting,
and
By
water
all
of
these
has
pounded
And
know
and
ye,
whitened copper.
that
quicksilver
is
white
to
and
red,
hence
the
Philosopher
Do you
converted.
Philosophers
have
is
swiftly
spoken
without
ye
may
extract
in the vessel,
which the
But the
M
162
water placed with those things prevents the fire from burning, and it
those
befalls
things
that
the more
in
fire
but
the
water receives
them
its
belly
Unless
ye
make
not-bodies
bodies
But concerning
ye achieve nothing.
the sublimation of water the Philohave
sophers
And know
the
pound
treated
not
little.
Ethelia
that
When, however,
nothing.
it
ascends
it
is
fore,
Arras saith
Unless ye pound
fire,
Ethelia
163
shall
now
Know ye
explain to the reasoners.
that a very great wind of the south,
when it is stirred up, sublimates clouds
and elevates the vapours of the
TURBA
The
answereth
And
dealt obscurely.
plain the testa,*
is
Thou
he
hast
will ex-
sea.
you
of
that
many things,
made three, and
two
four one,
may
be
and two
one.
The Fifty-Fourth Dictum.
ANAXAGORAS
saith:
Take
the volatile
Two
of Rulandut.
clay.
Paracelsus uses
own
Adamic
same
earth or clay
idea.
it
it
in
man's body.
is
164
imbibe.
to
The
TURBA
answereth
Explain,
obscurity
And
lie :
cook
until the
the arcanum
to
ye seek.
cook
tired of
becomes Rubigo,
it
to
turn
for
all
the
He who
is
into
golden
the de-
sired
is
Rubigo
vain.
*
perfection
tabula."
of
sulphur
consists
in
the
"
The whole
decoction
of
165
ZENON* saith
its
have you
left
it
to putrefy
And
he
Thou
and
the
humid.
But
the
humid
vulgar
the
Thus
dry.
of the
is
Notwithstanding, the
envious have divided this work into
work.
immovable.
*
The name
in the
second recension
is
Pitheon.
1 66
They answer
fire.
And know ye
dessicated.*
that the
has
fore,
*
the water,
a tenuous
been dessicated. t
is
the
process
of
spirit
" The
spirit is
The second
air,
167
are
things
a body
a kind
then composed
is
because
extracted,
which
is
and destroyed
for
you
They have
called
it
(or
humid with
have likened
all
the
it
to)
the
dry with
and
all
But do ye
who would
and
his book.
quicksilver from
The
Cambar, and
in coins
1 68
quicksilvers
are
also
one.
The Fifty-Seventh Dictum.
ACRATUS* saith : I signify to posterity
I make
philosophy near to the
Sun and Moon. He, therefore, that
will attain to the truth let him take
the moisture of the Sun and the
that
TURBA
an
made
you
the
Moon.!
Why
are
of
Spumet
answereth
The
taken.
And
he
yet, if
you are
terity
to
was so intending,
willing,
take a
part
Otherwise the
spirit
it is
name
is
Astratus.
probably a misreading.
in
The
distinction
between
169
the
all
Cooking
must proceed
for
Then
fear nothing.
let
the vessel be
the
until
Kuhul, which
is
blackness
of
of coins, be consumed.
For when
that is consumed a precious whiteness
will
appear on them
returned
cooked
to
until
their
finally,
place,
the whole
being
they
are
dried and
is
Also repeatedly
and continuously cook that stone born
of copper and
coins with a fire
is
" take a
part of
Hermes."
170
how
Doctrine,
is
Alas,
precious
produced from
of
the
that which
is
Mixing, there-
with
cinder
the
fore,
it
sons
ye
water,
cook
with,
mouth
close the
this
not-fugitive,
spirits
are connected
spirits
made
spirits,
together.
soul.
Now
hast
and both
Then
are
and germinating
answereth
turned into
are
The TURBA
thou notified
Then it
permanent water.
is congealed and becomes a body of
magnesia. Finally, it is cooked until
off with
171
the whole body is broken up. Afterwards the volatile is turned into a
cinder
shadow.
its
Concerning,
place.
therefore,
the
delivered
to
posterity,
seeing
means called
things by their proper names ? And
he
Following your own footsteps, I
hast by no
that thou
have discoursed
BONELLUS
for if
even
answereth
you did
have you.
as
written in
BALGUS*
saith
good.
is
to
do
speakest truly.
mouth of Anastratus.
is
172
and astronomy,
and the art of images they have also
likened it to trees
they have amin physical reasoning
biguously concealed
by the names of
it
reptiles
as
is
into plates
finally,
mix
(or sprinkle)
with
ye too
much
stir
cause,
not
if
be too dry,
it
vigorously as a mass, bethe water be in excess, it will
be
contained
lest it
in
the
chimney,
be too dry, it will neither be
conjoined nor cooked in the chimney
hence I direct you to confect it dili-
while,
if it
and,
and
externally
with
clay,
it,
some days ye
shall
open
173
and
it,
ascends, because
must
also
know
that by
and
coloured
nature
is
the
by
multiplied*
it is
congealed
and
fire,
By
changed.
its
similar
The Work
oj the
is
one
this contains
There
is
The number
three
is
is,
indicated by
recension.
J
The second
it it
disjoined.
174
wind
in
spirit.*
Cambar
And know ye
the
of the
that nothing is
excellent than
red
the
the
of
light
Luna
of
Sputum
of
second
the
sea,
for
the
is
Luna
Sun's rays.t
is
dew
is
joined,!
who cooks
with the
congealed,
causes it to
"
Sun
its spirit
is
himself
thereof,"
is
" the
spume of the Moon, which
the Sun, and is congealed."
J
Omitted
For
substitutes
Sun
is
in the
"That which
congealed."
is
second recension.
this nonsensical
:
is
is
Then
BONITES
saith
Do you
not know,
that the Spume of Luna
Balgus,
our
except
nothing
tinges
175
copper
truly
?
^
thou
person,*
who has
me
notified to
what manner he
same tree, and approafter
discovered this
operating, did
and eat of it.
priately
fruit
extract
the
when
But
Then
tion.
But
thereof.
how
is
it
fructifies,
build
its
he said
Take
a house about
it,
it
which
shall
as Tulleas.
is
referred to
176
reach them.
Then
in the
time of 180
say that
man
of the fruit of that tree to the perfection of the number [of the days] until
man
the old
shall
become young.
and the
man
father is
Blessed be thou,
THEOPHILUS
propose to speak
further concerning those things which
And the
hath narrated.
Bonites
TURBA:
brother
And
he
Bonites
ings.
It
saith
will
Philosophers, while they have concealed this disposition, yet spoke the
in
their
whatsoever*
water
first
is
when
treatises
then
the
said
and be-
lives
And know,
comes young.
they
mixed with
dies,
177
all
ye
does not become
it
till
is
In these days
silence
is
it
liquefies
it is
becomes
and
congealed.
rusty, but
are
they
*
man
The
adorned, t
until
are
they
is
to the old
178
fleeing
whom
with
children,
she
her
who
beauty,
furiously loves
her,
when he
consumed
is
by
fire
who
finished
he turns to her.
make known
to
also
The
it
its style,
is
that of
to
described.
something which
has
not
been
previously
woman
179
of
For
cut up into parts.
limbs
the
him
mixed
with
perceiving
of a woman he becomes secure from
death, and the whole is turned into
blood.
But the Philosophers, beholdhim
turned into blood, leave him
ing
woman,
in the
is
sun
is
hidden.
The Sixtieth Dictum.
BONELLUS*
ciples,
saith
Know,
that out of
nothing becomes
*
all
the elect
useful
ye disthings
without con-
name
is
Bodillus.
180
the
the
woman,
humour
moistening
when
forty
the
elapsed
sperm is
But if the humidity of the
nights
formed.
for the
the foetus
it is
fire,
is
dust,
more,
the
it
is
led
at
which
it
behoves
it
*
it
burns the
Otherwise:
independent. t
is
you
"Know
also
that
act
to
nothing
Thus
is
in
generated
without complexion."
t This absurd confusion is not found in the second
" So
recension, which reads
long as it is little, it is
nourished with milk, and in proportion as the vital heat
:
is
Know
this Art.
181
means of intense
frigid, it
but
heat.
puts to
If,
flight
indeed,
and
it
be
disperses,
the
fore
has
is
been
ye disciples
and
in
become
smooth and
Behold it
augmented.
demonstrated to you, all
veins
the flesh
Understand, therefore,
things which ye attempt
all
to rule, fear
God.
MOSES
saith: It
is
to be observed that
named
lead of copper
This passage
translatable.
is
have
in
making
number
lead,
many ways
of instruments," etc.
"The
envious
that
there are a
182
concave
stone* and
marble, to the
whole work whereof there is no more
instruments
produced
of
formation.
The concave
We
is
hear
much concerning
not to be understood as
later philosophers.
form
formal
is
because
it
is
gleaming,
i.e.,
Candidas.
severe
name
183
that the
if
it
The moon,
profound judgment.
being at the
fore,
full,
there-
same
cess,
in ruling,
therefore,
Cook,
the
same
in
a gentle
see
that
it
is
fire
dissolved.
until
ye
Then
shall
find
it
of three
holds there
is
In
but one
elixir,
Fundamentally,
having various
and three
activities
184
the
first
ounces
place, therefore,
of vinegar twice
the vessel
impose nine
while
first
made
is
and
hot,
being
second when it is heated.
MUNDUS
saith :
It behoves you,
seekers
all ye
after this Art, to know
that whatsoever
the
Philosophers
Do
!*
about
of
for
things,
tincture of the
plurality
one Tyrian
which
Philosophers to
there
is
names
given
abolished
the
have called
it
at
will,
proper
penetration,
and
have
they
and
having
name,
black, because
trouble
therefore,
not,
it
And
our sea.
fixation,
just
as
they
has
body
at the
second
is
metals
is at
the
the
in exaltation,
Elixir of
to be the medicine of
men.
" Certain
According to the second recension
Gold
have
named
Chelidony, Karnech,
Philosophers
*
Geldum,
etc."
know
not
that
ancient
the
condescend
to
185
did
priests
wear
artificial
them anything
but our
Tyrian
placed
which they
and treasuries,
colour,
in their altars
and
fragrant
than
has been
sea,
which
is
sweet and
an example of which,
for those
For
after
grinding
it
passed through
the
is
it
sieve,
called
by
has been
and
the
various substances have been separated one from another, each of these
has
its
mentally there
is
186
wit,
corn,
many names
Thus we call the
from which
are distinguished.
PHILOSOPHUS*
terity
notify to pos-
male and
wherefore the envious have
that
female,
called
saith
nature
the
it
because
the
body
therein
arcanum
is
is
of
the
Magnesia,
most
great
all
Accordingly,
ye
seekers after this Art, place Magnesia
in
its
and
vessel,
Then, opening
find
shall
the
Cook
it
cook
after
whole
diligently
some days, ye
changed
into
be coagulated,
But, when
ye hear of the sea in the books of the
water.
further until
and contain
envious,
know
it
itself.
the
it
germinates
mouth of Rarson.
is
put into
and
say
flowers.*
Wash
187
of the
But Agadimon
demonstrated when he
has
clearly
be noted,
all
It is to
ye demonstrators of
being
first
find
shall
That
This,
Wise,
become
is
therefore,
is
the
lead
which
concerning
black.
of
they
the
have
black coins.
The Sixty-Fourth DictumA
PYTHAGORAS
saith
How
marvellous
asserted,
gether
*
and
[or
According
buds and flowers
t
their
agreement]
coming
in
This dictum
recension.
in
to-
respect
" That which
one nevertheless."
is
1 88
of this small
is
thing,
concealed
the vulgar knew, O all ye investigators of this art, the same small
And
and
lie
if
vile
thing, they
would deem
it
if
Yet,
HORFOLCUS
saith :t
ye
the regimen
of this
small
thing,
in
this
Literally
t In
the
Art,
may become
bolder, +
second
recension
the
speaker
called
is
Orfulus.
\
On
thing has
well."
On
become
"
Be not dissuaded by
and when you perceive that every-
thine inexperience,
ash,
the Diversity of
Burnt Copper.
all
goes
may more
it
although
dear,
is
common
the
189
with
that
which
is
Know
common.
ye that
the
in
crude,
cooked
sincere,
governed,
over
and
not
gentle
of intensifying the fire
elements are conjoined,
Beware
fire.
the
until
for
or
gentle,
be embraced
and
in
another,
a complexion,
until
fire.
first
combus-
it
is
its
colour will
be
I go
exalted.
diligently
being
rejoice,
liquefied,
which
is
the
fire.
Whence
the Philoso-
These
things
by the
being
disposition,
let
accomplished
the
operator
leave
it
made
subtle,
be
a tingeing spirit.
the death and
Know
life
of
the
elements
proceed from
liquid
until
accomplished.
Nature,
191
wonder-working
and
Nature,
heavenly
separating
the
elements by
converting
regi-
men
more
Nothing,
than
precious
therefore,
is
Natures
these
in
that
scarlet.
EXEMIGANUS
saith
Thou
hast already
treated,
hast
commanded
posterity to prove
experiment] and to read the
to
[or
disesteem
remains
effects
it
when it
arcanum and
it
is
t
a great
many good
This dictum
is
things.
1 92
LUCAS saith
and what I
to
testify
forth
set
is
posterity,
more
lucid
than are your words, that the Philosopher saith :* Burn the copper, burn
HERMIGANUS
replies: Behold something more dark
The TURBA answereth
than ever
the silver, burn the gold.
which is
Illumine, therefore,
As to that which he
dark. And he
that
said
is
how
it
with jealousy
that I should
!
And
they
thing.
Do
And
they:
Woe
hast
thou
shortly
And
more
he
clearly
signify
to burn, but to make
that to whiten
is
red
is
life.t
The
should be read, for they have not in vain advised that the
sucking child should be heeded, for therein is an arcanum,
out of which the Wise have operated good things."
" To make red
t According to the second recension:
is
to vivify."
193
the
a man,
like
Therefore,
behoves you, O all ye Sons of the
Doctrine, to destroy the body and
Whereextract the soul therefrom
it
the
fore
body
which
is
tinges
it
nature,
which
is this
explain,
words.
envious
there
therefore,
there
is
answereth:
the
subtle
nature,
and
is
soul.
Despite
you
have
is
The
body
TURBA
desire
your
put
In
to
dark
forth
splendour
of
Saturn
does
not
Mercury
is
vivifies
of the
the body
194
by
its fiery
strength,
is
ATTAMUS
saith:
Know,
all
in-
ye
Then
If
extinguish in white vinegar.
24 ounces thereof have been boiled,
let the heat be extinguished with a
third part
ounces
is,
from the
formed
month
*
in the
of
This
is
tenth
September
day
of
to the tenth
the
day
of a planetary attribution
may
195
Do not impose
[or grade] of Libra.
the vinegar a second time in this work,
but leave the same to be cooked until
up and it
becomes a fixed earth, like Egyptian
earth.
And the fact that one work is
congealed more quickly and another
more slowly, arises from the diversity
of cooking.
But if the place where it
is cooked be humid and dewy it is congealed more quickly, while it it be dry
it is
congealed more slowly.
all
vinegar be
its
dried
FLORUS
saith
am
thinking of per-
fecting
thou
of
position
Proceed,
FLORUS
the cooking
A nd
And
Philosopher!
he
Sons of the
teach you,
the sign of the goodthat
Doctrine,
ness of the first decoction is the
:
extraction of
its
Describe
what
FLORUS
When
ter
is
entirely
redness!
is
And
redness.
he:
And
know
that
196
been
has
whiteness
hidden
in
the
But
in the
second decoction
let
that
its
gently
white.
until
it
But when,
let
it
be cooked
become completely
all
ye seekers
However,
it
does
not
is
from
that
blackness,
you
The second
to extract
it.
it
does behove
two
the
answereth
he
into
one.
Because the
when
it
changes
indelible
is
it
TURBA
The
197
this
A nd
cruciated
matter
nature.
therefore, to
know
It
behoves
this sulphur
you,
which
ye
be
cruciate with
inconvenient,
thereby
tracted
*
it
" It converts
According to the second recension
Both
is non-fugitive into a fugitive nature."
:
that which
The second
recension
somewhat
reverses
this,
ig8
indelible.
of
prepared
for
the rest
it
for
but that
which
work.
The Seventieth Dictum.
MUNDUS*
saith
Know,
all
ye
investi-
Do
which the
merated in
nature of truth
*
have enu-
philosophers
their books.
is
For the
and
the followers
one,
name
is
Mandinus.
199
of
is
known except by
He, therefore, who knows
the Wise.
how
forth therefrom
Do you
Hence has he
Sulphureous
Nature.
and
finished
one
called
those
unities
Water,
conquering
all
BRACUS*
*
saith
Archelaus.
is
ascribed to
20O
And know
body
which
is
The
PHILOSOPHUS*
saith
first
compo-
made out
is
is
It is
The second
201
one
When
become
is
one,
and are
called the
good
Sericon
is
Sandyx and
Sinopis.
fectly
The
when
it
Gold
inscrutable,
but
is
of Coral as the
is,
of course, per-
to
the
2O2
names when
raw, which
also we should distinguish from the
names when it has been cooked. Let
vealed
it
its
therefore
behoves
be
is
over.
pondered
me now
quantity of the
it
It
you the
and the numbers of
to exhibit to
fire,
diversity of intensity
thereof in every grade, so that he who
shall possess this book may belong
its
unto
and
himself,i
be
freed
from
those
who
are deficient
precious art.
many kinds of
in this
most
fire.
One
is
made
out
shows
that
there
are
Experiment
intermediate
whole
arcanum.
Now,
concerning
"
of Paracelsus
Alterius non
sit
203
Inasmuch as the
commingled and are
their composition.
elements
turned
are
into
lead
of copper,
coming
it is
water and
is
altered in
its
drinks the
In
colours.
Although
concerning
this
we
elixir
Take
it
is
204
how he
says
for coins,
for
gold,
gold of coral for gold of crocus.
lead
and
Again,
second place, when he begins
from the top to the bottom, he saith :
in the
Take
gold,
coin,
copper,
lead,
and
he
into
*
rust
without lead
and copper,
Democritus at
effectually
enemy at
was forbidden
to participate.
Absumech,
and unless
it
205
known by
names of those
behoves them that
colours,
it
Philosophers have
mentioned under various names, they
have signified stronger bodies and forces.
It
may become
is
that
is
imposed
said
colours
that
each
days, so that it
the water being
being
vessel,
appear.
citrine
imbued
it
is
it
may
consumed
and
cooked
Its first
be desiccated,
;
placed
until
its
finally
in
the
utility
grade becomes as a
206
vulgar.
So
is
Conclusion.*
AGMON saith :
by way of a
I will
corollary.
Whosoever
afterwards whiten
so
shall
I
say unto you
makes earth black and then
with fire, till it becomes even
that whoso
dissolves
like
become corrupted,
it
shall
This constitutes
recension, and
is
be dissolved
the last
Dictum
in
but
if
the second
207
Investigate
nothing alien is added.
add
and
the place thereof,
nothing that
Unless the names were
is foreign.
multiplied, so that the vulgar might be
deceived,
wisdom.
many
would
deride
our
INDEX.
Adam,
21.
Death,
Angels,
Arcanum,
22.
Democritus,
Dew,
122.
Dragon,
178.
76,81, 122.
Atitos, 72.
Egg, n,
Blackness,
1531 182.
Elements, Four, 7,
13, 18,23,25-27.
Fire, 21.
Boritis, 75.
Elementary
Burnt Lead,
no,
56.
Faeces, 39.
Ferment of Gold,
105, 148.
Fire,
Cambar,
Flower of Copper,
Citrine, 97.
Coagula,
161.
36, 140-142.
72, 154.
138.
Copper,
9i
4, 5, 8,
Four Seasons,
50.
59.
93) 94i
Oadenbe,
39.
gum
144;
Crocus, 81.
of,
31,
34, 73,
81,
210
INDEX.
Golden Water,
Greenstone,
Gum,
61-63
Permanent Water,
134.
67.
of ascotia, 109
of
scoria, 44.
Halsut, 194.
68.
84^
162.
Kedness,
Kuhul,
Red
Slave, 96.
Rotundum,
139, 145.
igi, 193.
Key
Rubigo,
133.
Lead,
100, 161
red lead,
Leaven of Gold,
60, 61.
Saginatum,
Shadow
Smoke,
Magnesia,
133. 137,
H6 body
5
Magnet,
Mercury, 193.
Milk of Fig, 63.
Mucra,
H2,
31.
Saturn, 193.
31.
Spume
of the
Moon,
of gold, 125.
Sulphur,
122, 137.
Sun,
69.
Testa, 163.
Tin, 79,
Nitre, 121.
Orpiment,
57, 139.
Tincture, 28,
Tyrian Dye,
184.
211
Urine, 48, 63, 106.
Water,
8-12,
4,
alum, 38
gold,
Venom,
46, 69,
Venus,
117;
20,
of
of iron,
21,
27;
of
of
38;
of
dew, 63
of our sea,
139, 147-
194.
Vinegar, 51-54,
58,
90,
119, 121,
Whiteness,
143.
University of California
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