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text.
ALCHEMY
THE
TURBA PHILOSOPHORUM
OR
BY
Xon&on
GEORGE REDWAY
i8q6
PREFACE.
'THHE
Turba Phihsophorum
indisputably the
is
it
was
not, so far as
many
respects
can
the
it
can
quoted as an authority by
all
when
it
was
the alchemical
its
Latin garb.
irretrievably lost,
in
various libraries
been
numbers in the
of Europe, and have only
considerable
imperfectly
Unfortunately,
explored.
following
another.
pages
the
What
is
second
called
in
recension,
the
is
Preface.
ii.
in
The
a bad state.
The
in its entirety.
is
so corrupt
editor has
and has
version,
in
course pursued.
Monsieur Berthelot's
invaluable
made
been largely
striking analogies
use
to
of,
and
text
Alchemists has
the
illustrate
and
owe
his
Science
of
Antique
au
Moyen
Age."
It
follows
Latin
some
the
subject,
forming
and
" Essai sur la Transmission de
to
of
we
scientist that
Alchemy,
rightly
connects
which
referred
with
which preceded
the latter was
an
to
the
Arabian
itself
has
Greek
Science,
whom
all
source,
Alchemy
because
sages, to
been
always
Arabian
first
We
time,
makes
Preface.
iii.
they
are
Zosimus,
we now know
the
Panopolite,
was
derived
mediately
through
channel's
The
Auriferae Tractatus."
tions of the
also in French.
original.
way
The
Anciens Traict^s de
Philosophie Naturelle,"
la
manuscript
is
known
One English
version
in the British
Museum
Preface.
iv.
and Mangetus, contain colloquies, commentaries, and enigmas which pretend to elucidate
the
mysteries
of
The
Turba
PkUosophorum.
able
this curious
The Turba
Philosophorum,
to the
Words
ARISLEUS,*
the
begotten of Pytha-
by the grace of
thrice great
Hermes,
unto
all
who
come
An
Abladus.
after
wisheth
my
testify that
M.
Berthelot supposes
him
to
be synonymous
in the first
names
The Turha Philosophorum.
Italian,
the
Pythagoras,*
master,
persons
the discussion
Art,
that
their
foundation
to
council,
for
most precious
words might be a
He
posterity.
for
commanded
regions
all
of this
Iximidrus,
be the
first
of
then
highest
speaker,
who
said :t
* The Greek
make no mention
describes
attributed
to
this
quoted.
variations
sayings of the
introducing
Pythagoras
the
Philosopher,
scholars,
that
The book
by
Master
is
also
IxiMiDRUS saith:
beginning of
all
Nature, which
is
a Certain
is
perpetual, coequalling
all things,
that the
testify
things
visible natures,
by the
within bounds
But
Philosophy.
the
the
of
commanded
Pythagoras
If
air.
&c.
discourse,"
his
The
collected,
extent, in his
own Words.
passage as follows
certain nature
decocts
all
" The
it is
beginning of
perpetual, infinite
But
things.
which
it is
attained unto,
as
it
it
all
things
is
nourishes and
this nature
of
knowledge
of the
Sacred Art
is
to
whom
given."
B2
not exist to
air,
He has created
up.
Do you not
which
should be burnt
when
it
rises in
the air?
If,
presently
breathe
the
then,
forth
air
did
not
those winds
that lives.
all
check by the
quers because
Sun
to
its
it
own
air,
is
kept
heat,
is
of
drawn up
its
by the action
the Sun, which thus
the heat of
If the
air.
The
Sun
fire,
therefore,
means
water, by
quers the
water
there
is
fire
are
is
itself.
enemies
no consanguinity,
is
cold
medium
between
the
humidity of
fire
the air
is
lish
peace.
And
look ye
all
vapour of the
being joined
there
air,
humour, there
the
to
how
the tenuous
will
becomes
spirit
and
manner by the
which also
to all creatures.
disposed in such
is
will
coruscation appears
the
air,
life
of God,
and a
of
The Turba
described the
saith:
fire,
Well
hast thou
concerning
it,
ExuMDRUs
do magnify the
air according to the mighty speech of
Iximidrus, for the work is improved
thereby. The air is inspissated, and
also
it is
saith:
made
and becomes
thin
The
cold.
grows
it
when
warm
inspissation
it
is
divided
in
Sun
its
rarefaction
is
Sun
exaltation of the
when, by the
in heaven, the
air
is
which
is
neither
warm
of time,
nor cold.
For
Crates,
where
it
is
Book of
be
moreover, represents
seasons;
still
Crates.
Turba
treatise,
in its original
It is probable
form antedated the Book of
Winter
The
altered.
Whereat
is
Turba
the
Excel-
said:
be therein.
Anaxagoras
saith
make known
those things
all
is
weight and
all
things,
is
weight
manifest in proportion
is
And know,
all
in
but
body.
ye Turba, that
the
the earth
*
The
original
for
the spissitude of
is
obviously to connect
it
signifying compactness.
Compare
also the
Greek verb
into
fire
falls
air,
together
the spissitude of
with
the
the
fire,
from
received
water
air,
spissitude
falls
into
how
four elements
The same,
sated than
the spissitude
is
Then
of
the
conjoined in earth
therefore, is
all.
and
reposes in earth.
observed
fire
more
saith the
spoken.
inspis-
Turba
Verily the
is
rest.
He
answereth
Fire
is
the
him:
What,
He
Earth,
answereth
because
is
it
is
cold
God hath
created
therefore, is he
ye have
all things.
Blessed,
make
reply:
our
own
Let
us, there-
Direct
They
speech in turn.
Speak thou,
Pandolfus
*
of
Know
four elements.
that
-elements that
it
10
But Pandolfus
posterity that air
is
It
it.
earth,
signify
not separated
remains above the dry
from
to
a tenuous matter
saith
it
is
water, which
is
hidden in
humid water.
complete,
;;
continueth
hidden
lest
air
in the
sustains
the
should be plunged
it
said water
and
is-
which
that
is
If
would
They answer
he
the-
it,
into
the
moreover, prevents-
being overflowed by
The
therefore, to
earthy
fill
up and
to
make
is
to say, water
The Turba
saith
it
If
one
you
would be
He
stand.
ii
answereth
conjoined
or white part,
is
But a
the water.*
joined to the
is
have
medium
The
water.
represents
yolk
fire
of
also
the
cortex
the
egg
which
The
Greek alchemists.
to the
under this
short treatise
Eggt which
is
It
copper, the
is
Armenian
is
extant
it
is
it
The
stone, &c.
is still
title,
shell is likened to
tin, lead.
itself
symbolically,
after
it
is,
is
sometimes
the similitude of a
seed
the shell
seed
the white and the yolk are the flesh, and the watery
part
is
is
the breath, or
air.
12
from the
fire.
air,
from
water
lower air
is
the
fire.
But the
air is
more
rare and
the lower
air,
than
air.
earth, water,
air,
and
fire.
four excepted,
and
yolk,
is
Conse-
hour
rise in
moment
Arisleus
He
Parmenides
briefly,
Is there
us
Yet
13
saith
answeretfi
which
bears
that
I testify
God
is
left
otherwise
witness
one, having
begotten,
Lucas
saiih:
You
four natures
of
you
Now,
which
I testify
God
all
things
four natures,
and
the
things which
In these
living creatures
take place as
God
Democritus,
the
answereth
and
all
things
hath predestinated.
disciple
of
Lucas,
spoken,
14
the four
with
Arisleus
Democritus, since thy knowledge was
derived from Lucas, it is presumption
natures
Then
sailh
among
to speak
those,
who
from
me
Lucas
that knowledge
philosophers of
the Babylonians
those of his
The
are well
!
Turba
think he surpasses
own age
in this
answereth
learning.
When
he
in
his
LocusTA
saith:
All
those creatures
alchemy.
It
sophorum
15
it is
Pythagoras
Thou hast entered upon a
not seen or
saith
subject which,
describe
what
felt.
if
State,
subtly.
thing which
is this
is
therefore,
neither
felt,
Then he
It is that
not known, because in this
which
is
world
it is
sight,
Crowd
know you
which can
black, and
of the Philosophers,
not that
it
is
only sight
from
liearing only which can discriminate
between a good and bad word
Similarly, a wholesome odour cannot
be separated by reason from one which
white
distinguish
is
fetid,
in fact,
the deliberations.
remains
For
silent
his contemporaries."
the
by touch.
omitted to
thing which
particular
that
of
treat
is
Are ye
none of these
nor
felt,
but
fesses that
answer
and
God
Thou
excellently.
Know
is
a sublime
neither seen
is
perceived by reason
is
which
alone, of
cognised in
is
ways
five
,.
Saith he
a partaker.
is
hast
And he
They
spoken
:
truly
will
now
Know
that
hath a
same
light,
is
which
more
natures, which
living
But
beings
is
subtle than
all
other
may
attain
to vision.
or of the stars, or of
fire, all
which causes
all
of
moon,
which are
the Sun,
For
God
this
17
by reason
And know
light of this
is
is
more
which
is
Know
light.
world
is
also
that
the created
in
is
the
Consequently the
inferior
all
answereth
sublime
Sun
creatures.
Thou
is
creature.
rarer than
The
Turba
And
offers
Pythagoras
saith
affirm that
and with
was nothing, as
He was
know,
Philosophers,
ye
all
at
God
Him
But
first.
that
may
fortify
by the
will of
follows
of which
reason
heaven.
felt,
is
seen,
realised, save
is
But there
is
this
Now, reason
substantially the
which
is
same as the
as follows
piety
and
it is
text,
till
What
perceives
ensues
is
is
which contains
that
is
heaven or earth.
is in
by
is
whatsoever
hy
known nor
neither
the other
is
perceived
known by
reason and piety only, and is God Most High, who made
the light which is the Sun.
Know that the Sun is more
is
sublime
end that
it
it
is
may
light the
Nothing
of the
lie himself
creatures."
is
dense
more
is in
Sun and
all
inferior
created
all
and the
inferior,
others,
He
because
predes-
beginning that
the
tinated from
19
all
judgments
therein.
before
He
all,
Consequently,
out of which
ments,
He
created what
He
afterwards
willed, that
some
diverse creatures,
is
to say,
of which were
The
Master
saith
the elements of
* In the
Book
fire
oj Balances,
is
He
God had
created
all
things of
The combination
dryness.
and
which contains heat and dryness water, which posair, which has .warmth and
sesses cold and moisture
fire,
humidity
earth,
which
is
By
the help of
20
moon,
sun,
and
composed.
stars
lucid than
is
less
And
saith
which
things,
is
air,
And
they
Master,
our
joice
life
other answereth
God
thy
sayings,
But the
you that
hath further
of three
with
to the dead.
hearts
which are
notify to
made
creatures out
;
out of three
vegetables
fire, air,
saith
out of water,
of
some
and
air,
Distinguish
among
all
And
he
fire, air,
21
,fire,
Yet
fire.
water,
:
air,
and
which have a
air,
in vegetables there is
no
fire, for
saith
and
flying things,
vegetables
and
spirit,
all
tain
And
fire.
He
fire ?
they
answereth
is
is
Whence
Out of the
is
air,
that
heat
concealed therein
present in the
fire
fire
is
spirit
and
soul.
The
Olympiodorus
treatise of
observes that
is,
Adam was
of
On
fire,
air,
the Sacred
Art
22
and
water,
God hath
thing which
The
is
how
every-
created out of
Day
until the
Judgment.
Under-
earth.
likewise
definition of
of
death
there
is
simple, for
it
Death
one.
is
is
consists
from the
stand,
and
this is death.
that
further,
no
Under,
complex
fire eats,
drinks,
have a
spirit fire is
whom
he
in
Zosimus, by
of Zosimus signifies
therein
The
name
angels,
was revealed
Zosimus
to mortals
by
The
Turba
23
How
answereth
is
it,
fire is
And
he
The
eats
fire
not,
but thick
fire.
out of thick
fire,
of very thin
fire
exceedingly
of that which
is
most
they
thin,
And
simple
and
neither
eat,
the
Turba
must be
they also
it
is
to
them
and
it
was
It will
to
Inthe discourse of
prophetess
who
2^
reward thee
for the
since
ci}-les,
May God
things.
is
it
summoned us
hast
countries,
to
Seeing
recompense
the
Judge
fail
come
Arisleus
thou
that
which
saith
gathered
hast
of
us
of posterity,
more
And
us to attain.
are,
he
None
of you
all
the
becomes
you,
Master,
to
it
avoid
And
he:
If
it
please you,
envious
men
in
their
books
will
have
put
at the
Turba
think
saith
generations.
it
Place
be
will
it
where
will
foolish,t
Whereat the
where
it
clearest
And
he:
25
you
future
for
place
will
it
Doctrine, for
it is
ExiMENUS
saith
all
them
and
fire,
things
we
which
The
is
and
worn
coagulated,
He
to secrecy
Greek alchemists.
is
one of the
Isis herself is
hell,
by the four
person,"
says
"
An
by
oath has
Democritus in
the
Epistle of
Synesius to Dioscorus.
t
The
fail
way
in
26
another.
fire,
Out of these
four elements,
heaven
is
of diverse na-
Now
is
the
this di-
Had
ele-
But
been
diverse elements
own
mixed
humid.
27
four elements
and thence
God
and become
by night
visibly corrupt.
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
two of them
and
vision, and of these the operation and
virtue are well known.
These are earth
and water. But there are two other
elements which are neither visible nor
tangible, which yield naught, whereof the
is
a secret arcanum
place
is
meditate
very
carefully.
And
the
28
TuRBA : Master,
he:
we
Then
give
will
speak,
you
if
well.
ye
which
Know,
made except
is
Do
copper.*
spoken.
as
no
true
from
our
that
present,
all
tincture
follow
will
therefore, exhaust
not
lest
ye fill
I will give
your hearts with sorrow.
unless
that
axiom,
you a fundamental
you turn the aforesaid coppert into
At
it is
it
be a sudden transition
must be remembered
work
in the
this not only in the Latin mediaeval writers, but also in the
Greek.
Nomenclature of the
of the world,
t
The
Egg
and hence
is
philosophical copper
reference throughout
all
egg
is
the image
alchemy.
a subject of continual
Among
thorities, the
alchemical process.
essential substance.
Gold
white copper
is
is
crude sulphur.
it
as the
explains that
white, and
Tincturei
until
29
accomplish
it
results,
therefore
up, deprive
it
ye
verily,
Burn
nothing.
into redness,
of
it
its
Then
rule
M.
it.
meaning of
anterior writers.
as, for
in the
The
reference
is
to
for
in the Collection of
Address of
Isis to
first
again in the
Dioscorus,
an
a misconception
silver.
Numerous preparations
be found
is
Book of Synesius,
operation
with
many places.
copper.
The book
and elsewhere
in
It is
invariably
addressed
by
copper.
is
of
is
an igneous regenera-
tion.
a substance as to change
its
nature,
30
fire
covered, set
it is
it
which
it
by Olympiodorus
Zosimus
in the Treatise
in definition
on
of the sea as
water
When
It is identified
it
with
It is
It is also
becomes
water.
eternal
it is
reference
mouth of the
later
writers,
The
Interpreting
vessel.
is
it
in
alchemy.
31
Brodium
fire
produced, like to
is
Saginatum.
Then
Etheliae until
it
stir
in its
water of
becomes
red.
Copper,* which
Burnt
the Leaven of Gold
This,
is
then,
is
is
A short excursus On
the Diversity of
Burnt Copper
preserved
noted that
&om
Democritus.
is
Burnt copper
is
elsewhere
by the same author as " the metal rendered bloodcolour (in view of whitening) and tinged within and
defined
without."
32
always with
until the
it,
water be dried
up.
the water
is
consumed, and
it
all
becomes
Parmenides
saith
must,
men have
envious
that
Ye
know
dealt volu-
after
to deceive
knowledge.
and make
for
the
liquefaction.
Know
ye,
consanguineous
neous, and the
with
first
the
consangui-
with the
first,
ye
improperly
it,
turns
it
33
to nothing,
it,
same.
ye
may know
what
it
savour
gentle in the
fire
in
similar fashion.
follow
and sadness.
Consider, there-
how they
Nature
rejoices
in
in this
Nature,
and
superfluous
things,
and
take
34
body
of
Know
it
is
Nature.!
in
*
is
not turned
by Permanent Water,
like
imparted to
their souls
it,
it
for
Mercury whitens
digests
them by
is
all
coction,
possession of them.
and
who
this
that treatise,
treatises
is
not
common
Magnesia,
and
Turba Philosophorum,
to
In one of the
mentioned
in the discourse of
The body
of
Magnesia
is
According to Synesius
it
of substances.
}
The
Turba PhiU>sophorum
Nature rejoices
in
Nature
Nature
35
of
therefore,
If,
red.
those
natures,
celestial
God!
will of
glad
special
and
God
the
This, therefore,
!*
spiritual nature to
Consequently,
magnify
that
is
tincture,
which
cannot.
nothing
that
is
[species]
we
,
more precious
fire
and
than which
glorify
the true
in
degree to be found.
overcomes nature
ruled by Nature:
This
is
that truth
Nature
is
Greek
Alchemists.
*
literally
in
are either
" O,
Supreme Wonder
36
For when
it is
highest operation
knew
love.
the truth,
is
effected.
If
ye
if
the
either
fire,
the
endures
fire.
Know
have
vapours
also,
that
whitened the
Know
interiors.
after
Wisdom,
further, all
ye seekers
all
Hermetic liter-
Opus.
The
later writers
Magmim
commonly
37
well,
smoke
is
to posterity, nor
how
the same
whitened
The Twelfth Dictum.
Lucas
saith:
will
speak at this
!*
Take
accordance
because
with custom,
Here,
book
designed to be conveyed
other
the
A further insight
is
it
is,
that in
in
the
should
be noted
in
this
Thus, quicksilver
is
never spoken of
38
copper, and
it
will
be whitened.*
an equable
fire until it be whitened. But every body
is whitened with governed quicksilver,
for Nature converts Nature. Take,therefore, Magnesia, Water of Alum, Water
of Nitre,
of Iron
*
Water
at
The second
recension
is,
reads
governed
"
iron,
Ye
Water
What-
shall
and
it
impose
be
shall
whitened."
t
The
alternative reading is
rejoices in Nature."
}
warm and
the dry.
39
ye desire to be whitened
whitened with this smoke, because
soever
Mix,
things.
smoke
and
white,
itself
is
with
whitens
it
all
the
therefore,
is
said
until it be
and become excessively
Roast this white copper till
faeces
its
coagulated
white.*
germinates
it
of
Magnesia when
the
suffer
shadow
of
because
Nature
coppert
Take, therefore,
does
escape,
to
spirits
the
since
itself,
whitened
not
or
the
to
appear,
contains
Nature.
ye Sons of the
all
whiten with
salt
Flower of White
*
The
alternative reading is
"
until
it
it
become
shall
become a
M.
The shadow
of copper
is
The
i.e.,
epistle
shadow
is
burning
is
defines the
produces
brilliant metal.
shadow of copper
in silver.
oi
Pelagus
it
for the
The second
it is
a printer's error.
40
And know
excessively white.
from
become
it
ye, that
Ethel
is
Ethelia.
boiled
Salt
days,
shall
for
seven
like
it
till
it
is
great
therefore,
Take,
vinegar,
mouth
be associated with
may
its
but
neighbour, that it
beware
lest
the
fire
let it
and
to explain
Gadenbe.
41
this case
it
Afterwards coagu-
same
Let your
fire
until
be gentle
in the whitening,
Know
that
when
is
it
we
coagulated
call
it is
sufficient
it
for
This,
those
who
Coins, because
but
many
operate
therein.
things,
it
changed
into
another
nature.
is
The
wish
to
be
wholly
shut
in
with
darkness.
The Thirteenth Dictum.
Pythagoras saith
government which
We
is
posit another
42
root,
all
but
differs in
it
Wisdom,
may have
cerning
natures
of
composition
the
savour there
in
Know,
diverse as possible.
also, that
many ways
companion without
magnet follows the
said thing
is
and
follows
attains
fire,
iron, to
which the
And
unto these.
which foUowst
fire,
its
many
causes
its
even as the
when embracing
it,
it is
also
same thing,
companion without
this
colours
to
appear
regimen, and
is
and precious
mony
t
The
common
of the elements."
many
question causes
according as
it
is
known by everyone
yet
and
43
name
of one
of
Spume
Moon.
the
of
is
This
more
precious
without
we have
one, yet
it is
Nature
it
name
its
called
the
stone,
is
by many
it
excellence of
nature.*
The
Turba
answereth
Master
initiates, is
a process
By
the
known
is
to all later
Hermetic lexicographers
Alabastron
it
stone which
known by
is
all,
is
is
is
most precious,
The preparation
The perplexities of
is
of recurring to
it.
44
names
And
: It
he
seekers?
the guidance of
for
White
called
is
Ethelia,
that the
taking care
it
a cinder.
it
but coagu-
shall
become
Spume
of
own
imbued with
water, t
which we
by all names,
which assimilates the work and drinks
it, and is the stone out of which also
Take, therefore,
all colours appear.
that same gum,+ which is from the
stone
The second
The
alchemy
is,
like so
of Greek origin.
call
much
It
is,
after the
manner
will
Synesius.
t
The second
its
"
Ye
own
water."
J
The second
recension says
"
43
the
when
stone, therefore,
many
probably a
much used
misprint
gum
in
for
Scoria.
Rulandus
alchemy, and
broken up,
But
philosophical
is
it is
is
identifies
The term
but
it is
Chrysopeia defines
philosophically
gum
Nomenclature of the
among
and not
Egg
literally
is
gum,
46
if
and so ye
find
your purpose.
AcsuBOFEN*
saith
and
for
reward thee!
God
also
deliver
from envy
Acsubofen,
thee,
Then he
Ye must know,
in humidity.t
The
envious,
The
Turba
answereih
what
Humidity
therefore,
us,
And he
when venom
:
have
Acsubofen,
is
is
Tell
a body,
penetrates
humidity?
a venom, and
this
name
is
it
Assubeies.
Sulphurs are
The
theriac
subjects of discourse
Petrus
Bonus
seems with
all
and,
among
indeed,
the
sovereign
remedy
it
no
in
47
equal
Concerning
thereto.
When
one
be
to
it is
this,
the
flies
and
and
other,
longer
flee,
hold of
its
they
afterwards
no
manner of
a constructive aspect.
by M.
many
because of
its
references
equivalent
is ios,
the
to
and
venenum
ignis.
The Greek
the
dye,
may be compared
tincture,
which occurs
Natural and
48
is
become
be a
little
earth, in
colour.
But
the
and place
vessel,
therewith gradually in a
it
Then
until
humour.
days in
its
to cook,
it,
and
to
all
its
be imbued with
it
Then leave
own vessel,
it
several
for
until the
most
come out
from it to the surface. Observe how
PreI describe the regimen to you
pare
it
an important
*
In
plays
part.
The use of
sea water
is
specified in
one of the
Democritic treatises.
t
The second
recension reads
" until
it
shall
become
water of the
sea,
49
it
may
be tinged,
until the
fire,
and
it,
it
be easily pounded.
Decoct,
own humour
until
it
But
if
therefore, in its
ye wish to bring
it
mix the
same with permanent water sufficiently, and decoct until rust absorb the
water. Then wash with the water of
which
sea
the
this
be a
the
still
gum
which ye
more exalted
in the
shall
colour, place
water of
talc.
50
Then
suji.
and the
water which
is
until
it
extract
Know
Seek, there-
therein place
what
is in
until
it
be clothed
Frictes
saith
Wisdom, know
all
ye seekers
after
this Art,
i.i.,
Moon
t
substitutes
Luna
for
Lana,
for wool.
The one
nature, the
followed
is
"
The
furnace
is
is
one, the
also the
stronger than
more sublime
and
natures,
is
51
all
the
in
it is
But
for
it
Woe
reverence.
How
we
a thing which
is
unto
all
ye fools
if kings
swear
it,
presides over
comes
all
this Nature,
is
Frictes
And
he
It
Otber.
and
process
from
itself
The
Serpent Ourobohoe.
*
the Stone.
It
is
appears to be an
oil
which
rises
is
to the
by no
52
spirit,
without which
ness,
be
And know,
corrupted.
the
first
humour
therefore, of the
further,
cold.
is
fire,
Be
careful,
is
inimical
which
Wise have
Accordingly, the
to cold.
Rule gently
that
until
the sulphur
becomes incombustible.*
The Wise
said
means
M.
clear.
Mercurial Water.
puberty
Prove
combustible.
until
Take unbumt
fire)
it
it
it
becomes
(?
till
in-
with
it
men have
53
who
is,
of this
little
which
their Art,
that a
Accord-
and name
it
in
it
son of
Adam
this
vinegar
verts
it
thus described
burns
the
into a cinder,
For
it.
con-
body,
if
changed into a
stone, so that it becomes a coin of
most intense whiteness. Cook, theredeprive of blackness,
fore,
and then
is
it
be disintegrated,
dissolve
Know
also, that
to
which
is
succeeds
the
the
the
work;
vinegar,
but
after
this,
and by the
will
by means of
of God, there
follows
I
divine mystery.
incombustible sulphur.
This
is
the
TJte
54
this
Turba Philosophorum.
thing,
is
knew pure
vinegar,
Know,
crowd of
those that still remain of the Sons of
the Doctrine, that no tincture can be
produced without Lead, which possesses
Socrates
saith:
how
thrice-great
an invariable
it
was changed
Know,
colour ?*
thiice-great
is
it is
55
unchange-^
all
M,
of the body
Berthelot
tells
the
until
fire
destroyed,
is
and the
first
common
with a number
Zosimus, the
by the appearances
Panopolite,
says
may
it
be cited
All substances
possesses in
the Substances
t
The
is
he
lor
i.e.,
it
is
tin.
Zosimus
significance
accurately Kohol,
of this point
On
in confirmation
is
of the
term
Kuhul,
to be found in Syriac
or
more
alchemy
it
Kuhul, or Koheul,
is
Part of
Berthelot seems to be
is,
is
impure.
56
being
water
the
Kindle,
rejected.
therefore,
Pound
afterwards with
for 10
sun,
for 21 days,
water, and
salt
10
Cook
the
of nitre
know
when
that
becomes dry
it
humour
is burnt lead.
Take
it be burnt. Thus we
because
it
The second
with dew,
salt,
it
recension reads
its
it
water for 20 days, and yet again with fresh water for 10
days."
The
explanation of
all
Great Mystery.
of Democritus,
process
the
dew
is
of whitening,
Philosophical
and
Egg
it is
mentioned
and
in
in connection
the
tabulated as a
fragment
name
with a
on
the
of the white
M. Berthelot suspects
incombustible sulphur.
eg
PouHi
the
Now,
demonstrated
white lead,
therefore, I
the disposition
all
have
of the
Know,
play.
also,
the
that
manner,
the
lead,
the
for
receiving
the
because she
in
female
with
rejoices
for
Mix,
the
in
by the male.
Mix them,
orpiment.*
orpiment
is
have discovered
therefore,
of the ancients.
is
arsenic
in the
which
it is
found.
who reappears
as Peter Theoctonicos, in
5"
^.bgether, place in
wish
it
that
it
to put on
mud
Now,
with vinegar.
if
ye
(colour), seeing
already dry,
is
But
again imbue
therefore,
have
they
will laugh.
vinegar which
tion,
work,
is
It is
the Ethelia of
reddening
*
Know,
all
ye seekers after
this
that
make
cannot
59
unless ye whiten, ye
red,
white.
the
is
first
red,
and
also, that
season
and
Know,
!*
of a frigid
is
com-
this is
fire
lastly, there is
fruits are
matured, which
is
Autumn.
if
save yourselves.
Thou
*
ye
err,
The
blame no one
Turba answereth
A commentary introduced
mence by making
perfect
and
solid.
Zosimus
If thou dost
com-
6o
well
Take
red.*
the
Master
at
the
which
copper
the
you
ordered
take
book,
his
of
beginning
to
Here
certainly
Red Lead
the
is
this,
if
of
mix them
ye rule
becomes a
So when
well,
is
From
The
various
substances
spirit is
of the world.
which
not only
oxydes of
t
spirit
Vermillion,
is
the modern
con-
alchemists
the
etc.,
are
in addition to the
name
of
minium,
some
iron.
reads
"
becomes a mighty
Behold
called
6i
which we have
is
of our work,
is
effected
MuNDUS
saith
Turba The
Art must know that
the
to
described
gum
in
many
ways, but
it is
who
find
O how many
Know
that this
gum
is
things,
the
labours
It
of the Work, that with the addition of a little [philosophical] gum any species of body may be tinged. And
when Mundus
in
identifies
Gum
is
ol the
we
words
Agathodemon.
62
nished.
are
made out
of the
gum and
out of
held the
and are
labours,
never
Understand, therefore,
will explain
my words,
Know
arcanum
ye that our
know
it
diminished.
for I
the
they sustain
tincture,
do hold
it
all
existing
gum
those
more honourable
it
is
who
for
because out of
gum
with a
little
books the
manifest
disposition,
lest
63
cannot be improved
tions
afterwards extract
it,
and
until
it
Then mix
heat.
and
fig,
cook
it
it
that
till
Then
moisten
it
until it
be dried.
be dry.
and cook
gum which
is
equipped with
until
perish
the whole
;
and the
force
entire
of
strongly
the water
body be deprived
64
ol
its
forty days.
Let
it
remain
in that tritura-
and pass
fly
off in
and ye
vessel,
will find
open the
that which ye
therefore,
This,
purposed.
These
fumes.
is
the
in their books.
Dardaris
knowledge
saith
that the
It
common
is
Masters* before
Now,
it
is
introduced
The
this
he
is
Per-
this dictum, is to
in the
power of
till
65
us
to
use
invariably
this
may
The
force
is
manent Water,
for,
Per-
it
having pounded
it
me
of
God
it
will
And know
spirit
the
as well.
arcanum
*
hath
also
The second
body."
this
recension adds :
spiiit
into
66
Belus saith:0
disciples,
discoursed excellently
ye have
Pythagoras
!*
Seeing that they are philosophers, O Belus, why hast thou called
He answereth
them disciples
answers
in
It is
lest I
should
Then
Those who,
in con-
Pythagoras saith
Zosimus,
reasons that
my excellent
a passage
in
It
is for
these
"Take
is
is
known
I refer
same time
name
one.
it
is
it is
many
uttered.
this stone
its
nature
is
one,
its
it,
is
For
given
to aphroselinon."
to
its
to everyone,
it is
which
67
they agree
with
Behold, what
is
the
hidden
truth.
despised thing!
and that
the
lest
it
is
called
foolish
Certain wise
by many names,
should recognise
men have
it.
designated
it
one fashion,
namely, according
where it is generated
others have adopted another, founded
upon its colour, some of whom have
termed it the Green Stone ;* by other
some it is called the Stone of the most
intense Spirit of Brass, not to be mixed
with bodies by yet others its description has been further varied, because
it is sold for coins by lapidaries who
are called saven ; some have named it
Spume of Luna ;t some have distinafter
to the place
it
is
68
guished
astronomically
it
metically;
thousand
arith-
or
it
titles,
is
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
"That
which
is
Pandolfus
much
said so
wanting
saith
in the Lexicons.
Rulandus,
who
It
is
bizarre terms.
tion, there is
which
falls
In Zosimus,
On
&om
the
moon when
referred to as describing
where
a prescription from
it
it
is
is
that
waning," and he
to be found,
is
and how
Turha
recalls
mythology of
(fee,
of mercury.
but to be "
Hulandm.
allegorise
upon the
in
the
also the
Moon,
Moon."
left
stone
all
is
69
nothing to be
Howsoever,
manent water
life,t
is
water
of
mundane
work
reasonable
for
And know ye
persons.
that no body
the builders
which
derived
from
so far
idea
it
is
it
is
stone,
most
of contradicting
denominations.
t
\
70
He,
therefore,
venom
the
and has
fallen into
it is
On
intel-
annotation
specific
of
virtue
According to
Virtue
A quotation
and
Interpretation.
firom
Mary
(the first) in
Zosimus On
Copper
the
when burned
oil ot
after
his
is
by M. Berthelot
referred to
in
of an adept.
Alchemy.
it is
In an ancient alchemical
it
figures as the
name
71
composition.
its
thou
regimen nor its
to take
same
the
is
make use
of this except
it
that
in
if it
until
it
which
is
But
whitening of Magnesia
Then,
is far
if it
it
thus
a great arcanum,
" Taking
rule
for the
has become a
sight of this
black stone,
God
Let
it
cook
it
Magnesia and
place in a vessel of
be black,
better to
salt,
let it
it
be cooked
till
it
in a glass-maker's
till
morning.
whitens, but
it
Hide
furnace.
whitening by decoction."
t It does not appear that
the
conception
of the
was
familiar to
Greek alchemy.
men
72
unguent, that
a crocus, that
of
is,
;*
Tj
is,
God
will
which
is
favoured sight of
many
strongly,
and imbue
And know
Cook
accounts.
with the
God
which
there are
must
be desiccated
it
which ye
fore, will I
The
desire.
colour turns
Now, there-
have
it
out.
is
sentence immediately
It is
its
and
is
no doubt
really
required to
following.
a mis-
make sense
The second
begun,
God
if
Know
that
also
to rule
third part
the
perfection
precious
this
with
it
will
work of
the
73
the
of
stone
residue
is
the
of
of
more intense
be
than the
desiccated
is
wax
therefore, the
coheres.
it
until
iire
former;
let
it
the
till
Let the
it
when
Cook,
imbibes
imbue the
seven
times
the
work
other
two-
of
rest
until
the
thirds be finished,
bibe them
all.
if
ye understand
But,
if not,
The
original
emendation given
is
untranslatable
in the text
the
conjectural
is
only
The
substituted,
reading of the
owing
second
recension
has
been
74
the work.
is
Take the
true tincture;
which sand
the
made
is
is
it
drink up
mouth of the
vessel effectually, as
told.
wicked
Theophilus
saith:
intelligently
and
Thou
hast spoken
elegantly,
Saith the
and
art
Turba
coin
is
75
have
Philosophers
narrated
in
frequent
reading,
books
their
without
and
For that
which they have concealed is more
sublime and obscure than it is possible
to make known in words, and albeit
some have dealt with it intelligibly
and well, certain others have treated
it obscurely
thus some are more lucid
experiments,
than others.
Thou
The
Turba
And
announce
posterity
to
that
boritis
answereth
is
an
he
between
affinity,
changes as a fluxible
two equal
into
it
parts, with
venom
one of which
liquefy
again
it is
with
first
This
its
of
cook
the
two cook
own water for 42 days ;*
to seven in
recension
76
finally,
open the
and ye
vessel,
into
shall
quicksilver;
For when
gealed.
it
congealed
is
it
Ac-
becomes a mat-
it
ter like
it
with the
directed
you
and cook
portion,
colours manifest.
its
^s
many
it
times until
This, therefore,
arcanum.
great
until
it
shall
itselt)
Saith
the
the very
Turba:
Bat donee duos ehibat does not agiee with the subsequent
directions found in each version.
* Boritis,
according to Rulandus,
and
it
is
A late
The word
is
It is
when
it
of Oriental origin.
77
Theophilus!
And he: It is to be known
that the same affinity which exists
between the magnet and iron, also
between copper and
exists assuredly
permanent water.
If, therefore, ye
copper and permanent water as I
have directed, there will thence result
the very great arcanum in the following
rule
fashion.
ye
will
deprive
and cook
find
it
of
it
when
blackness by cooking
all
its
whole
The
second
recension reads
" Take
quicksilver
78
perish,
filement
until
be
it
found
the
the
other
you
to
part
which
preserve,
until
is
to say,
counselled
there appear
Cerus*
saith
Understand,
all
ye Sons
an
affinity
*
The name
Bellus.
substituted
is
79
iron,
copper
ruled for
is fitly
is
no
quicksilver
affinity
The
?+
Turba
answereih
And
he
why
are
testify
is
true
that
The second
recension adds
them
" Between
This
in the space ol
the copper
affinity and
combina-
is
cinnabar,
and
that
cinnabar
M.
is
to sublimed
thereof.
is
Here
other.''
" The proper end of the whole art," says Horus, " is
all
8o
becomes a
body
its
water;
fluxible
until it
cook the
and
already burnt,
companion, which
its
made
is
are
[two]
one.
Know
by
is
until
it
become
quicksilver.
nitre until
it
is
of
become
Then cook
until
become hke
to tin,
as a liquefied coin.
be congealed and
it
when
find that
same
it
is
a most
in a
which
process of reunion,
is
sought
nothing can
succeed, for
Nature
great arcanum
stone which
the
until
is
that
is
to
8i
say,
the
Rule
Know
crocus.
also
companion we have
given the name of crocus. Cook it,
therefore, and imbue with the residual
water reserved by you until you attain
desiccated with
its
your purpose.
The Twenty -fourth Dictum.
BocAScus*
well,
saith
Thou
hast spoken
follow
it may
: As
become envious,
for that is not the part of the Wise. And
thy steps
He
answereth
BocAscus
Thou speakest the truth,
and thus, therefore, I direct the Sons of
:
Take
the Doctrine.
Philosophers
is
The name
in the
second recension
is
Boratis.
82
same
until it be dried and have become
earth
then pound with the water
as water;
therefore, the
cook,
reserved until
it
Thou
hast done,
And
Ye who wish
to coagulate
must mix
silver,+
Otherwise
The Greek
with
it
its
I
quickequal.
have said."
by which Zosimus
An
molybdochalchos.
understands
" Mercury
is
cinnabar,
I refer
<i
obtained
roasting.
It is that
above
become an etherised
hemisphere
wisdom.
difficult to retain,
I
" With
its
printer's choice
is,
which
is
it
rarely.
suitable
spirit,
artificial
Having
it
fire, until,
state of
all
employed
manner with
like
to cinnabar obtained
easily volatilised,
of the
in
quitting its
Until
and
is
it
r&U
of fugitive,
it
reaches a
mortal."
it
is
it is
Afterwards cook
it dil
become permanent
cook
water until
this
83
it
be coagulated.
But
by
in
it
let this
poundt
If
until
it
becomes a crocus
like to
Menabdus
May God
saith:
reward thee
for
the truth
thy words.
And they
It is said
because
And he
do
know
not be
inferior to
that
he hath uttered
posterity to
*
The second
him.
make
however,
counsel
recension reads :
" Let
the whole be
more
The second
in its vessel,
and pound."
" Place
it
once
The Turba Philosophorum.
84
For by
this
nature
is
With
extracted.
is
its
these bodies
Egg
But Mary
is
Philosophical
assume
again
their
is
literally
two bodies
achieved."
into
result
make
will be
in precisely the
that to convert
incorporeal.
and transmute
is
to impart
body
to the
t Zosimus,
the
lead.
try
[See note on
p. 82.]
last
The
substance
is
well
known.
85
become
And know ye
is
mortifying and
bodies,
burning the
fire
breaking up,
it
is
fixed
unless
it
it
For
fire.t
it
colours. +
can tinge
And know
that no
unless
spirit
itself
its
body
be ex-
when
it
That
from the
fire."
reading.
\
The second
recension
says that
once
it
has been
itself tinged."
"
all
it
holds and
things
when
"
86
out the
tincture,
which is a spiritual
out of which colours have
spirit,*
from
it
is
coloured.!
be tinged. And
know that those four bodies which you
tinge
unless
first
recognised by Zosimus,
soul
The
it
is
who
spirit is
tollows Democritus.
The
purifying influence of
fire
when
The
spirit is
On
Democritus to the
d;c.
oil
of natron, and
it
tinges by
its
it
combina-
87
water
of
sulphur,
for
sulphurs
rejoices
and
in
con-
strains.
Zenon
saith:
answereth
Inform
us
according
to
O Zenon, in this
and beware of envy
Then
he : Know that the colours which shall
appear to you out of it are these.
Know, O Sons of the Doctrine, that it
behoves you to allow the composition
to putrefy for forty days, and then to
your own opinion,
matter,
the
The second
humid
recension reads:
are these
two
tinctures, the
condensed being
88
Next
day
first
appear to you
black
On
on the
citrine,
the purple
finally,
the ferment
lingers.t
For
and
as an Ixir.
were, birth
The
preferable
many
coins
reading
is,
because
life,
imposed upon
venom
this
:l
is
same
as
it
is
it
and
things,
tincture,
its
" Crocus
like
unto
sericus."
f
The second
recension substitutes
spirit
in
haste,
tor
perish."
}
The second
recension reads
" And
" Beware
perchance
it
lest
will
many
things,
and
89
which
moves
is
it
evil,
but
from which
Accord-
extracted.
is
it
Masters
the
ingly,
it is
re-
it
have
said
that
know
should
Art,
he
these natures,
cook-
of
Gregorius*
it
saiih
have
the
called
to
like
*
be
ruled
marble
The name
in
in the
t Antimony,
ye Turba,
Alchemists
is difficult to
venerable
until
its
stone
coruscates
it
And
splendour. +
second recension
is
Chambar.
The most
second recension.
the
in
Efflucidinus
is
a special instance
in point.
no
later author
all
Efflucidinus,t
it
is
The comparison of
gleaming marble
is
It
may be
use of
it.
it.
the Stone in
found,
made
it
among
its
splendour to
go
they
Show,
Then
posterity.
to
what
therefore,
is
it
Willingly;
he:
remains
brilliancy
ye
until
is
thus,
see
direct
you to
rule
it
cooked
becomes
red
when
marble, which,
like
till
is
it
earth,
it
disintegrated and
turned
is
When
colour.
alchemists, in
it
it
thus,
until
it
and
it
Then
gold.
when
all
it
colour,
re-
will
become
It
behoves
into
ye see
it
ye investigators
of
his Detailed
in
on the subject of
this
white sulphur:
And
mystery."
proceeds
"
Now,
substances, the
which
is like
again,
having cited
is
Stephanus,
same
is
If
the
there a great
he
and tinged
unto marble."
Stone
this
and turn
is
it
into
earth,
which
the
until
of redness
remainder*
the
ac-
it
;
the
of
that
pound
coruscating, to
some degree
quires
take
91
then
water
ordered you to
envioust
Know
also that
certain person
who commenced
who,
truth,
this
natures
the
of
work.||
how ye make
The
recension,
opprobrious term
is
Observe,
the conjunc-
of
The second
Otherwise
II
with
92
death will
it
will
make
earth
imbue
the
God
until
it
colours for us
same
intense,!
and
am
ye
Turba at the very great force and
nature of this water, for when it has
CusTos
saith
surprised,
all
into earth,
it
turns
it
it
The second
That
is,
if
is
ye find it impalpable
then most excellent;
recension reads
"the male."
to
93
brought
to
And know
required
the
that
if
it is
condition.
our water,
If,
Turba
the
vious* created no
little
obscurity
when
coin-like
stone.
till
Then
it
becomes
he-.
They
water,
The
distinction
little difficult
to follow, nor
is it
envious had less wisdom than the wise, or the wise less
indifferently.
all
94
DiAMEDES
saith
Thou
hast
spoken
O Moses*, in an ungrudging
manner, as became thee I will also
already,
Know,
from a
man
mals
is like unto
begotten from brute aniand so also with flying creatures.
themselves
is
This reference
is
95
in
com-
who
the truth,
Nature
lixity, for
is
truly not
improved
proved except
say,
man
in
in
is
to
ye do not neglect the precepts concerning her, but make use of venerable
Nature, for out of her Art cometh, and
*
"
When
to the under-
pieliminaiy, consider
able to bring forth man, the lion begets the lion, and the
my child,
way of a
Should
it
it
a monster which
is
Nature
the prayers of
Isis,
made
said that
In
fact,
even as
employed
have previously
to
Horut.
Now
hath the
96
Know
out of no other.
rule
Nature and
you
less
it,
who
male,
therefore, that
Join,
son to
is
Art
is
add no
things,
conception
is
exceeding
The
later
nearer
is
precious
is
the nature of
is
earth
burning
&c.
In
the
fire
stone.
soft
made,"
treatises,
They have
is
and frozen
It
is
fire
dead
makes and
is
it
course
an obvious symbolism.
some
it
"
Beauvais
is
How
still. +
permanent water
it is
allegory ot
alchemy, and
that
treatise
lexicons, the
Rulandus attributes
ascribed to Hermes.
Red Se rvant
it
to
According to other
is
rUe
of
Mercury
The second
begotten."
is
referred to in the
Greek
The
frag-
recension
reads
"A
true
son
is
red
97
that
slave,
He
re-
answereth
will
Woe
He may
Why,
you
deprive
therefore,
We
do not
flee
us, therefore,
of
this
you
are
?
art
envious
They answer
what
thy will
is
tell
And
he
be deprived
of
sense
and
motion
it
and beware
lest
burning them
it
to die
then give
it
rest,
ye evaporate them by
in
too
strong a
fire.
is
the spiritual
many meanings.
This passage
is
is
gS
wife.
produced.
is
Science,
happy are
stand, but
my
if
not, I
after
seekers
ye,
have
if
still
this
ye underperformed
if
possessed a
if
God knew
that ye
faithful
tainly
error
Bacsen
well,
saith:
Thou
O Diomedes, but
hast
spoken
Compare the
Latin Alchemy.
It
pictorial
emblems which
99
Of this same
have spoken
in many ways, and have confused it
with all manner of names. Then he :
Tell
the
envious
me, therefore,
cording
thy
to
matters, and
that this
is
Bacsen,
opinion
ac-
these
in
Bacsen
the completion.
therefore,
notice,
saith
seekers
future
to
and that
posite,
*
The
Rulandus
alchemy who
of
followed
it,
com-
must be roasted
it
lexicographers
after a
give
Red Stage.
Under
neither form
the
impurity
German
of bodies,
printing office.
definition
It signifies
subsequent
vocabularies.
obscure, and
it is
The
head,
The
origin
of the word
by M.
Berthelot.
is
is
the
speaker also
is different,
namely, Nephitus.
100
The
it
Turba
arrives
it
answereth:
Thou
hast
Bacsen
Pythagoras
How
does
the
you,
saith
since
substance
to
it
all
the
names
of bodies in the
copper,
tin,
of lead, until
that
colour
Turba
and
gold, iron,
name
it
and become
answereth:
well,
have
also
among
the others
Thou
Pythagoras
spoken
The
Ixir.
hast spoken
And
well,
may
also the
be deprived of
he
and
Ye
some
discourse con-
BoNELLUs
saith:
Pythagoras,
all
According to thee,
things die and live
by the
will of
loi
is
dead
unto something
like
is
it
man
unto
will restore
and the
it
becomes a
powder.*
God
tomb, when
in his
it
spirit thereof,
becomes stronger
after resurrection
and
Doctrine,
matter with
become a
to
boldly until
fire
when know
cinder,
have mixed
it
The
spirit,
and
text is corrupt
is like
to
one dead
and is imbued
The second
unintelligible.
like
when
it
has been
left iot
becomes dust
shall
that ye
it
that
recension reads
consume
body returns
and then
it
103
with the
humour
until
colour than
fairer
it
assumes a
it
previously pos-
O ye Sons
they convert
cannot com-
some of them
to a cinder, while
their hands.
The
case
is
the
said,
ye
will
know
you
to burn
that
speak
have ordered
into a cinder,
for
if
ye rule
it
it
subtly
It is
thus because
like
is
103
multiplied
He
hath
its
own
our
larly,
copper,
when
it
Simiis
first
until
is
it
thickened
have termed
it,
but
it is
really
an egg
It
is
104
in
combustion, when
it
is
placed on
coins
the
It is
it
for unless
it shall
be cooked
become a powder, and afterwards be
diligently until
it
sperm, there
from
But
it
if
will in
become a
spiritual
no wise proceed
this regimen,
pose, ye shall
NiCARUS saith:
this arcanum
The comparison
Now
ye have
The
public.
is
is,
in fact,
is
made
Turba
work
to the
suggested by the
common
to all
Latin
among
105
answereth
And
he:
But
they
And
he
do thou, thereI
counsel pos-
Distinguish, therefore,
But
the water.
to
bum up
For the
water,
he
is
these, in Comaiius,
who
is
fire
nourishes
womb.
* M. Berthelot traces the original notion of the fermentation of metals to the sophistication called diplosis.
met with,
" Recipes
more profound
some
less precious
diplosis."
It is
metal
this
of
was
really
make
fermentation."
in
many
multiplied
places
The
by an operation comparable
fermentation of metals
by the Greek
writers: " It
is
is
to
mentioned
necessary
like,
by
io6
ye rule
well.
and,
all
the water,
all
days until
its
then
fire
colours appear.
The Thirty-Fourth Dictum.
Bacsen
saith
On
of thy
account
dicta
Take
is
like
and pound
same manner
body
to be tinged.
matter."
literal
mass of
little
This notion
is
As a
all
paste, so
the dry
this
somewhat
cension substitutes
of the Corsufle
107
is
The Turba
Explain to posterity what the
of the Corsufle.
belly
saith
nature
which
which
And
is
And
is.
they
Shew,
coruscates.
he
It is
poured upon
is
until
absorbs
it
how
therefore,
And
extracted.
and water
tingeing spirit
and
coinlike,
is
times
he
it
seven
it
whole
which
the
a force
then
same
it
is
called
diligently
spiritual
of
fire;
Putrefy the
rust.
until
powder,
it
pounded,
it
becomes a
indelible colour.
whom God
* It
was
has granted
different in the
But
it.*
days of Zosimus,
who
tells
own
more worked
in their
The increase
interest
in view,
To8
the
Turba
Bacsen.
saith
And
he
direct
them
to
have
spoken
well,
Then he: If I
do one of you
continue.
The Thirty-Fifth Dictum.
But ZiMON
* saith
thing to be said
:
tell
us, therefore,
truth,
Nothing
all
you into
error but
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,
sell it.
gum
stone, but
of
Ascotia,
con-
For
therewith,
end
is
this
tinge
is
human
effect in
may
sight,
body.J
many
even as
But ye
God
But
this
an
in part at least
interpolation.
t
The second
reads
recension
and
abject thing."
I
which
Otherwise
" Therein
is
and
life
to bodies."
no
this
cautiously and
both
ye extract
from
it
and turn
grease),
impalpable
it
spirit,
until
diligently,
grossness (or
its
and
into a tenuous
saith:
Tell,
bodies
are
And
he
and
therefore,
turned
They
Ethelia
are
till
how
not-bodies.
into
pounded with
they become
And know
powder.*
posterity
fire
place
take
tinuous
contrition,
a moderate
*
The second
pounded
t
until
The
except
it
fire,i
performed
not with
recension reads
"
it is
counsel of Olympiodorus
is
is
Some
is
hands, +
When
Ethelia
is
evidently corrupt.
similar
with
" The
lest
And, again
fire
the vapour
:
" Know
fire.''
Magnum Oput
iii
The
this Art
is
common
in its nature
They
a small price.
and
is
sold at
all
who had
the
At
truth,
believest
the
sayings
of
the
the
And
he
of
testify
the two
natures.
to
consequence.
The
common,
up among interpreters in
partisans of the
first
manual operation was the mystery of animal magnetThe Turba in the passage above, and in other
ism.
have
signified,
may
there
is
superior to man's."
is
of
itself
and alone
On
113
nor the
common
It
all
ye
sayings of Victimerus,*
to
his
you
disciples
save
work
is in
Nothing
the
Turba
the vapour
and
The whole
Demonstrate,
tion of water.
said
else helps
water
sublimate
to
And
vapour.
when he
thiere-
fore,
is
rightly,
its
own
vapour,
in
because
decoctions,
other.
both
are
joined
Thus our
The second
its
way,
The
Philoso-
is significant.
it.
that
it
has no opportunity to
made permanent,
are
and
fly,
hence
congealed with
extracts
it
perties which
and
it,
it
all
for
falls,
and
the other, so
no place to escape
finds
113
it
is
colour varies,
its
its
God
But
the blackness and redness appear, and it
falls into sickness, and dies by rust and
elect,
and
it
putrefaction
it
has
alienates
lest it flee.
not
it,
flight,
although
free
it
may
favourable colour
its
spouse
but when
it is
then when
its
it
makes them
beauty
is
befall itself
is
not as
it
and
was,
gold.
For
this reason,
have called
it
it
the black
They
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
Turba Philosophorum.
^'Ae
answereth
water
is
out
and
I say that the work
the envious have
Demonstrate vapour
And
Turba
The
two
of
it
And know
ye,
copper
the
was
formerly
indeed,
the
regimen.
nature and
Know
The name
that
the
then a stone,
*
further,
if
in the
ye cause them to be
second recension
is
Assotes.
complexionated, and
well
if
115
ye are
is
to the top,
rises
and
light
spiritual
is
Now
vessel.
the
of
which
the contrition
this is
namely,
Philosophers,
that
is
Know
not of hands.
Cook
them,
become
they
until
converted,
Agathodaimon
is
included
and
Agadaimon*
Wherefore
powder.
*
successively
therefore,
among
the makers of
He
is
It is stated
is
of
him
is
who
of Egypt," &c.
M.
Egyptian divinity
is
who
bore a
name
in a vision
An
was an
equivalent to this.
when
his soul
ii6
saith
until
be-
it
know
that
powder
then
diligently.
But
if
ground
been
it
ye ask, how
made a powder
water
And
the
is
is
that the
It
to
is
unless
into
be
therefore,
stated,
that
water,* ye shall
the work.
for the
It
body
is,
to
the water,
not attain
therefore,
to
necessary
be so possessed by
that
fire
it
is
dis-
is
The second
into water."
recension reads
until the
Had
clouds.
is
whole be-
hearing of
fools,
117
water of the
made
the
companion, wherewith
its
But
one.
this is the
is
water which
Water
Good Venom,
Many Names
of Gold, the
Igneous,
the
it
to be
washed
so
ye take this
our copper without
by no means see
what ye
because no foreign
this
Art,
thing
unless
that
is,
desire,
enters
therein,
all
names,
if
ye
the
dismiss
err,
be pure.
seekers after
multitude
for the
anyone
it
nature
is
of
Therethis
Art,
obscure
one water
li8
struction,
keep this
is
foreign.
BoNELLUs
saith
speak a
will
And
Speak.
he
little
Turba
The
Magnesia.
concerning
answereth
all
when mixing
vessel, the
Magnesia, place
it
mouth of which
close carefully,
in
ye
its
and
will of
God.
When
There
vessel,
its
days, until
is
drink
it
The
is
still
all
mercury
is
is
obtained
one,
Hermes
is
persons uncover
119
it,
forty
for
then
completely
it
its
said
Wash
water,
become
Hence
the
Magnesia with
soft
Subsequently,
M.
yellow."
Berthelot
explains
honey
that
it
As a
fact, in later
to
it
is
is
signifies
of course
the significance
by the philosophers.
philosophical dissolvent.
The
The Greek
following explanation
los,
is
given by
M.
Berthelot.
120
this
seekers after
whole
work
be present
what ye
Therefore,
may
Bonellus
If it please
time.
But
which thou
otherwise repeat
he
Shall
a second
indeed repeat
it
all
ye
in-
The
ivory,
and sandarac
meant
certain properties or
;.
if
signified the
healing or hurting.
oxyde of metals.
all its
phases, whether of
way
the
copper
of
take
Art,
this
first
121
our
part of the
its
vessel, so long as
may seem
desirable
to
is
sufficiently
in
is in
it
was
So Olympiodorus : "In
is
called
122
same
fire
Turba
The
red.
it
red,
sufflciently
should be ruled
until
became
it
answereth
Show
by these things.
it Ixir satis, by reason of the variation
of
its
colours.
there
is
neither variety,
nor opposition of
necessary
only
multiplicity,
substances
it
is
to
However,
the truth-speaking Philosophers had no
its
become
splendour.
envious again
said
unto marble
like
Accordingly,
:
the
But when ye
see
it
thus,
its brilliancy.
it is,
indeed,
standing, ye
own
its
own con-
123
humour
in
sulphur
mixed
comes
like
forth
of
there
But I
the same with
a great work.
dew
sulphur,
it
chiefly connected.
the night
dew
Democritus, in
:
water of heaven
sun," &c.
mean by exposing
not be understood
literally.
should
as possessing an inherent
dew
to
it
and
activity of the
it
Mosheim and
red."
124
Be-
lest the
poisons get at
you,
Consider,
all
in the
takes
Then
place.
leave
125
until
it
and
made
it
When
earth.
arcanum
is
this is done,
the beginning
but do this
many
until
perish,
briefly
And
inform us further.
to
testify
dealbation doth
posterity
that
he
the
by decoction.*
Consequently, Agadaimon has very properly treated of
cooking, of pounding, and of imbuing,+
*
The Greek
alchemical experiments.
In the
is
New
Light of Arnoldus
In the
first
second, white
accompanied
f
in
and
becomes black
The
in the
description is
The second
iz5
humour
been
and when
drying,
is
glass vessel
forty
for
days,
it
has
in its
it
until it
By
swereth
Thou
Effistus,
Truly art
excellently
envy;
The second
spirits,
and the
recension
spirits are
made
leads
hot,
127
persevering
soul,
He, there-
who
fore,
is
courage,
persevere in
willing to
may
desires
disposition,
this
result,
who
to our books,
for
twice,
or
the
his
books, devoting
*
Therefore,
thrice.
The
speaker
in
his
the
leisure
second
thereto,
recension
is
called
Admion.
t
The
like exhortation is
Haste, indeed,
master.
Know
are patience
Ibid.
it
is ot
the devil's
unless he learns
in the
known by
And
the seeker
way
is
;!
ia8
is
Know
give
therefore, ought
they
to
do
this
for
than
is
greater
is
through divine
inspiration.
once
fear of
The
planation
is
The Greek
to early experi-
says
ex-
ment.
well
regarded as
divine concurrence,
own
fireside
and Zosimus
so,
When
come
to thee.
the only
God
attain truth
existing in thee
know
also
acquainted
I
with
129
elements
the
as
when he proceeded
myself, but
to
and ignorance
in ruling,
eagerness, desire,
of the Doctrine
Woe
and excessive
due season
How,
harvest time.
then, should ye
when ye
discerned
except
is
after
plainly
not
error,
to
be
and
than
error in
this
Art,
while
each
and yet
Woe
finds
nothing in his
Understand
the dictum of the Philosopher, and
how he divided the work when he
hands.
said
pound,
unto you
130
cooking,
assimilating,
roasting,
Ethelia,
tingeing.
contrition
would
suffice
then cook
many
venom
rightly,
and do not
of the decoction.
Imbue
until it shall become as I
times,
grow tired
and cook it
have ordained that it should be ruled
by you namely, impalpable spirits,
and until ye perceive that the Ixir is
clad in the garment of the Kingdom.
For when ye behold the Ixir turned into
131
before you.t
yet
is
there
life
who
will forth-
herein.
for reading is a
which
is
is
same
we have
living
Hencfi
we have
narrated.
And
in
Do
he:
left
obscure
Bacsen
Latin
alchemists
made use
ot the
symbolism of
The Kenckel,
is
apparently an
shall
ye com-
132
And
he answereth
The copper
of which
(or
is
it is
destroyed.
ye investigators of this
all
art,
But,
it
is
much
you
sprinkle,*
shall put
on
until
rust,
the more
which
is
the founda-
ZiMONt
uttered,
saith
The second
Jargos,
true, yet
is
recension reads
" It
is
necessary to use
in proportion as
cooked."
t In the
name
is
do
Cadmon.
it
is
133
spoken
Then
concerning
he
opinion
that
saith:
thine
therefore,
concerning
ZiMON
rotundum.*
the
Speak,
.-
it,
to
notify
Zimon
posterity
the
elements,
one thing.t
And
he
to take
the
method
Willingly
it
ruling.
necessary
of
is
future
for
but
Magnesia
Take one
parts
then
cooked until
become one
the envious
then
commingle
with
temperate stone.
t
There
is
"
one thing."
134
of
earth
what
is
until
it
mixed with
vinegar,
rectified
the vessel,
close
male
observe
cook continuously
it, and
becomes earth.
in
But when
overcomes
is
all
things
Know
that they
Do
man
is
thus,
also,
each
ascended
from
behold
other,
there
The Turba
thou wast treating
of
the
turn
unto
biguous
and
When
first
work,
the
hast
lo
second
thou
how obscure
thou
didst
How am-
thy
words
Then
he
Turba
will
perform
the
first
position
of
answereth
up_jwar
Stir
Do
the
dis-
work.
The
And
this.
betwe en
quicksilver, untiTthey
135
he
and
copp er
go to destruction
conceives
coagulates
it,
the
quicksilver
it
up, there-
stir
is
destroy
becomes
a powder.
But conjoin the male to
the female, which are vapour* and
quicksilver, until the male and the
female become Ethel, for he who
changes them into spirit by means
*
The Latin
matter of
it
all things,
and
in
a special
way
it
was the
first
First
Matter of the Philosophers. The Boaary of the Philoso" The first matter of bodies is not the
phers observes
The
mineral stone
is
is
made from
It is
needful that
and
this is
But
was the
136
of Ethel,
red,
when by
lime
The Turba
every body.
Inform,
which
therefrom,
soul
And
that body.
he
by the names
It
is
a natural
is
which
thing*
sulphureous
what
posterity
therefore,
tinges
answereth
called
is
of all bodies.
Dardaris
saith:
Ye have
frequently
now hidden
the
by Ethelia,
soul except
Know
limation of Ethelia.
quicksilver
is fiery,
The second
concerning
fire,
recension reads
which much
is
also that
found
later
alchemical
writers.
t
137
bodies,
When,
over to be destroyed.
fore,
there-
bodies,
required, therefrom
produced that
is
Turba
it is
and
it
is
tinges
said did
The
inform
Dardaris,
And
are
do
it
contain
one
is
hidden
Sulphurs
hidden
in
four
by themselves,
another,
naturally conjoined.
which
he
Turba
posterity
For
if
and
are
ye rule that
in the belly of
sulphur
fire."
138
is
its
Know
lace
copper,
tinged,
and when
it
the
tinges
copper
that
of
coins
is
the
populace.
The Forty-Fourth Dictum.
MoYSES
saith
have
Philosophers
Dardaris, the
by
called
many
by three names!
Name
it,
Darbakis answereth
therefore,
that which
*
is
And
fiery,
he
posterity,
for
:
The one
the two
is
the
fifth."
vulgar."
body composed
in
139
the three
it,
is
the
it
is
tinges
of
out
quicksilver
is
Cambar ?
Philosopher
says
sometimes
from
is
Ye
composite.
thick thing
that
putrefy,
and
diligently
fiery
pound
spirit
be produced, which
that
other spirit
tincture which
is
then
is
is
venom,
until
hidden in
made
desired of you
the
all.
But Plato
Masters,
*
Some
the passage.
times
it is
behoves you
all,
are
saith
It
it is
" Some-
140
being
take
to
dissolved,
care
lest
all their
salt
be
tingeing,
be tinged, for the spirit being separated from the body and hidden in the
other
both
spirit,
Therefore
the
become
Wise have
volatile.
said
that
flee, (or
that
spirit like
unto
volatile, since
itself,
they are
becomes
either
made
aeriform
But
the Philosophers seeing that which was
spirits
it
prone to ascend
is
in
the
air.
Quicksilver
Cambar
is
Magnesia," &c.
*
The reading of
is
lest
clearer,
it
take
not
made
volatile
volatile
141
with the
a body like
and put them
to
the
non-volatiles,
escape,*
They
body
like
were
they
iterated
the
sopher
made
one
is
concealed
spirit.
Know
humid
spirits is
the
Philo-
agent
to
tincture,
spirit
be tinged are
it
to
refers
humid
another
in
as
tingeing
of
the
the
But
digested.
statement
that
to
and
extracted,
them
also
cold,
is hot,
is
nevertheless
Therefore,
we
they
are
made
one.
incorporeals
steadfast in the
*
fire,
become
bodies,
also said
made
They
fled
flying."
142
is
not
For
spirits in
but
fugitives
restrained
Incorporeals,
corporeals.
by
in-
therefore,
those, con-
a non-volatile
incorporeal re-
body
convert
into air,
fire in
fire,
the
air,
comes
Know,
also,
Nature,
Nature
rejoices
in
Attamus
be noted that
the whole assembly of the Philosophers
have frequently treated concerning
saiih
It is to
Rubigo.*
Rubigo, however,
143
is
ficti-
Turba
The
alone.
from gold
it is
answereth
Why,
He
answereth
it
Because
water
is
fore, is
but to
make
rubigo
former work,
in
is
to whiten in the
MuNDUS
treated
*
Thou
of
sufficiently
While
of metals,
saith:
it
this
term properly
was used
in
hast already
Rubigo,
many
The oxydes
of iron, the
oxydes of
"
1^4
venom
that
tions
because subtle
body,
not
is
have made
spirits
it
it
Philosophers
asserts
will
the Ancient
who
he
that
this
unto you,
all
Now
nothing.
say
ye
effect
nought.
ascend
like
fire
spirit,
This, therefore,
is
and a ponderous
spirit avoiding the
smoke,* which when it enters the body
fire
more or
antimony, were
all
names
minium, &c.
of rubigo,
It
all
is not,
itself
concern
less
fire
smoke
its
in
which
it
so
history we have
we have
citrine
also white
smoke, identical
145
penetrates
entirely,
it
Pythagoras saith
unto all you seekers
:
We
must affirm
ways.
But
constrain
quicksilver
Magnesia,
or
Spume
the
the
make
body
the
body
of
Kuhul, or
of Luna, or incombustible
roasted
or
alum
sulphur,
or
which
is
But
if
calx,
for
is
orpiment ; smoke
and
lastly the
Turba.
Many
show
that
Otherwise
my Lady
:
to the alchemists as to
Nicotine."
146
and alum
which
all
is
Know ye
also that
Magnesia, being
when
it
is
an exceeding
which
is one of the
strong composition,
ten regimens established by the Philo-
composed
it
sophers.
Know,
called
is
when
that
also,
for,
as the Philoso-
and
*
is
congelation
first
lead.
Accordingly,
not one.*
is
of tin, copper,
is
com-
calcine
generate themselves.
them under
sometimes
sevei;al
in
themselves, and
is
for
a calcination,
some of these
(other
some)
re-
147
Some,
It
than vapour
is
nothing else
of
body of Magnesia t
quicksilver in the
demonstrated
impure
in
water
their
sulphur
of
is
is
from
pro-
Belus
saith
all
ye Philosophers,
contact,
one thing
The second
recension reads
magnesia."
its
" It
is
is
nothing but
148
This,
why
Belus,
hast thou
it
not shown
books,
Pythagoras
its
work
And he
we have
Master,
have
In our
found
And Pythagoras
assembled
you
remove any
obscurities which are in any books.
And he Willingly, O Master
It is
to be noted that pure water which
is from sulphur is not composed of
sulphur alone, but is composed of
several things, for the one sulphur is
Therefore
made
*
of
How,
The
"
ment
is
reproduced
literally
by the Rosary of
the Philo-
sophers.
t
According to
water which
is
the
second recension:
from sulphur
is
"the clean
therefore,
Master, shall
149
compose
these things that they may become
one
And
which
he
Mix,
Belus, that
things
for
fire
suitable
to
cooked
a gentle, incomburent
in
fire !*
is
many
sulphur burns
little
things,
strong
called
and other
Philosophers
physicians,
tests
are
made
the
to
like
notwithstanding that
the
of
Therefore our
like things.
physicians
are
the
more
Turba
The
answereth
wish,
alone, but
is
one sulphur."
*
For this last sentence the second recension sub" and friendship is made constant."
stitutes
150
And
he
two
that
compositions,
But
and
reduced
is
to
is
of Boletus
fungus),
and
quicksilver,
of water;
it
it
water,
a species of
(i.e.,
When, however,
into
after
spume
say,
it
they
call
it
when
sulphur also,
sulphur
con-
it
venom,
because it is a potent (or open) arcanum
which ascends from those things
term a
fiery
ye know.
The Fiftieth Dictum.
Pandolphus
saith
describe
the
dost
O Belus, thou
If,
sublimation*
the
alchemists
of
of the
Byzantine collection made use oi as the equivalent of sublimation, signified originally filings, as M. Berthelot informs
us, thus expressing the idea of the
matter.
The same
idea
extreme attenuation of
was attached
later
on by the Latin
an impalpable powder.
tion
was
called stalagma,
by vapourisation
or filtration.
[Collection
Another species
which meant
{lb., 2ii.)
distilla-
sulphur
wilt
And
generations,
future
for
accomplish an
the
Turba
therefore,
151
thou
thing
excellent
O Pandolphus
and
albeit
they spoke
is
ambiguity,
little
yet in
truly,
remove.
will
in tabernacles,
demonstrated to you,
for out of
sulphur
mixed with sulphur, many works proWhen the same has been subceed.
Cambar
Orpiment,
According
is
Zendrio,
to
the
called Ethelia,
Sanderich,+
or
second
recension
" there
is
another sulphur."
f
The reading
Sandarac
is
realgar
in the
;
second recension
in the
Greek MSS.
it
M.
is unintelligible,
it
is
confounded
Berthelot also
tells
us
as indeed
is
is
The
applied at the
152
or
Kuhul,
Ebsemich,
Magnesia,
names.
Chuhul, and many other
Concerning this, philosophers have
said
men
that,
(for
being
ten
is
by
ruled
its
regi-
the perfection of
all
there any
is
shadow
therein.
lead from
it
White
Copper.
it is
has
Then
left its
For,
spirit
has
tincture.
soul is spirit,
its
body
is
it
the
body
until
ye
the
spirit
extracted
a
Mix,
extract
thick.
Therefore,
thick
and
Now,
therefrom
with light sulphur until you, investigators, find your design accomplish ed.
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
composed an ambiguous defor readers. But if its regimen
regimen of
this
therefore,
scription
Turba
the
cerning
it
may
Speak,
this
to
so far as
posterity,
And
please you.
con-
therefore,
he
be-
It
to burn coppert
like
eggs.
For
and
let
a gentle
it
humidity
its
in
lest
it
with
be burnt,
spirit
its
fire,
colour
[?
heat]
all
may
and
tingeing spirit be
which
concerning
extracted,!
its
name
is
the
Morfoleus.
is
"
when
the
its
fire
body
Turba Philosophorum.
^^'^
154
Take
quicksilver
all
things,
which further
many
out of
have
that
said
when
made
one,
bodies,
know,
all
things
all
become
bodies
some
Again,
things.*
are
not-
And
is
it is
without doubt
spiritual thing,
becomes a similar
and that every spirit
it
spirits,
altered
be the name of
fire, is
Him who
Blessed then
hath inspired
body
colour,
phur
*
is
and
was
Otherwise
volatile sul-
not- volatile,
venom
and incombustible
Know,
make your
also, all
who
155
is
ye
able to
red by the
fugitive spirit
Wherefore
if
only he
patient
is
tedium of extracting.
spite of the
Know
belly
thereof,
in
the
the
that out
have
envious
of
copper,
said
after
it
moisture
humectated
by
the
thereof,
is
pounded in its water,
and is cooked in sulphur, if ye extract
a body having Ethelia, ye will find that
which is suitable as a tincture for anyWherefore the envious have
thing.
said
Things that
are
diligently
is
pounded
in the fire,
of the Ethelia,
with sublimation
become
fixed tinctures.
we
call
any
which
Water
of sulphur occurs
and
find in
signify quicksilver,
Mary
in
among
one of the
the ingredients of a
treatises of
Zosimus,
156
we sometimes say
and copulated
is
coin.
is
manfactured
in this
manner
from
its
it is
means of
Having mixed all the
impossible to extricate
"pure" water
compound
of sulphur
distils.''
which
is
There
is
fire
also a
obtained somewhat
differently.
*
The second
recension reads
Do
you
remember
not
157
what
the
it
But when
not tinge ?*
tinged
is
it
it
tinges,
it is
when
they called
all
That
is
Democritus
following
firom
is
Chios, or Ochre, 2
parts
part
You
carefully regulated.
(it
is
(Coral
of
:
will
Gold)."
" Here
Pontus,
part
coral."
Greek
find
is
cook over a
fire
a potent substance,
coral, or
Democritus, says
it
Finest Earth of
of
The body
" Before
a ricipe of Pseudo-
Minium
corallos
called copper.''
The
alchemists.
it is
And
how he
is
minium.
This
called Chryso-
Synesius,
quoting
expresses himself:
158
sophers,
one
are
they
because
one
thing,
opinion,
from
are
all things,*
out of which
produced,
which
water
that
silver,
the
destroys
And know ye
copper.
when
also
it
is
all
things
is
pure
shade
of
whitened, becomes a
venom
marble
that has a
brilliance
is
like
mild
fire,
sublimated,
wholly quicksilver.
It is,
therefore,
most great arcanum which the Philosophers have thus described, because
sulphur alone whitens copper.
investigators of this
Art,
Ye,
must know
for
ab omnibus
is
substi-
it is
a printer's error.
copper until
it is
And know ye
of
also that
sulphur
this
therefore,
to
flees
it
it
the habit
is
When,
own thick
escape.
from
its
bodies,
and
then
it
is
sublimated as a vapour,
the
its
have
it
other-
own
kind,
Wherefore
vanish altogether.
Philosophers
Know,
159
that
said,
by sulphurs.
and
own
kind.
Do
not,
therefore,
its
think
and afterwards
that because
it
escapes,
it is
tinges*
is
which
it
is
own
kind,
they
The second
i6o
our coin.
ExuMENust
laid
The
saith:
envious have
with
the
make
coin-like
M.
Inform, there-
Exumenus, concern-
f For
this
Obsemeganus.
name
till
known
the second
recension
substitutes
i6i
may
take warning
have named
and
washing,
whitening
turning
of
in
into
Ethel,
he
the
Ethelias,
frequently
lire,
and
the art
coagulating,
the
rubigo,
They
sublimating,
pounding
vapour
cooking
And
salting,
it
of
confection
the
By
water
all
of
these
its
confections
and
red,
hence
it
is
the
turned into
Philosopher
Do you
converted.
Philosophers
envy
with
ye
have
Hence we
extract
in the vessel,
spoken
deal in
pounding and
may
without
many ways
reiteration,
that
which the
fire
did not
But the
M
::
i62
fire
those
befalls
things
the
fire,
that
by the flame of
the
it
the more
in
they
lest
in
from them.
Unless
and
belly
its
fire
make
ye
them
water receives
but the
not-bodies
bodies
But concerning
ye achieve nothing.
have
sophers
And know
treated
little.
in
the
fire,
the
Ethelia
that
not
does
ascend
not
When, however,
nothing.
ye
achieve
it
ascends
it
is
cerning
Sift
Hermes saith
which ye know
but
Ethelia
the things
another
fore,
this
Arras saith
ThereUnless ye pound
fire,
Ethelia
The Master
to the
163
hath
shall
now
Know
reasoners.
ye
Turba
Thou
answereth:
And
dealt obscurely.
he
hast
will ex-
one.
The Fifty-Fourth Dictum.
Anaxagoras
Take
saith:
the volatile
Then
it.
Two
of Bulandiu.
The
first
stood metallurgically
is
the second
clay.
Paracelsus uses
own
Adamic earth
same idea.
or clay
to this
it
in
in the
Lexicon
is
a vessel of baked
man's body.
it is
term
164
Turba
The
imbibe.
to
answereth
Explain,
obscurity
And he : I
beware of being envious
testify to you that this volatile burnt
thing, and this other which thirsts, are
!
been
which has
Ethelia,
with sulphur.
conjoined
fire, and
Cambar.
becomes
cook until the whole
Then God will accomplish the arcanum
But I direct you to cook
ye seek.
continuously, and not to grow tired of
in
And know ye
this
the
confection
with
tabula
until
it
;*
of
of
turn
Rubigo
cooked
is
it
becomes Rubigo,
to
for
all
is
the
He who
is
golden
into
is
water of sulphur
finally,
work
de-
vain.
perfection
tabula."
of
sulphur
consists
in
the
"
The whole
decoction
of
165
Zenon* saith
its
gum.
am
astonished,
all
ye
in this
Thou
putrefaction
and
the
humid.
But
the
humid
is
the
of
Thus
the
But out
dry.
vulgar
of both
work.
is
the beginning
Notwithstanding, the
but
the
other
is
fixed
immovable.
The name
in the
and
i66
CoNSTANS
saith:
to
it is
They answer:
fire.
is
ever gene-
Art.
earth
and water,
And know ye
dessicated.*
that the
its
power
and of the
part of
has
is
the
fire
been dessicated. +
fore,
*
air,
of the
process
spirit
This, thereof
our
"The
work,
spirit is
The second
question
is
and water.
these
a body
may be
into earth
are
turned
parts of
because
extracted,
then composed
is
167
which
is
and
thereafter tinges the imposed body of
coins.*
Beware, however, O all ye
a
kind
atmospheric
of
thing,
and destroyed
have multiplied
you
for
They have
it
(or
humid with
dry with
all
have likened
all
to) the
it
name
of
and
who would
But do ye
For
say
you what
and truly at the beginning of
the
to
Philosopher
said
briefly
his book.
quicksilver from
The
Cambar, and
is
the
in coins
1 68
is
nothing, however,
since the two
look
In
beyond
this,
are
also
quicksilvers
one.
AcRATus*
saith
signify to posterity
But
they
taken.
yet, if
you are
terity
to
willing,
take a
part
direct pos-
of
the coins
Otherwise the
spirit
it is
name
is
Astratus.
probably a misreading.
The
in the 67th
between
Dictum should be
distinction
169
copper of
the
Philosophers,
the
mix
to
and place
coins,
all
carefully
Cooking
must proceed
for seven
when
days,
found
is
turned
water.
into
Then
fear nothing.
the vessel be
let
Repeat
above.
continually
the
Kuhul, which
is
will
of
For when
is
returned
cooked
is
cook
blackness
of coins, be consumed.
that
appear
process,
the
until
will
to
until
their
the whole
they
place,
are
dried and
is
Also repeatedly
of
Hermes."
170
sharper
than
stone
destroyed,
is
former,
the
Doctrine,
is
Alas,
how
the
fore,
ye
it
is
of
the
that which
Mixing, there-
with
cinder
is
a precious
sons
precious
produced from
and
broken up,
the
until
water,
cook
not-fugitive,
spirits
are
connected
spirits
made
are
and both
Then
together.
soul.
Now
hast
to posterity that
The Turba
thou
is
notified
Rubigo attaches
are
and germinating
answereth:
turned into
spirits,
itself
washed
Then
it
magnesia.
Finally,
it is
cooked
until
is
broken up.
171
After-
wards
the
cinder
volatile
shadow.
its
is
Concerning,
place.
turned into a
therefore,
the
delivered
to
posterity,
seeing
means called
things by their proper names ? And
he
Following your own footsteps, I
have discoursed
even
as have you.
our books.
The Fifty-Eighth Dictum.
Balgus*
saith
speakest truly.
opinion,
*
mouth of Anastiatus.
is
;;
172
and astronomy,
and the art of images; they have also
they have amlikened it to trees
biguously concealed it by the names of
as is
metals, vapours, and reptiles
in physical reasoning
generally perceived
I,
into plates
it
but
stir it
cause,
not
with
if
be
while,
contained
if it
in
be too dry,
it
the
will
it
chimney,
will neither
be
hence
gently
the
I
;
direct
finally,
mouth
internally
you to confect
place
of which
and
it
dili-
it
in its vessel,
must be closed
externally
with
clay,
it,
some days ye
shall
already liquefied
open
the
and
it,
plates
iron
while on
173
thfe lid
when the
fire
is
ascends, because
of
For
its
air,
nature
spiritual
wherefore,
direct
By
changed.
is
not disjoined.!
Among
entitled
Cambar
notify to
similar
The Work
oj the
is
you that
is
one
this contains
Here
is
magnesia, water
mercury,
sea
water, virginal milk, milk of the she ass, the bitch, the
There
is
The number
three
is
is,
indicated
by the
second
recension.
}
The second
it is
disjoined.
^''^
174
by the
Turba Philosophorum.
the
decoction
frequent
said
is
sand
red
Sputum
the
of
light
of
Luna
of
the
is
sea,
the
for
Luna
Sun's rays.t
is
and
the
Sun
is
himself
congealed,
causes
"
it
its spirit
According
to
Omitted
For
substitutes
Sun
is
is
is
congealed."
in the
second recension.
this nonsensical
:
is
"That which
congealed."
Then
Bonites
saith
tinges
nothing
Do you
Spume
175
not know,
of
Luna
copper
our
except
truly_
thou
nevermore
person,*
And Balgus
who has
notified to
me
discovered this
priately
certain
what manner he
same tree, and approafter
operating,
did
extract
the
also
*
as Tulleas.
is
by
referred to
176
Then
reach them.
in the
time of 180
man
say that
number
man
the old
become young.
shall
made
man
is
Blessed be thou,
Theophilus
saith
propose to speak
Bonites
hath
Turba:
Speak,
hath
brother
And
he
It
Brother,
discoursed
Following
Bonites
ings.
narrated.
will
make
in
And
the
for
thy
elegantly.
the steps of
Philosophers, while
they
all
have
the
con-
in
their
whatsoever*
water
is
comes young.
-they
mixed with
then
dies,
first
when
treatises
177
the
and be-
lives
And know,
said
ye
all
because
it
it
till
is
it is
then
liquefies
and
In these days
it
it is
congealed.
becomes
rusty, but
And
that
And
he
they
What
Certain
fruits,
is
thy
Would
he:
thing
like
Then
will ?
which proceed
first
do flourish in
the beginning of the summer, and the
more they are multiplied the more
are
they
*
man
The
tree,
adorned, t
they
until
is
are
to the old
"
The more
tree is adorned."
the
178
whom
she
lives,
who
beauty,
furiously loves
her,
is
finished
he turns to her.
make known
never dies,
her spouses.
The
woman who
it
it
its style,
is,
in
any
described.
something which
has
not
is
that of
slays
this allegory
seen,
also
to
been
it
will
be
previously
woman
179
of
and
is
For
cut up into parts.
him mixed with the limbs
of a woman he becomes secure from
death, and the whole is turned into
blood.
But the Philosophers, beholding him turned into blood, leave him
woman,
is
perceiving
in the
is
hidden.
The Sixtieth Dictum.
BoNELLUS*
ciples,
saith:
Know,
that out of
all
the elect
ye disthings
name
is
Bodillus.
i8o
woman,
the humour
the
moistening
when
forty
sperm is
But if the humidity of the
blood and of the womb were not heat,
the sperm would not be dissolved, nor
have
nights
elapsed
the
formed.
\the
But God
be procreated.
foetus
the foetus
until
is
it is
fire,
is
dust,
more,
it
is
led
is
it
Otherwise
"
youth,
arriving
independent.t
you
behoves
burns the
at which
it
it
it
also
Know
that
act
to
nothing
Thus
is
in
generated
without complexion."
t
is
"So
long as
it
is
little,
it
is
Know
this Art.
nothing
is
i8i
means of intense
frigid, it
heat.
puts to
If,
flight
indeed,
and
it
be
disperses,
if it
the
fore
the flesh
is
been
has
demonstrated
ye disciples
and
in
veins
all
Understand, therefore,
things which ye attempt
all
to rule, fear
to you,
God.
MosES
saith
It is to
be observed that
named
lead of copper
whom
give
no instruments
except from
This passage
translatable.
envious
making
number
is
many ways
in
lead,
of instruments," etc.
" The
have
i82
concave
the
to
produced
formation.
of
of the egg.
The concave
not to be understood as
its
Thomas
formal
form
"Our
because
it
is
is
it
in his
BpUtle
to
is
So Bernard Trevisan,
Boiwnia:
of
later philosophers.
as vegetative or
For
gleaming,
t
i.e.,
candidus.
severe
critic,
having
is
Alogiee,
powder mentioned
more
of these things
is
difficult
because,
183
if
it
The moon,
profound judgment.
being at the
fore,
place in sand
till it
full,
there-
be dissolved.
And
cess, unless
in ruling,
therefore,
ye
until
that
see
it
is
dissolved.
Then
shall
find
three companions.
the
first,
Ixir,
And know
ye that
it
of three
holds there
degrees of perfection.
is
In
but one
elixir,
Fundamentally,
having various
in
and three
activities
184
the
place, therefore,
first
impose nine
it is
while
first
and
hot,
heated.
MuNDUS
all
saith
behoves you,
It
that
Do
!*
thing
about
there
trouble
therefore,
not,
of
plurality
things,
for
is
Philosophers
given
names
abolished
at
and having
name, they
will,
proper
the
penetration,
and
fixation,
just
The
a mere subtlety.
Elixir at the
second
is
first
metals
is at
'
the
the
Philosophers
Geldum,
etc."
have
in exaltation,
body
distinction is
much
of the
Elixir of
to be the medicine of
second
named
as
And
According to the
has
it
Gold
recension
men.
" Certain
Chelidony, Karnech,
know
not
that
ancient
the
condescend
to
185
did
priests
wear
artificial
which they
placed in their altars and treasuries,
was more clean and fragrant than
can be described by me, which also
has been extracted from our red
and most pure sea, which is sweet and
Tyrian
but our
colour,
and
of a pleasant odour,
sordid
nor
impure
ye that
And know
many names
true
to
it,
we have
which
For
given
are
all
corn that
after
grinding
traced
neither
is
putrefaction.
in
is
is
to be
being ground.
it
is
it
called
by
has been
and the
various substances have been separated one from another, each of these
has its own name, and yet fundamentally there is but one name, to
passed through
the
sieve,
i86
corn,
wit,
many names
Thus we call the
from which
are distinguished.
purple
Philosophus*
saith
notify to pos-
male and
have
body of Magnesia,
called it the
because therein is the most great
Accordingly, O all ye
arcanum
seekers after this Art, place Magnesia
terity
that
female,
nature
the
is
in
its
vessel,
Then, opening
and
it
cook
after
diligently
some days, ye
changed into
water.
Cook further until it be coaguBut, when
lated, and contain itself.
ye hear of the sea in the books of the
envious, know that they signify humour,
while by the basket they signify the
vessel, and by the medicines they
shall
find
the
whole
it
germinates
is
put into
and
say
flowers.*
Wash
187
But Agadimon
demonstrated when he
has
clearly
be noted,
all
It is to
ye demonstrators of
being
first
shall
find the
That
prescribed blackness!
This, therefore,
Wise,
become
is
is
concerning
the
lead
black.
of
the
Some
also
call
it
[the lead]
of our
black coins.
The Sixty-Fourth DictumA
Pythagoras
saith:
How
marvellous
is
in
asserted,
gether
*
and
their
agreement]
[or
coming
in
in
Philosophers
is
This dictum
to-
respect
" That which
one nevertheless."
is
i88
of this small
'
And
if
and
lie
all
ye
Yet,
they knew
if
in-
same small
vile
it
its efficacy,
God
hath
lest
vilify it,
but
HoRFOLCUS
saith :t
syllogisms,
lucid
he that does
a brute animal
the regimen
But
of this
is
will explain
small thing, in
this
Art,
may become
In
the
second
recension
the
bolder,!
speaker
is
called
Oifulus.
J
On
thine inexperience,
thing has
well."
On
become
Be not dissuaded by
and when you perceive that every-
ash,
all
goes
may more
although
assuredly consider
it
it,
and
may compose
be small,
common
189
which is
dear, and the dear with that which
Know ye that in the
is common.
the
with
that
are
cooked
governed,
Beware
fire.
the
until
for
or
sincere,
over
and
a
gentle
of intensifying the
elements
are
not
fire
conjoined,
And know
it
is
necessary that
it
should be
behoves you
of the whole
it
to
will
be
igo
against the
fire.
Whence
the Philoso-
But
is
to
make
leave
it
made
subtle,
a tingeing
the
and the
spirit.
death and
be
subtle remain as
Know ye,
also, that
of the
elements
life
fire,
liquid
of the
is
wisdom
"
The non-
God,
of
until
accomplished.
Nature,
Nature,
converting
the
Nature
that
regi-
is
more
Natures
these
which
and
composite,
and
by
therefore,
than
precious
separating
elements
Nothing,
wonder-working
heavenly
men!
191
the
multiplies
makes
in
and
fixed
scarlet.
ExEMiGANUs
treated,
saith:
and concealed
as
nesia,
hast
[or
Thou
silver,
which
is
Mag-
it
commanded
posterity to
experiment] and
to
hast already
prove
read the
to
have said
disesteem
remains
effects
it
spirit
and
when it
arcanum and
it
is
a great
many good
This dictum
is
things.
1 92
Lucas saith
and what I
forth
set
posterity,
to
testify
is
more
lucid
than are your words, that the Philosopher saith :* Burn the copper, burn
Hermiganus
Behold something more dark
than
ever
And
dark.
is
Turba
he
Burn,
answereth
which is
As to that which he
that
therefore,
Illumine,
said
The
dealt with
it
that
with jealousy
speak
should
Atid they
Do
so.
more
And
he
clearly
I
signify
to burn, but to
make
that to whiten
is
red
is
life.t
The
"
The books
of the Philosophers
should be read, for they have not in vain advised that the
suclcing child should be heeded, for therein is
to vivify."
an arcanum,
things."
:
"
To make
red
many names
multiplied
193
that
they
whom
I testify
is
to
body and
therefrom
Where-
destroy
the soul
the
fore
which
is
subtle
nature,
it is this which
and penetrates the body. In
nature,
therefore, there is a body
and there is a soul.
The Turba
is
tinges
answereth
explain,
you
have
words.
And
he
your
Despite
put
desire
forth
signify
to
dark
that the
splendour
appear unless
when it
Mercury
of Saturn
it
not
perchance be dark
ascends
is
does
in
the
air,
that
vivifies
the body
194
by
its fiery
strength,
is
Attamus
saith:
Know,
all
ye
in-
Then
If
is,
ounces
This
in the note
is
on page i68 of
this
of a planetary attribution of
may be
but,
as
in
the
195
Do not impose
the vinegar a second time in this work,
but leave the same to be cooked until
[or grade] of Libra.
all
vinegar be
its
becomes a
And
earth.
up and
dried
it
fixed
is
more
am
Florus
saith
fecting
thy treatise,
thinking of per-
Mundus,
for
position of
Proceed,
Florus
And
And
Philosopher!
teach you,
he
Sons of the
ness
the
of
extraction of
Describe
Florus
ter
is
decoction
first
its
what
When
entirely
redness!
is
is
And
redness.
the
he:
And
know
that
196
hidden
been
has
whiteness
in
Then
it
the
be-
But
second decoction
in the
let
that
its
gently
until
it
be cooked
it
become completely
white.
But when, O all ye seekers
after this Art, ye shall perceive that
whiteness appear and flowing over all,
However,
is
hid in that
does
it
not
most deep
red,
can
compare.
first
blackness
Know
is
that the
also
is
which
and
you to
that
blackness,
the black,
has
fugitive
from
the
The second
extract
it.
it
does behove
two
the
into
one.
Turba
And
?
The
answereth:
197
this
he:
when
indelible
nature.
It
behoves
you,
know
therefore, to
to the
fugitive
fugitive with
and
turns
the fugitive.*
into
the
Do you
cruciate with
inconvenient,
thereby
tracted
it
which
is
Both
The second
reading
utility
and coadunation."
ig8
indelible.
of
prepared
for
the rest
which
come
not
I
it
have
does
this
to pass without
testified to
but that
for
blackness,
work.
The Seventieth Dictum.
MuNDUS*
saith
Know,
all
ye investi-
which
imposes
if it
hath not,
profits nothing.
all
is all
that
Accordingly,
is
and a
one,
it
is
diversity of
it
Do
these
which
merated
the
in
philosophers
have enu-
books.
For the
their
nature of truth
*
is
one,
name
is
Mandinus.
xgg
having in
properties,
itself its
by which it prevails over other thingsDo you not see that the Master has
begun with one and finished one ?
Hence has he called those unities
Sulphureous Water, conquering all
Nature.
The Seventy-First Dictum.
Bracus*
*
saith
Aichelaus.
is
ascribed to
200
is
And know
belly.
body
The
compo-
Philosophus*
saith
is
made out
first
ruled
it is
called
of this
Magnesia.
The second
the lead
aoi
position called
composition.
fold
one
When
is
But composition
humid, the other
is
two-
is
dry.
called the
good
But when it
becomes red it is called Flower of Gold,
Ferment of Gold, Gold of Coral, t
Gold of the Beak.J It is also called
redundant red sulphur and red orpiment.
But while it remains crude
lead of copper, it is called bars and
Behold I have replates of metal.
thing of several names.
Sericon
is
Sandyx and
it
was a com-
Sinopis.
when
it
iectly
The
inscrutable,
but
is
is,
of course, per-
to
the
ao3
vealed
its
names when
raw, which
is
it
therefore
it
pondered
be
me now
behoves
quantity of the
over.
It
you the
and the numbers of
to exhibit to
fire,
its
who
shall
possess this
unto
himself,+
many
kinds of
of straw
and
One
fire.
cinder, coals
shows
that
there
made
is
and flame,
Experiment
intermediate
are
But lead
is
whole
Greek, in
common
which
Now,
arcanum.
with
all
out
is
the
concerning
See Olympiodorus
,
On
and
the Sacred
Art.
t
qui
of Paracelsus
203
Wherefore
philosophers.
new
turned into a
Then they
nature.
it is
water and
is
altered in
every grade
it
is
its
when
venerable
by
Although
concerning
In
colours.
beheld,
coloured
drinks the
this
it
is
redness.
we
elixir
Take
it
is
::
204
Wishing,
know the
certitude of the
how he
saith,
Again,
in the
Take
gold,
iron
he
coin,
shews,
copper,
lead,
and
by
his
therefore,
And
into
*
without lead
Democritus at
effectually
is
silenced,
and copper,
is
taken.
is
not changed
in
which he
no explanation can
at
present be found.
They
are
Absumech,
Carmen.
205
turned
is
into
redness.
This,
they said
ever
Take
gold and
it
names of those
behoves them that
for
it
vinegar be placed in
colours
come from
it,
because these
But by these
it.
have
is
may become
is
imposed
colours
that
each
water
being
vessel,
appear.
citrine
is
decocted
be
may be
it
is
cooked
Its first
necessary
until
forty
in
desiccated,
consumed
and placed
being
imbued
it
it.
appear,
days, so that
the
it
on
said
that
its
finally
in
the
utility
grade becomes as a
2o6
So
vulgar.
is
Conclusion.*
Agmon saith :
by way of a
I will
Whosoever
and coagulate errs
corollary.
does not
liquefy
greatly.
Therefore,
black
make
the earth
so shall
thereof, afterwards whiten;
ye find what ye seek. I say unto you
that whoso makes earth black and then
dissolves with
like
becomes even
fire, till it
who
above the
and
also fixes
fire,
deserves
shall be exalted
This
become corrupted,
it
fire,
shall
dissolve,
*
be increased.
it
and
is
placed in the
If
you seek
shall be dissolved
This constitutes
recension,
is
in
but
to
if
the second
207
with impunity to
nothing alien
is
added.
Investigate
foreign.
wisdom.
INDEX.
Adam,
Death,
21.
22.
Democritus,
Angels,
Dew,
Arcanum,
122.
Dragon,
178.
Atitos, 72.
EfQucidinua, 8g.
Egg,
Elements, Four, 7,
Boritis, 75,
Elementary
Brodium,
31, 32.
Burnt Copper,
Burnt Lead,
Fire, 21.
no.
31.
56.
Fseces, 39.
Ferment of Gold,
105, 148,
Cambar,
Citrine, 97.
Flower of Copper,
Coagula, i6z.
Flower of Gold,
Flower of Salt,
31, 143.
31, 39.
Foimdation of Art,
138.
Copper,
Four Seasons,
36, 140-142.
72, 154.
50.
59.
Oadenbe,
39.
gum
144;
Crocus, 81.
of, 31,
2IO
Golden Water,
Greenstone,
Gum,
61-63
Permanent Water,
134,
of aacotia, log
of
scoria, 44.
Halsut, 194.
Hermes,
68.
Hidden Glory,
67.
Bedness,
Ixir, 78, 100, 121, 122, 126, 130.
Slave, 96.
Rotundum,
Art, 25.
iss*
Rubigo, 143,
Rust,
Lead,
Red
Kuhul,
139, 145.
igi, 193.
Key of the
67.
zoo, 161
red lead,
Leaven of Gold,
60, 61.
Saginatum,
31.
Saturn, 193.
31.
Shadow of Metals,
Smoke,
Magnesia,
body
Magnet,
Marteck,
152, 196.
Mercury,
193.
Milk of Fig,
Mucra,
70, 76.
58, 144,
Spume
of the
Moon,
of gold, 125.
Sulphur,
122, 137.
Sun,
69,
63.
Testa, 163.
Tin,
Nitre, t2i.
Tyrian Dye,
Orpiment,
57, 139.
184.
Urine,
Water,
8-i3, 2o,
4,
alum, 38
gold,
Venom,
46, 6g,
Venus,
117;
of iron,
21,
27;
dew, 63
of
of
38;
of
of our sea,
i39i I47'
194.
Vinegar, 51-54,
of
58, 90,
iig, 121,
Whiteness,
143.