The Turba Philosophorum

A L CH EM Y

TH E TU RB A P H I LO SO P H O R U M

A S S EM BLY O F T H E S A G ES

CALLED ALSO TH E BOOK OF TR UTH I N TH E

ART AND TH ETH I RD PYT H AGOR I CAL SYNO D

M R D F M F AN ANCIENT ALCHE ICAL T EATISE TRANSLATE RO THE LATIN , THE CHIE D G O F D X P F RO M T HE G K REA IN S THE SHORTER CO E , ARALLELS REE M A N D X P O P B U M ALCHE ISTS, E LANATIONS O SC RE TER S

ARTH U R EDW AR D W AI TE TRANSLATOR 01? T HE H ERM E’I ‘ I C A N D ALCHEM ICAL wn rr m cs " O F PARACELS US.

I onbon GEO RG E R ED W AY

PREFACE. _ :o

E Tur a i dis u tab th e TH b P hilosophomm is n p ly mo st a n cient extan t trea tise o n Alch emy in ‘ th e L a tin t o n u e b u t it w a s n o t so far as ca n g , , b e a sce t ain d o i in a w itten in L atin th e r e , r g lly r co m i e o r edito fo r in ma n s cts it can p l r r, y re pe sca ce b e a ded a s an o ri i a co m o sitio n r ly reg r g n l p , w o t e eith e in H b ew o r abic h o weve t h e r r e r Ar ; r, wo n o t o a t th e esen t d a bu t seemin rk , nly pr y , gly d u rin g th e six o r seven cent u ries wh en it wa s qu o ted a s a n a u th o rity by all t h e a lch emica l

ade t s h as b e n fa mi ia o n in it s L ati a b . p , e l r ly n g r

I t is n o t o f co u se c t a i th at th e o i in a , r , er n r g l is irretrievab o st th e abic an d S ia c ly l , Ar yr m an u scripts trea tin g o f early ch emistry a re preserved in co n sidera ble n u mb ers in th e va rio u s ib a ies o f Eu o e a n d h a ve o n l r r r p , ly

b n im rfect o d . U n fo t u n ate ee pe ly expl re r ly , t h e presen t edito r h a s neith er th e o ppo rtu n ity n o r t h e qu a liﬁca tio n s fo r u n derta kin g su ch a t ask . Th ere a re two co dices o r recen sio n s o f Th e

Turbo P hiloso homm wh ich diff co n side ab p , er r ly f o m o n e n h W h at is ca e in h r a o t er . ll d t e fo o win a es th e s co d cen sio n is ll g p g e n re , a reciab sh o rte c ea a n d o n t h e wh o pp ly r, l rer , , le , th e ess co u t o f th e two b u t th e a re b o th l rr p , y

2094035 ii . P a c ref e. in a b a Th n c n sio n h a s been d st at e . e lo ger re e ch o sen fo r th e t ext o f th e fo o win t an s a tio n ll g r l , beca u se it seemed desira ble to give t h e w o rk in I t s enti et Th e va iatio n s o f th e seco n d r y . r

ecen sio n a re a en ded u su a in fo o t - n o tes r pp lly , b u t wh ere th e rea din g o f th e t ext is so co rru pt a s t o b e u ite u n tra n s a tab e th e edito h a s q l l , r o cca sio n a lly su b stit u t ed th a t o f th e alt ern a t ive

e th e versio n , a n d h a s in mo st ca ses in dicat d co u se u su ed r p r .

’ M o n sieu r B erth elo t s inva lu able t ext a n d tra n slatio n o f th e Byz a n tin e Alch emists h a s b een a e m a de u se o f to i u stra t t h e l rg ly , ll e strikin g analo gies b etween th e Greek H e rmetic writers o f th e fo u rth cen tu ry a n d th e Tu rb a . I t is t o th is grea t sch o lar a n d scien tist th at we o we th e disco ve o f th ese a n a o ies so m o f ry l g , e wh ich a re very clearly in dicated in a ch a pt er d vo t ed t o th e su b ct an d fo min e je , r g pa rt o f h is “ Essa i su r la Tra n smissio n de ” a i c I t l S c en e An tiqu e a u M o yen Age .

' fo o ws f o m M th e o t s esea ch es th at ll r . Ber l r r ,

L atin ch em wh ich h a s a wa s b een Al y, l y

i h t efe ed to a n a bia n so u ce r g ly r rr Ar r , co n nects with th e Greek Alch emy wh ich ceded abia n S cien ce beca u se pre Ar , th e a tte wa s it s f de ived fro m reece W e l r el r G . a re a so en ab ed t o iden tif fo r t h e ﬁ st t im e l l y , r , a n d th at with erfect certa int th o n ien p y, se a c t sa s to wh o m all th e L atin ite a u ma ge , l r t re kes P iii. reface.

requ en t a n d reverent allu sio n ; we n o w kno w th at t h e are Z o sim u s th e P a n o o lit e y , p ,

th e a d ts o f th e sch o o o f D mo critu s a n d th e ep l e , o th er writers preserved in th e Byz an tine co llec

t io n . M . th e o t h o w eve infers th at t h e Ber l , r, Greek in ﬂ u en ce fo u n d in The Turba P hiloso

horum w a s n o t a di ct inﬂ u c b u t p re en e, w a s derived media t ely t h ro u gh ch an nel s wh ich a re n o w u n kn o wn I n a n y ca se ’ th e Tu rb a su mm a rises th e a u th o r s precedi n g

G ebe a n d is th erefo e th e m o st va u a b a s r, r l le,

it is t h e m o st a n cien t t eatis o n ch e m , r e Al y ,

h i h i in h a w c ex st s t e L atin l a n gu ge .

Th e ch ief printed versio n s o f The Turba P hilo so kom m a re th o se o f th e Th eat u m Ch e mi p , r cu m t h e “ b io th ca Ch emica Cu io sa a n d , B i l e r , t h at o f th e sma ller co ll ectio n en titled Art is

Th ere a re so m e t ra n sla Au riferae Tra ct a t u s . tio n s o f th e wo rk existin g in G erma n a n d so m e

a so in F en ch Th o se in th e a tt e a n u a e a re l r . l r l g g sp ecia lly rem arkab le fo r th e very slender w a y

in h h h n h e o ri in a Th e w ic t ey represe t t g l .

' versio n s co nt a in ed in S a lmo n s Bib lio th equ e ” d es P h i o so h es ch imi u es a n d in t h e T o is l p Al q , r

n ci n s Traictés de la Ph i o so h i N atu e e A e l p e r ll ,

a re in st a n ces in o in t O n e En ish ve sio n p . gl r

in m a n u sc i t is n o w n t o th e es n t edito r p k pr e r, a n d it will b e fo u n d l n th e British M u seu m

a m o n s h e a r h o n c ec io n g t t tre su es o f t e Sl a e o ll t .

I t is en de ed h o w f o m th e F en ch a n d r r , ever, r r , Pre a ce f . h a s been fo u nd u seless fo r th e pu rp o ses o f th is t a n s tio r la n . I t may b e a dded th at th e grea t co llectio n s o f ch em su ch a s th e Th eat u m Ch emicu m Al y , r an d M an etu s co n tain co o u ies o o mmen g , ll q , t aries a n d eni mas wh ich eten d to e u cida te , g pr l

e e ies o f T e Turba P l so rum t h myst r h hi o pho .

W h i e th e a re o f a co n sidera b at e dat e l y ly l r , t h ey a t t h e sa me time b elo n g t o th e ea rly

ri f L a i ch em I t m a be a dded p e o d o t n Al y . y a lso th at t h e edito r h a s co llected a co n sider a ble am o u n t o f m a terial co n cern in g th is cu rio u s w o r wh ich th e imit s o f th e resen t vo u me k , l p l

r t i in preclu de h im f o m u il s g .

H W A W A ART UR ED R D I TE . R B P H I LO SOP H O R U M T H E T U A ,

N RO AN ANC I N M AN USC I P Co n ex TAKE F M E T R T , MOR E P ERFEC T T H AN ANY E D I T I ON F P U B L I S H E D H ERETO O RE .

istle o Arisleus re xed to the W o rds The Ep f , p ﬁ

o th e Sa es concernin the ur ort o this f g , g p p f

o o k o r th e B ene t o P osterit a nd the B , f ﬁ f y , sa me being a s h ere follo ws

* I L EU S o P th a R S . beg tten of y

goras , a disciple of the disciples

o f H by the grace thrice great ermes ,

f o f w learning rom the seat kno ledge , unto all who come after wish eth f health and mercy . I testi y that my

An a nc rent gloss describe s Arisleu s as t h e so n o f

l d e e b e Ab a u s. M . B rth elot suppos s him to synonymous with t h e Arist e nes o f th e second recension (Eleven th Dictu m) an d o f th e Exercita tio n es o n th e Tu rba are f , which ound

th e e f th e Blblio th eca Ch emica e in ﬁrst volum o . B yond t h e a o f th e a e a n d t h e fa a a e simil rity n m , ct th t most n m s are a e th e Tu rbo e e ee ea mutil t d in , th r s ms no r son to suppose th a t th e compil er int ended to connect Pyth a gora s

i a e a a Arist eu s th e o f w th lch mic l tr ditions through , Sophist t h e f e tim o Antoninus . The Tu rba Ph ilosophormn .

P th a o ra s master , y g f the Italian , master of the wise and chief o f the

f o f Prophets , had a greater gi t God and o f Wisdom than was granted to T f any one aft er H ermes . here ore he had a mind to assemble his dis ci les p , who were now greatly increased , and had been constit uted the chief persons throughout all regions fo r the discussion o f this most precious Art h t , that t eir words migh be a

fo r t H e t foundation pos erity . hen

I ximid ru s o f commanded , highest council , to be the ﬁrst speaker , who said

‘ Th e Gr eek a lch emists o f th e Byz antin e Collection

a e e o f a a a nd t h e a m k no m ntion Pyth gor s , tr dition which describ e s him as a n adept o f t h e H ermetic Mystery must be efe e an a a th e ea e o f El r rr d to Ar bi n origin , to tr tis s

a th e K a -ai - Fi rh irst a nd th e e e e e e H bib , it b , tru G b r , wh r alch emic al writings a ttributed to this sa ge a re freely quoted .

J [ Th e French version o fS almon h as th e following distinct

a a Th e e o f th e t h e T a o f t h e v ri tions b ginning book , urb

e Arl SlCU S h as a e e e e t h Philosoph rs , in which g th r d tog th r e

a o f th e m e de a t h e a s yings or pru nt mong schol rs , by

P a a t h e e a a e introducing yth gor s Philosoph r , th t M st r

th f t h a h collecting e Opinions o e schol rs . T e book is a lso a e t h e a a S e c ll d Third Pyth goric l ynod , institut d concerning h o ru m Th e Turba P hilosop . 3

m Th e First Dictu . — I XI M I D R U S sa ith I testify that the b eginning o f all things is a Certain

co e u a llin N ature , which is perpetual , q g a ll things , and that the visible natures ,

with their births and decay , are times w herein the ends to which that nature brings them are beheld and sum "E N o w m o n ed . , I instruct you that

h e t stars are igneous , and are kept

within bounds by the air . If the humidity and density o f the air did

a a a e O ccult Philosophy . But Pyth gor s comm nd d his ” a Eximidriu s e t h e e & c Th e schol r , , to b gin discours , . French transl ator seems to h ave summarised th e recensions h e h ad e e and a e e e which coll ct d , to h v put th m , to som

e e o wn . e e e e h e f xt nt , in his words H r , how v r , ollows

a t h e e o f t h e e e e t h e ef a a m inly t xt s cond r c nsion , chi v ri tion b eing th a t instea d o f Occult Philosophy t h e origina l ” r eads th e veget able ston e . Th e s a me French Tr a nsl ation interprets this obscur e p assa ge as follows Th e beginning o f all things is a

e a a e e e a fi e e an d c rt in n tur ; it is p rp tu l , in nit ; it nourish s ll d ecocts a things . But this n ature and th e tim es o f

a n d e e a are a s e e th e e corruption g n r tion , it w r , t rms by

a a e an d t h e u e a a which it is tt in d unto , which niv rs l n ture ” Th nourish es a nd d ecocts . e secondrecension varies th e la st

a a e as f Th e a n d a p ss g , ollows ctions a p ssions th ereof are known a n d understood only by thos e to whom a k f th S a nowledge o e cred Art is given . Th e ur a Phil o h m 4 T b os p ora . not e xist t o separate the ﬂames o f

n the sun from livi g things , then the o Sun w uld consume all creatures . But God has provided the separating

H e air , lest that which has created should be burnt up . Do you n o t observe that the Sun when it rises in the heaven overcomes the air by it s s heat , and that the warmth penetrate from the upper to the lower parts o f

? I f n o t the air , then , the air did presently breathe forth those wind s

t h e whereby creatu res are generated , Sun by its heat would certainly destroy

S u n all that lives . But the is kept

! in check by the air , which thus con quers because it unites the heat o f the

Sun to its own heat , and the humidity H o f water to its own hu midi t y . ave yo u not remarked how tenuous water is drawn up into the air by the action o f o f the heat the Sun , which thus helps the water agains t itself ? I f the water did not nourish the air by such

u t S u n tenuo s mois ure , assuredly the

Th e t h e . would overcome air fire , so h orum Th e a ba P hilo p . 5 t f t h e herefore , extracts moisture rom water , by means of which the air con q uers the fire itself. Thus , fire and water are enemies between which t fo r here is no consanguinity , the fire is hot and dry , but the water is cold

a n d . moist The air , which is warm and moist , j oins these together by its c onco rding medium ; between the humidity o f water and the heat o f ﬁ re the air is thus placed to estab

An d lish peace . look ye all how there s hall arise a spirit from the tenuous v apour of the air , because the heat e being joined to the humour , ther n ecessarily issues something tenuous , h w hich will become a wind . For t e heat of the Sun extracts something o f t enuous out the air , which also b ecomes spirit and life to all creatures . All this , however , is disposed in such m anner by the will of God , and a c oruscatio n appears when the heat o f

the Sun touches and breaks up a cloud . Th e TURBA saith - Well hast thou

n o d escribed the ﬁre , eve as th u knowest it concerning , and thou hast believed the word of thy brother .

Th e Seco nd D z ctmn . — EXU M DR U S sa ith I do magnify th e air according to the mighty speech of

I ximidru s , for the work is improved

h . Th e t ereby air is inspissated , and

“ it is also made thin ; it grows warm

Th e and becomes cold . inspissation thereof takes place when it is divided in heaven by the elongation of t h e f Sun ; its rare action is when , by the

o f th e exaltation the Sun in heaven , air becomes warm a n d is rareﬁed . It is comparable with the complexi o n of "6 o f Spring , in the distinction time , which is neither warm nor cold . For according to the mutation of the con

A similar comparison is used in t h e Arabian B o o k of

Cra tes e e e e a th e e a o f th , wh r it is njoin d th t Op r tion e philosophic al ﬁre upon t h e philosophic al m atter should be regul a ted after th e sa me m anner as N ature regulates th e

e e o f th e f ea a nd t h e a e ea e inﬂu nc our s sons ; s m tr tis ,

e e e e e e e o f al mor ov r , r pr s nts still old r xpositions chemic a l

t h e a a philosophy as using s me illustr tion . It is probable that th e Turba in its origin al form a ntedated t h e B o o k of

Cra tes. Th e u r a Ph iloso h o r m T b p u . 7

stituted disp o sition with t h e alt ering

t o f t h e distinc ions soul , so is Winter

t . T h e t f in s is al ered air , here ore , is p sated when the Sun is removed from it ,

u m en and then cold supervenes pon . — Wh erea t th e TURBA sa id Excel lentl y hast thou described the air , and given acco unt o f what thou knowest to be therein .

Th e Third D ictu m . — ANAXAG O RAS sa ith I make known that the beginning o f all those things which God hath created is weight and “E ro o rtio n n p p , for weight rules all thi gs , and the weight and spissitude o f the earth is manifest in pro portion ; but

weight is not found except in body .

An d T know , all ye urba , that the spissitude o f the four elements reposes in the earth ; fo r the spissitude of

Th e a ietas et ra tio th e e a u se origin l is p , but t chnic l o f th e term pzeta s by th e H ebrew or Ar abic origina l seems

e W t h e e e o f t h e e e P a z obviously to conn ct it ith s ns H br w , th signifying comp actness . Compar e also e Gree k verb

P ie o e o r ee e . z , to pr ss squ z down 8 The ur a P hiloso h n T b p orm .

ﬁre falls into air , the spissitude of air , together with the spissitude f f received rom the ﬁre , alls into

o o f water ; the spissitude als water , increased by the spissitude o f ﬁre a n d ir a o . H , rep ses in earth ave you not observed how the spissitude o f t h e four elements is conjoined in earth ?

Th e f in s is same , there ore , is more p

h en sa ith h e sated than all . T t T URBA —T V hou hast well spoken . erily the earth is more inspissated than are t h e f rest . Which , there ore , is the most rare o f the four elements and is most worthy to p o ssess the rarity o f these — four ? H e a nswereth Fire is the t t most rare among all , and hereun o

o f cometh what is rare these four .

e But air is less rare than ﬁre , becaus it is warm and moist , while ﬁre i s warm and dry ; n o w that which is warm and dry is more rare than the

Th e sa u nto h im warm and m o ist . y y — Which element is o f less rarity than

? e a nswereth — e air H Water , sinc cold and moisture inhere therein , and The a ba P h ilosoph orn m. 9

e very cold humid is o f less rarity than

Th en do th e sa unto a warm humid . y y — h im T . hou hast spoken truly What ,

f o f there ore , is less rarity than water

H e a nswereth : - Earth , because it is

c dr old and y, and that which is cold a n d dry is o f less rarity t han that

T which is co ld and moist . PY HAGORAS

sa ith — 0 Well have ye provided ,

o f Sons the Doctrine , the description * o f o f these four natures , out which

t . God hath created all hings Blessed , f there ore , is he who comprehends what

e f x y have declared , for rom the ape of the world he shall not ﬁnd an intention ! greater than his own Let us , there

f f . Th e ore , make per ect our discourse y — reply : Direct every one to take u p

o u r . S speech in turn peak thou , O

P a n do lfu s

Yo u h ave bee n told th at t h e a ncients discoursed f f K o our elements . now that it is by means o f these four e e e a and dr are e as l m nts th t humid y things constitut d ,

a a and t h e a e an d th e fe al e . Tw lso things w rm cold , m l m o e e e e a nd fa Th [ l m nts] ris up two ll down . e two a sc ending elem ents are ﬁre and air ; t h e two descending elements ” - a re ear a nd a e . Ol m io do ru s On th e Sacred th w t r y p Art . I O Th e T rba u Philosoph orum .

Th e F rt i t m o u h D c u . — B ut PAND O L F U S sa ith I signify t o posterity that air is a tenuous matter o f water , and that it is not separated I t h fro m it . remains above t e dry

t h e th e earth , to wit , air hidden in t wa er , which is under the earth . If this air did not exist , the earth would not remain above the humi d w ater . Th ey a nswer Thou hast said well ;

f . B u t complete , there ore , thy speech h e co ntinu eth : Th e air which is hidden in the water under the earth is that which sustains the earth , lest it should be plunged into the

s said water ; and it , moreover , prevent the earth from being o verﬂo w ed by

Th e o f that water . province the air

f e is , there ore , to ﬁll up and to mak separation between diverse things , that

is is to say , water and earth , and it constituted a peacemaker between hostile things , namely , water and ﬁre ,

o n e dividing these , lest they destroy

Th e T saith — If another . URBA you

f b e gave an illustration hereo , it would

1 2 Th e T u rba Philosophoru m.

o ther air which separates t h e wat er f rom the ﬁre . But they are both one

and the same air , namely , that which f f separates things rigid , the earth rom

the water , and that which separates the water from the ﬁre But the

lower air is thicker than the upper air , and the upper air is more rare and

subtle , being nearer to the ﬁre than f the lower air In the egg, there ore ,

a re f — t our things earth , wa er , air , and

S u n ﬁre . But the point of the , these f our excepted , is in the centre of the

c . u yolk , and this is the hicken Co se t quently , all philosophers in his most excellent art have described the egg as

an example , which same thing they

have set over their wo rk .

The th D ict rn Fif u . — AR I SLEU S sa ith Know that the earth

fo r is a hill and not a plain , which reason the Sun does not ascend over all t h e z o nes o f the earth in a single if f hour ; but it were lat , the sun would rise in a moment over the whole earth . m I Th e Turba P hilosophoru . 3 — PAR M ENI D ES sa ith Thou hast spoken

Arisleu s ' H e a nswereth briefly , O I s there anything the Master has left us which bears witness otherwise ? f G o d is Yet I testi y that one , having never engendered or been begotten , and that the head o f all things aft er Him is earth and fire , because fire is tenuous and light , and it rules all things on earth , but the earth , being ponderous and gross , sustains all things which are ruled by fire .

h e S ixth D ictu nt T . — L U CAS sa ith You speak only about four natures ; and each one o f you observes something concerning these . f Now , I testi y unto you that all things which God hath created are from thes e f our natures , and the things which have been created o u t of them return into them . I n these living creatures are generated and die , and all things take place as God hath predestinated .

E C T S th e disci le o C D MO RI U , p f LU AS , a nswereth — Thou hast well spoken , O Th e ur a P hiloso h r 1 4 T b p o urn .

Lucas , when dealing with the four — natures ! Th en w ith ARI SL EU S O

o Dem critus , since thy knowledge was f derived rom Lucas , it is presumption to speak among t hose who are well acquainted with thy master ! L U CAS — a nswereth : A1beit Democritus received f o f rom me the science natural things , that knowledge was derived from the philosophers o f the Indies and from the Babylonians I think he surpasses

o f those his own age in this learning . Th e TU RBA answereth W hen he attains to that age * he will give no f small satis action , but being in his youth he should keep silence .

Th e Seven th ict D um. — LOC U S TA sa ith All those creatures which have been described by Lucas

o f are two only, which one is neither

‘ W h eth er th e age indicate d is tha t o f t h e Indi an and

a a a e e a ea th e e e e B byloni n d pts do s not pp r , but ntir pisode is rem arkable when it is borne in mind wha t great impor tance evidently a ttach ed to th e Demo critic school o f Gr eek

ee a e a h T RB alchemy . It s ms to indic t th t t e U A PH I LO S OP H O RU M represents a tradition hostile to th e tradition o f Th e urba Ph iloso h o ru m 1 T p . 5 k nown nor expressed , except by piety,

P Y fo r it is not seen or felt . TH AG O RAS — saith Thou hast entered upon a if subj ect which , completed , thou wilt

d . f escribe subtly State , there ore , f what is this thing which is neither elt , — s . Th en h e I t een , nor known is that which is not known , because in this world it is discerned by re a son without

C f the lients thereo , which are sight , hearing , taste , smell , and touch . O

o f Crowd the Philosophers , know you not that it i s only sight which can f distinguish white rom black , and hearing only which can discriminate between a good and b a d word !

Similarly , a wholesome odour cannot be separated by reason from one which

o f is fetid , except through the sense

n discrimin smell , nor can sweet ess be ated from bitterness save by means of taste , nor smooth from rough unless

De a e e e a s a mocritus , who , ccordingly , ﬁgur s m r ly promis in t i 'o a n d fa e a e t h e e o f g y , , in ct , r m ins sil nt throughout r st

e o f a e th e t h e deliberations . For thos his own g ” s econd recension reads his cont emporarie s . 1 6 Th e u r a P hiloso h orum T b p .

Th e T a nswereth by touch . URBA T hou hast well spoken , yet hast thou o mitted to treat o f that particular thing which is not known , or described

i h e except by reaso n and piety . S a t h - Are ye then in such haste ? Know that the creat ure which is co gnised in no ne o f these ﬁve ways is a subl i m e t creature , and , as such , is nei her seen n o r felt , but is perceived by reason

o f alone , which reason Nature con f Th e esses that God is a partaker. y — answer Tho u hast spoken truly

t A nd h e - and excellen ly . I will n o w give a further explanation . Know that this creature , that is to say , the world , hath a light , which is the Sun , and the same is more subtle than all other natures , which light is so ordered that living beings may attain to vision . if But this subtle light were removed , they would become darkened , seeing

o f nothing , except the light the moon ,

o f or the stars , or of ﬁre , all which are

o f derived from the light the Sun , which causes all creatures to give light . The Tu rba P h ilo so h oru nz I p . 7

For t his God has appointed th e S u n

o f to be the light the world , by reason

t o f n of the attenuated na ure the S u . An d know that the sublime creature before me n t ioned has n o need o f the

o f S u n light this , because the Sun is m beneath that creature , which is ore T subtle and more lucid . his light , which i s more lucid than the light o f

S u n t f t h e the , hey have taken rom light of God , which is more subtle than their light . Know also that the created world is composed o f two dense things

t o f and two rare hings , but nothing the dense is in the sublime creature . C o nsequently t h e S u n is rarer than

Th e T all inferior creatures . URBA — a nswereth T hou hast excellently d e

t An scribed what t hou hast rela ed . d if t h t t , good Master , hou s al u ter any thing w h ere bv our heart s may be iviﬁed n o w t v , which are mor iﬁed by f t f olly , hou wilt con er upon us a great boon

f t h d Th e shorten ed version o e s econ Recens i on ff e a a an d e a l as o ers som conspicuous v ri tions , is lit r l y B 1 8 T e u rba P ilo o h u m h T h s p or .

Th e Ei h th Dicturn g . — PYT HAG O RAS sa ith I afﬁrm that God f t Him existed be ore all things , and wi h

H e was nothing , as was at ﬁrst . But know, all ye Philosophers , that I declare this in order that I may fortify your Opinion concerning t hese four elements and arcana , as well as in the f sciences thereo , at which no one can f arrive save by the will o God . Under

H e stand , that when God was alone ,

f —ﬁre created our things , air , water , and

H e f w earth , out ofwhich things a ter ards

f Two a e a e are e e L a o ne ollows n tur s lon d scrib d by uc s , o f e e ea e a e e a nd which is n ith r known nor r lis d , s v by pi ty ea th e e ee an d e e fo r r son oth r is not s n is not d scrib d . it is

ea e . e e a e e a e h v n But th r is third conn ct d n tur , which is fe ee and a nd a a lt , s n , known , this is th t which cont ins

w a e e ea e o r ea . No w ea e e e h tso v r is in h v n rth , r son p rc iv s

th e e o f t h e ﬁve e e &c. W a e e by h lp s ns s , h t nsu s is

a a t h e a e as t h e e a t h e e subst nti lly s m t xt , till tow rds clos , — which is as follows As to th at n atur e which is p erc eived e o f e e th e a e e by non th s , s m is sublim ; it is known by ea an d e an d is ade r son pi ty only, God Most High , who m

K n w t h u t h e light which i s th e S u n . o tha t e S n is more

e a all ea e t h e e nd a m a th e subtl th n cr tur s , to th t it y light

s o f e e a nd a e . world , which con ists two d ns things two r r

N o f th e e e th e e ea e a e othing d ns is in sublim cr tion , b c us H e himself is mor e rare th an t h e S u n a n d all inferior ” creatures .

0 Th e Tu r 2 ba P hilosoph o ru m .

sun , moon , and stars composed . H ence the angels are more lucid than the sun , moon , and stars , because they

f o n e are created rom substance , which is less dense than two , while the sun and the stars are created from a com posit ion o f ﬁre and air . Th e TURBA sa ith : An d what concerning the — creation o f H eaven ? Th en h e z God created the H eaven out o f wat er and air , whence this is also composed of ‘ t h e s eco n d o f two , namely , the rarer things , which is air , and the second

O f the denser things , which is water .

A nd th e z— y Master , continue thy dis

re course concerning these three , and t h j oice our hearts with y sayings ,

d B u t h e which are life to the ead . t — o th er a nswereth z I notify to you that God hath further m ade creatures o u t O f three and out o f four ; o u t o f thre e are created ﬂying things , beasts , and vegetables ; some o f these are created t t out of wa er , air , and ear h , some out

B u t the T of ﬁre , air , and earth . URBA — saith Distiri gu ish these divers crea s h o ru m Th e Tu rba Ph ilo op .

A nd h e t ures one from ano t her .

O f Beasts are created out ﬁre , air , and

o f e arth ; flying things out fire , air , a n d t water , because flying hings , and all among veget ables which have a s o u t o f pirit , are created water , while a ll f brute animals are rom earth , air , a n d fire . Yet in veget ables there is no

fo r o f ﬁre , they are created out earth ,

Wh erea t th e T water , and air URB A s a ith — Let us assume that a ﬁre , with ’ your reverence s pardon , does reside in

A nd h e —Ye vegetables . have spoken t h e a n d I fﬁ t t truth , a rm hat hey con

A n d th e ° tain fire . y Whence is that fire H e a nswereth Out o f the heat of the air which is concealed therein ; fo r I have signified that a thin fire is

t h e present in the air , but elementary ﬁre concerning wh i ch you were in doubt

n o t is produced , except in things which have spirit and soul . But out of four e lements o u r fat h er Adam and his sons

< crea t ed o f were ﬁ that is , ﬁre , air ,

Th e treatise o f Olymp iodo ru s O n t h e S a cred Art

a a w as th e e o f t h e f e e e an d O bserves th t Ad m issu our l m nts, u rba P il so h o m 2 2 Th e T h o p ru .

water , and likewise earth . Under t stand , all ye hat are wise , how every thing which God hath created out of one essence dies n o t until the Day o f j udgment Th e deﬁnition o f death t is the disjunc ion of the composite , but there is no disjunction of that which is

simple , for it is one . Death consists in t h e separation of the soul from t h e

o f body, because anything formed out

two , three , or four components must

disintegrate , and this is death . U nder

stand , further, that no complex

substance which lacks ﬁre eats , drinks ,

or sleeps , because in all things which * have a spirit ﬁre is that which eats .

e i ea e ea a a ea and t rms him virg n rth , ign ous rth , c rn l rth ,

a e ea a efe e e t h e ar e f s nguin ous rth , m king r r nc to libr i s o

P e . T e e are a efe e e tol my h r simil r r r nc s in Zosimus . by h e e th whom e is identiﬁ d with d ath . But e carnal Adam o f e s a e a a e e a and Zosimus signiﬁ m t ri l hum nity in g n r l ,

ere a e th e a man e a e n th in is cont in d spiritu l , whos n m no o e

n e e e N i co th eo s an d a e e k ow th xc pt . th t myst rious p rsonager th e a e e f a e e be c e a lch mist hims l cknowl dg s to undis ov r ble .

Th e e fo r e a e e n d substitut his tru n m signiﬁ s light a ﬁre.

Th e a e Of t h e a e a nd th e e n tur ng ls , qu stion wh eth er e e at an d ee e n o t ee a e th y sl p , do s s m to h v been discussed

e e ee S a o r a a a e . ith r by Gr k , yri c , Ar bi n lch mists Zosimus n arr ates that th e art o f alchemy was reveal ed to mortals by Th e Tu r a Philoso ho ru m b p . 23

Th e T a nswereth : H o w URBA is it , t Master , hat the angels , being created

o f e a t t a ssert es ﬁre , do not , seeing hou t

‘ t hat ﬁre is that which eat s l And h e H ence ye doubt , each having his

opinion , and ye are become opponents , if t but ye truly knew the elemen s , ye would not deny these things . I agree with all whose j udgment it is that

simple ﬁre eats not , but thick ﬁre .

Th e f angels , there ore , are not created o u t t b u t o u t o f of hick ﬁre , the thinnest

a of very thin ﬁre ; being cre ted , then , of that which is most simple and exceedingly thin , they neither eat ,

And th e T : drink , nor sleep . URBA

Master , our faculties are able to per ’ ceive fo r t , by God s assis ance we have

th e fallen a ngels ; it is to them th at t h e tradition o f t h e art must be referr ed as to a prima ry sourc e and it was

th ey also who wrote t h e primeval books Of alch emy . It will b e r em emb ered th a t m agic w as a lso o n e o f t h e mysteries

f e t h e a e e e e . th e e o f un old d by s m int llig nc s In - discours t h e e o f t h e a ea as a Isis to Horus , Moth r Gods pp rs prophetess who Obtained initiation into t h e mysterie s o f

f t h e rea a e Amn ael e e alchemy rom g t ng l , who d sir d to h possess er. Th e Tu r a P h lo s r n b i oph o u i .

t h f exhausted y sayings , but our aculties o f hearing and o f sight are unable t o carry such great t hings . May God reward t hee for th e sake o f t h y dis ci le s it t o f t , since is wi h the object instruct ing future generat ions t hat thou hast summoned us t ogether from our

t h e m O f countries , reco pense which thou wilt n o t fail t o receive from the Judge to come ! AR I S L EU S sa ith Seeing th a t thou hast gathered us

t fo r t o f t toge her the advan age pos erity , I t hink that no explanations will be more useful than deﬁnitions of those four elements which thou hast taught

And h e — us to attain . None of you

t t t t h e are , I suppose , ignoran ha all Wise have propounded deﬁnit ions in

Th e T B a nswereth —S God . U R A hould your disciples pass over anything , it

t o becomes you , O Master , avoid omissions fo r the sake o f future genera

d e - f . An h : I tions it please you , I will begin the disposition here , since envious men in their books have t t t separated ha , or o herwise I will put 2 Th e Tu rba P /t ilo soph o ru m. 5

* i f Wh erea t th e t a t the end o t h e book . — T URBA sa ith Place it where you t hink it will be clearest fo r future

d e —I generations . An h z will place it where it will not be recognised by the d S foolish , ! nor ignore by the ons of the

it t h e t h e f Doctrine , for is key , per ection h and t e end .

Th e Nin th D ictu rn . — EXI M EN U S sa ith God hath created all t hings by his word , having said unto t t hem Be , and hey were made , with the f m our other ele ents , earth , water , air , a n d H e ﬁre , which coagulated , and

t fo r things con rary were commingled , t we see that ﬁre is hos ile to water , water

Th e n ec essity o f conc ea ling t h e Art is o ne o f th e f h chief a nxi eties o t e Greek a lch emists . Isis herself is s e e ea e an d e a a n d e t h e f worn to s cr cy by h v n rth h ll , by our e e e t h e e a n i th e e e e l m nts , by h ight d pth , by H rm s , by

and t h e o f Kerko ro s . a h as Anubis , by howlings An o th b e en required o f us to revea l nothing cl early to any [un ” i a e e a De r t h e E istle o niti t d] p rson , s ys moc itus in p f

S ner s D t s r y m t o o co u s. f Th e reader will not fa il to observe t h e artl ess w ay in which this p a ssa ge betrays th e whol e di alogue a s a literary c omposition . Th e u r a P hiloso h or m 2 6 T b p u .

t o hostile to ﬁre , and both are hostile

Yet eart h and air . God hath united

f t o ne them peace ully , so that hey love t another . Out of hese four elements , f — there ore , are all things created heaven and the throne t hereof ; the angels ; th e

' t sun , moon . and stars ; ear h and sea ,

t t t h e wi h all hings that are in sea , which

fo r indeed are various , and not alike , their natures have been made diverse by

God , and also the creations . But the diversity is more than I have st ated ; each of these natures is o f diverse na

o f th e ture , and by a legion diversities is nature o f each diverse . Now this di

e versity subsists in all creatures , becaus they were creat ed out of diverse ele

H a d ments . they been created out o f t one element , hey would have been agreeing natures . But diverse elements t being here mingled , they lose heir own natures , because the dry being mixed with the humid and the cold combined

t n o r with the hot , become nei her cold hot ; so also the humid being mixed with the dry becomes neither dry n o r

2 8 Th e Turba Philosoph o rum .

— t if T U R B A z Mas er , you speak , we Then will give heed t o your words . — d he I have now iscoursed , and that well . I will speak only useful words which ye will follow as spoken . t t t t Know , all presen , ha no rue t inct ure is made except from our * f copper . Do not there ore , exhaust t your brains and your money , les ye ﬁll t your hearts wi h sorrow . I will give

a fu n da m en t a l t you axiom , hat unless you turn the aforesaid co p p erf int o

At this point th ere a ppears to be a sudden transition f a e b e e e e e rom cosmology to lch my , but it must r m mb r d tha t it is o ne o f th e H erm etic M ethods to describe th e pro

e e o f th e ea t h e a a e o f and c ss s gr t work in l ngu g cosmology ,

t h e L a e ae a e a th e this not only in tin m di v l writ rs , but lso in

ee . e a e th e a e f a e e e The Gr k For x mpl , Byz ntin r gm nt ntitl d N o men cla tu re o f th e Egg afﬁrms tha t t h e egg is th e image

o f th e and e e e o f t h e f e e e . world , h nc is compos d our l m nts

f Th e philosophical COp p er is a subj ect o f continual efe e e h ll t h r r nc t roughout a alch emy . Among e earli est au t h o rit ies t h e B o o k o Cra tes a a e e man h as , f s ys th t copp r , lik ,

a a n d . a ea f t h e a e ea spirit . soul , body It pp rs rom s m tr tise

a th e e a a n d a e a a e o f th e th t t rm is symbolic l , ppli s to st g a e a e e a a e d e h lch mic l proc ss . Anoth r p ss g scribes it a s t e

a a a f e ssenti al subst nce . Gold is s id to tr ns orm only with

Th e L ex co n o Ch r s eia e l ead a nd copper . i f y op xplains th at

e e e whit copp r is crud sulphur . l h u ni The Tu rba P hi osop or . 29

* whit e , and make visible coins and then ’ t re d n ess r aft erwards again turn it in o , T t t until a inc ure; resul s , verily , ye accomplish nothing . Burn therefo re

it u o f the copper , break p , deprive it

n a n d its blackness by cooking , imbui g , m w it washing , until the same beco es h e .

T hen rule it .

e e h as e o ut a th e u se Of t h e M . B rth lot point d th t term n u mmu s by th e La tin a lch emists is a misconception

w Th efe e o f th e m e a ning Of a nterior riters . e r r nce is to

A sem an a o f an d e . , lloy gold Silv r

f Num erous prepara tions fo r whiten ing an d reddening

b e f t h e C e o f e ee e will ound in oll ction Anci nt Gr k Alch mists , s fo r e a e t h e Co m bi na tio n o th e W h i te re a ra tio n a , x mpl , f P p

t h e e o f I sis to H o ru s th e e e th e e in Addr ss , r cip in tw nty

ﬁrst a a a o f t h e N a tu ra l u estio ns o f D e p r gr ph ! mocritus , a a t h e B o o k o S nesiu s t h e h iloso h er a ddressed to g in in f y , P p ,

Dio sco ru s a n d e e e e a a e . a a , ls wh r in m ny pl c s It is inv ri bly

Th e an Oper ation with copper . book address ed by Democritus to L eucippus s ays th a t th e alch emic al work comprises th e process o f m aking white a n d m aking yellow red a s a th e f e a n d o f t h e e a o f ( ), lso so t ning coction min r l

e . S n esiu s th e e o f e copp r According to y , proc ss whit ning

a a a an d a e a n e e e e a is c lcin tion , m king y llow is ign ous r g n r tion .

1 Th e Greek L exicon o f Ch ryso p eia distinguishes two

e e o f e a ea e an d o a sp ci s tinctur , th t which so p erm t s s ks into a a e a s a e a e an d a subst nc to ch ng its n tur , th t which pro d e a e a u uc s sup rﬁci l colo ring . m 30 The Turba Philosopho ru .

Th e Tenth Dictum. — AR i S L EU S sa ith Know that t h e key o f f * o . T this work is the art Coins ake , f there ore , the body which I have shewn t t to you and reduce it to hin table s . Next immerse the said tablets in t h e

o f i Water our Sea , which is permanent W f it ater , i and , a ter is covered , ! set it over a gent le ﬁre until the tablets are

t Eth eliae mel ed and become waters or ,

In this insta nce th e term appears to be used as t h e — equivalent o f tablets o r la min a th e thin strips into which later alchemy frequently directs a m etal to be cut before it a is subj ected to a given tre tment .

Pela u s e Ol m io do ru s th e Trea tise n f g , cit d by y p in o th e S a cred Art e e o f th a , quot s Zosimus in d ﬁnition e sea s r ti e t h e h ermaph o dy c lement .

1 Th e Book Of El - H a bi b s ays that th e virtue o f eternal water is that Of a spiritual blood . It is identiﬁed with

se f a e a e a e an d a e o f . ri orm w t r , zur w t r , w t r sulphur It is

a a . W e e a f t h e a e lso prim l sulphur h n boil d , it tr ns orms m l

a e e an d af e a . ( rs nic)into silv r , t rw rds into gold It is also a a C e a e o f e af e e a a s id th t opp r is w t r silv r , which , t r pr p r tion ,

e e e e a a e e e a e e b com s t rn l w t r . Int rpr ting l t r writ rs , Rulan du s says th at it is th e philosophical s o lution o f two

e fe e an d h e e e a e t h e a a e p r ct bodi s , num r t s contr dictory n m s

a e ee a e a e which h v b n ssign d to it in lch my.

! Th e r efer ence is apparently to th e closing o f th e h mouth o f t e vessel . Tu r a P h iloso h r The b p o um. 31 w hich are one and the same thing .

Mix , cook , and simmer in a gentle ﬁre u E t o ntil rodium is produced , like m T t S agin a t u . hen s ir in its water o f

Et h eliae t un il it be coagulated , and the coins become variegated , which we call

o f . the Flower Salt Cook it , therefore , t un il it be deprived of blackness , and T the whiteness appear . hen rub it , mix t wi h the Gum of Gold , and cook until E h li it becomes red t e ae . Use patience in pounding lest you become weary .

t h e Eth elia t it s t Imbue wi h own wa er , f which has preceded rom it , which also t is Permanent Wa er , until the same T t becomes red . his , hen , is Burnt ‘ Copper , which is the Leaven of Gold t f and t h e Flower hereo . Cook the t t s ame wi h Permanen Water , which is

A short e xc ursus O n th e Diversity of B urn t Cop per

e a th e o f e e is preserv d mong writings Zosimus , wh r it is

e a a e e a e ea o f not d th t m ny p rsons pr p r it by m ns sulphur , an d a proc ess with sulphura ted iron is quote d with high a pprobation from Democritus . Burnt Copp er is elsewh ere de ﬁn ed by th e s am e a uthor a s t h e metal rend ered blood colour (in view o f whitening)a n d tinged within an d " without . r o h m 32 Th e Tu ba P hilos p o ru .

t t h e always with it , un il water be dried

t t h e t up . Con inue opera ion until all

s the water is consumed , and it become a most subtle powder .

c Th e Eleven th Di tu m .

PARM EN I D ES sa ith : Ye must know t hat envious men have dealt volu min o u sl t t bro diu m s y wi h several wa ers , ,

t o stones , and metals , seeking deceive f all you who aspire a t er knowledge . t f t Leave , here ore , all hese , and make

o f the white red , out this our copper ,

t t e taking copper and lead , le ting hes

t fo r s and the grease , or blackness , and f fo r . tin the lique action Know ye , f urther , that unless ye rule the Nature o f T z ruth , and harmoni e well together

t h e its complexions and compositions , consanguineous with the co n sa n gu i n eo u s t h e t , and ﬁrst with the ﬁrs , ye ff act improperly and e ect nothing , because natures will meet their natures , f t ollow hem , and rejoice . For in them f they putre y and are generated , because

Nature is ruled by Nature, which T h h e Turba P hilosop orum . 33

t it t it t t des roys , urns in o dus , reduces f to nothing , and ﬁnally hersel renews

f t h e it , repeats , and requently produces

. T f same here ore look in books , that

t h e T ye may know Nature of ruth ,

u t reﬁes what p it and what renews , what it savour it possesses , what neighbours naturally has , and how they love each t t other , how also af er love enmi y and cor

v ruption inter ene , and how these natures should be unit ed one to another and made at peace , until they become gentle in t h e ﬁre in similar fashion . H f aving , therefore , noticed the acts in

Art . this , set your hands to the work

th e If indeed , ye know not Natures of T ruth , do not approach the work , since f there will ollow nothing but harm , disaster , and sadness . Consider , there fore , the teaching of the Wise , how they have declared the whole work in this

z— saying Nature rejoices in Nature , t and Nature con ains Nature . In these words there is shewn forth unto you th e

. L eave th erefo re f whole work , , mani old and superﬂuous things , and take D a r 34 The Tu rb Philosopho um.

* o f quicksilver, coagulate in the body

' Ku h u l Magnesia , 1 in , or in Sulphur which does not burn make the same nature white, and place it upon our

An d Copper , when it becomes white . if ye cook still more , it becomes red ,

if c it b eco me s when ye proceed to oction , gold . I tell you that it turns the sea

o it self into red and the colour f gold . Know ye also that gold is not turned into redness save by Permanent Water , because Nature rej oices in Nature . l

e a th e ee E e o f S nesiu M rcury , ccording to Gr k pistl y s. is e w ax ea a e a n a lik , which r dily ssum s y colour th t is

ar e fo r e e all e an d a a imp t d to it, M rcury whit ns bodi s ttr cts

e e e a nd a e e e th ir souls ; it dig sts th m by coction , t k s compl t f possession o them . Th e a e a o f e a e a 1 M gn si Alch my is not common M gn si , an d e a a es e a th e e e e this r m rk ppli qu lly to Gr k Alch mists , are th e a o f t h e Turba P h iloso horu m t o who inspir tion p ,

a ea e an d t h e a e a e . o ne o f th e th t tr tis , to l t r d pts In treatises b elonging to th e school o f De mocritus th e sign o f

a a f Th f a Cinn b r ollows th e term . e body o M gnesia is m entione d i n th e discourse o f Syn esiu s a n d Di o sco ru s ; a nd o n t h e e a o f a e a h a s a e a M t llic Body M gn si , Zosimus Sp ci l treatise with reference to th e method by which it is S n esiu s th whitened . According to y it signiﬁ es e mixture

o f substa nces . 1 Th e formul ae which are so frequently repeated in th e Tu rba P h i lo sop h o ru m Nature rej oices in Nature : Nature

u l horum 36 Th e T rba P hi osop .

which those investigating wisdom love .

Fo r t th e when it is liqueﬁed wi h bodies ,

ff e highest O peration is e ected . If y e knew the truth , what great thanks y f would give me Learn , there ore , that

Ci while you are tingeing the nders , you h must destroy those t at are mixed .

For it overcomes those which are mixed ,

An d and changes them to its own colour . as it visibly overcame the surface , even

An if so it mastered the interior . d one be volatile but the other endure the ﬁre , either joined to the other

e . ndures the ﬁre Know also , that if the vapours have whitened the s t h e urfaces , they will certainly whiten f i . inter ors Know urther , all ye seekers f do a ter Wis m , that one matter over f S ’“ comes our , and our ulphur alone

e urb consumes all things . Th T a answereth : Thou hast spoken excellently

S e a n d S a e all e e e ulphur , M rcury , lt ﬁgur in H rm tic lit r ature as th e most indispensable principles o f th e M agnu m

Th e a e e e e ea o f a f a e Op us. l t r writ rs n v r w ry ﬁrmin g th t th y t th e a e a e e are no subst nc s commonly so c ll d , but this do s no t appear so pl ainly in earli er and especi ally in Greek

Authors . i Th e Turba Ph losophorurn . 37

well , O Parmenides , but thou hast not demonstrated the disposition of t h e

o t o n o r sm ke posterity, how the same is whitened

Th e Twelfth Dicta nt .

L U CAS sa ith : I will speak at this t ime fo llo win t h e , g steps of the ancients .

Know, therefore , all ye seekers after

n o t fr Wisdom , that this treatise is om * the beginning of the ruling ! Take L u icksilve f q m which is rom the male , and coagulate according to custom . Observe that I am speaki ng to you in accordance with custom , because it

. H e has been already coagulated er ,

f o f t h e there ore , is not the beginning t ruling, but I prescribe his method ,

A furth er insight into th e a rtiﬁci a l ch aracter Of th e r Th ea n is book is aﬁo ded at this point . e m ni g which

es n e be e e is a a d ig d to conv y d , th t in common with m ny o e a e a th e e i th e th r lch mic l works , instruction b g ns in middle o f th e process - fo r th e more complete confusion o f th e uninitia ted . J( I t should be noted in this connection th at th e attribution o f th e seven metals to th e seven planets is n ot

th Tu ba . er e e e of fo und in e r Thus , quicksilv is n v r Spok n as e as So l &c. M rcury , nor gold , 38 Th e Turba Philosoph o rum.

namely , that you shall take the quick f m silver rom the ale , and shall either impose upon iron , tin , or governed ale copper , and it will be whitened . White Magnesia is made in the sam e

e way, and the male is convert d with it . But forasmuch as there is a certain afﬁnity between the magn et

e and the iron , therefore our natur l re Oi ce s . i T J ake , then , the vapour which the Ancients commanded you its to take , and cook the same with own body until tin is produced . Wash o t o away its blackness acc rding custom , and cleanse and roast at an equable r ﬁre until it be whitened . But eve y body is whitened with governed quicksilver,

Ta ke th ere for Nature converts Nature . ,

e A for , Magnesia , Water of lum , Water of Nitre , Water of the Sea , and Water

smo k of Iron ; whiten with e . I What

“ Th e second rec ension reads : Ye shall impose o e a is er e and a be up n copp r , th t , gov n d iron , it sh ll " e whiten d . f Th e alterna tive reading is : Therefore Nature also ” rejoices in Nature .

e e as e Ol m io do ru s e e s f H rm s, quot d by y p , d ﬁn s moke e e ia e ee t h e an as int rm d ry b tw n warm d th e dry . The Tu rba Philoso r pho u m. 39 soever ye desire to be whitened is whitened with this smoke , because it f is itsel white , and whitens all f things . Mix , there ore , the said smoke with its faeces until it be coagu lated and become excessively f wh it e Roast this white copper till f t h it germinates of itsel , since e Magnesia when whitened does not ff su er the spirits to escape , or the l o f co eri shadow pp to appear ,

a because N ture contains N ature .

T f o f ake , there ore , all ye Sons the D octrine , the white sulphureous nature , whiten with salt and dew , or with the o f Flower White Salt , 1 until it become

Th e alternative reading is : until it sh all become a ” r e white coin o tabl t . f th e Th e a o e e o f e i . e. f sh dow copp r is ﬂow r copp r , ,

e e e a e verde ris . Th e e M . B rth lot xpl ins , protoxid , g pistle o f Democritus to Leucippus explains th at a m eta l without shadow is a brilli ant metal . Zosimus sa ys th at th e act o f t h e o f t h e a P l burning is c alled e d struction sh dow . e agu s deﬁnes th e sh adow o f copper as t h e bl ack tinge whic h it

e De a s e a e e fo r h produc es in silv r . mocritus l o giv s r cip t e removal o f th e shadow from coppe r . Th e se cond rec ension in t h e edition o f M angetus ’ S l to r Sal a n nt er s e . r eads o throughout , but it is p rror m 40 Th e Turba Philosophoru .

. An d excessively white know ye , that the Flower o f White Salt is Ethel

f E h eli Th e rom t a . same must be

n boiled for seve days , till it shall

fo r become like gleaming marble , when it has reached this condition it is a v A ery great rcanum , seeing that S Sulphur is mixed with ulphur , whence an excellent work is a ecom

lish ed o f f p , by reason the a ﬁnity

between them , because natures rejoice

o wn T in meeting their natures ake ,

f M a rdek there ore , and whiten the same * G a den b e with , that is , wine and

vinegar , and Permanent Water . Roast and coagulate until the whole does not

f o wn lique y in a ﬁre stronger than its ,

t h e f namely , ormer ﬁre Cover the

o f t h e mouth vessel securely , but let it

be associated with its neighbour , that it f may kindle the whiteness thereo , and

t h e z beware lest ﬁre bla e up , for in

Though M artinus Rulan du s endeavoured hon estly to explain all th e b arbarous terms o f Alchemy in his a e an d h e was e l borious l xicon , though vid ently we ll a a e th e Turbo h e M arde cqu int d with , omits both ck and

G adenbe . s 1 The Turba Philo ophom m. 4 this case it becomes red prematurely, e and this will proﬁt you nothing , becaus in the beginning o f the ruling you

A co a u require the white . fterwards g late the same until you attain the red .

n Let your ﬁre be ge tle in the whitening , until coagulation take place . Know that when it is coagulated we call it the Soul , and it is more quickly con

f . verted rom nature into nature This , f f . there ore , is su ﬁcient for those who

Art o f deal with the Coins , because o n e thing makes it but many operate therein . For ye need not a number of things , but one thing only, which in each and every grade of your work is

The changed into another nature .

T sa ith : URBA Master , if you speak as the Wise have spoken , and that brieﬂy , they will follow you who do not wish to be wholly shut in with darkness .

T T i t ctu m he h r een th Di . — PYT HAG O RAS saith W e posit another government which is not from another 42 Th e Tu rba Philosoph om m.

ff . An d root , but it di ers in name know, all ye seekers aft er this S cience and

Wisdom , that whatsoever the envious may have enj oined in their books con cerning the composition of natures “ o which agree together , in sav ur there is only one , albeit to sight they are as t diverse as possible . Know , also , tha the thing which they have described in so many ways follows and attains its t companion wi hout ﬁre , even as the magnet follows the iron , to which the said thing is not vainly compared , nor

n o r fo r to a seed , to a matrix , it is also

. An d n like unto these this same thi g , which fo llo wsi its companion without

t o ﬁre , causes many colours appear when embracing it , for this reason , that the said one thing enters into every f regimen , and is ound everywhere , being a stone , and also not a stone common a n d precious ; hidden and concealed ,

Th e shorter recension reads : concerning th e h ar th ” mony o f e elements . th e e e e th {According to s cond r c nsion , e subj ect in e a e a to a ea qu stion c us s m ny colours pp r in compl exion , a as e e e e e e ccording it is gov rn d in v ry r gim n .

44 Th e Turba Philosophom m. names for the guidance of seekers ?

A nd h e - I t Et h elia is called White ,

White Copper , and that which ﬂies from the ﬁre and alone whitens copper .

Break up , therefore , the White Stone , f * and a terwards coagulate it with milk .

T x hen pound the cal in the mortar , taki n g care that the humidity does not escape from the vessel but co a gu late it in the vessel until it shall becom e a cinder . Cook also with Spume of

sh a llﬁn d Luna and regulate . For ye the stone broken , and already imbued with l wa t ern T its own his , therefore , is the stone which we call by all names , which assimilates the work a n d drinks

o f it , and is the stone out which also T f all colours appear . ake , there ore ,

f th e that same gum , i which is rom

Th e e e e a a f th a s cond r c nsion dds th t is , a ter e m nner ” Th that milk is coagulated . e symbolical use o f milk in a e is e so o f th e e h Tu bo lch my , lik much t rminology o f t e r , f i b f o Greek orig n . It will e ound in th e discourse o f i Synes u s. 1’ Th e second recension h as a preferable reading : Ye a th e e f e e o wn sh ll ﬁnd ston orm d , which imbu with its " water . ” Th e e e e a o f S a I s cond r c nsion s ys Gum coti , most Th e Turba Philosopho mm. 45

a t scori e , and mix wi h cinder of calx , which you have ruled , and with the a f eces which you know , moistening T with permanent water . hen look and see whether it has become a powder ,

if n o t but , roast in a fire stronger than the first fire , until it be pounded . T t hen imbue with permanen water , and the more the co lours vary all the more suffer them t o be heated .

e Know , moreover , that if you take whit S quicksilver , or the pume of Luna , and

a s r do ye are bidden , b eaking up with a gentle ﬁre , the same is coagulated ,

o f and becomes a stone . Out this f stone , there ore , when it is broken up , many colours will appear to you . But

fo r a R ul n d s probably a misprint Scori . a u id entiﬁes

a e e e &c. Th e e philosophic l gum with F rm nt , M rcury, t rm

e a e and f is much us d in lch my , is ound in Zosimus , but

a e Th e Tu rbo Ph i lo horum without explan tory cont xt . wp

t e ea o n t h e e o f t h e a is no v ry cl r subj ct philosophic l gum ,

as ea a s th e ee e fo r th e L exi con o but it is cl r Gr k Alch mists , f Ch r so ei a e e u m as th e o f th e e ea y p d ﬁn s g yolk gg , sp king philosophically a n d n o t literally ; but t h e treatise o n th e Nomencla u re o th e E a a th e e o f e t f gg s ys th t whit gg is gum , e ea a o h iIOSO h icall and among oth r things , sp king ls p p y,

h ex without regard to t e L ico n . 46 The Turba Philosopho m m .

if o u herein , any ambiguity occur to y

e in our discourse , do as y are bidden , ruling t h e same until a white and

o c ruscating stone shall be produced , and so ye ﬁnd your purpose .

ictu m Th e Fou rteen th D .

’“ Acsu no s n n saith Master, thou hast spoken without envy , even as became

fo r thee , and the same may God ' reward t hee PYTHAG O RAS saith : May

AC S U B O FEN God also deliver thee , ,

! Th en h e : from envy Ye must know, A 0 ssembly of the Wise , that sulphurs are contained in sulphurs , and humidity in h u midityﬁ Th e T URBA a nswereth

Th e n Acsu b o fen e vious , O , have uttered something like unto this Tell f ? us , there ore , what is this humidity

And he : H umidity is a venom , and

veno m I when penetrates a body , it

th e e t h a ub r In second rec nsion e n me is Ass e es. TA Formula o f th e Greek Alch emists : Sulphurs are

a e e S &c. m st r d by ulphurs , I Th e th eria c an d poison o f t h e stone are favourite e o f e a ea La e e subj cts discours mong rly tin Alch mists , lik e an d ee th e e e e P trus Bonus , ind d , sov r ign r medy seems with all authors to h ave h ad a destructive as well as The r a Philoso ho m Tu b p m . 47

tinges it with an invariable colour, and in no wise permits the soul to be

f is separated rom the body , because it equal thereto . Concerning this , the envious have said : When one ﬂies and

z the other pursues , then one sei es upon th e f other , and a terwards they no t longer ﬂee , because Na ure has laid

o f f hold its equal , a ter the manner of an enemy, and they destroy one another . For this reason , out of the sulphureous mixed sulphur is produced a most precious colour , which varies

t h e not , nor ﬂees from the ﬁre , when soul enters into the interior of the body and holds the body together and tinge s T it . I will repeat my words in yrian * A dye . Take the nimal which i s

a e a e . S a ea e e . constructiv sp ct A yri c tr tis , ﬁx d by M e e as e t h e e o r e e e e B rth lot b longing to t nth l v nth c ntury , a a th e e e e e a e a e o f s ys th t lixir r s mbl s poison , b c us its ” e e an d e a n d a a a e a viol nc subtl ty, Ar bi n lch my cont ins

f th e venenum i ni e Th e many re erences to g . e Gre k e a e io s a nd e a th e quiv l nt is , this is r curring continu lly in

Byzantine Alch emical collection . T e e t h e a a e o f t h e T a his proc ss , word d in l ngu g yri n d e ma be a e a a e e fo r th e e y , y comp r d with simil r r cip purpl e r at th e o f t h e Na t ura l and tinctur , which occu s e b ginning 8 Th e Tur a P hiloso 4 b ph orum .

Ken ckel it s called , since all water is a

T t h e t yrian colour , and rule same wi h a gentle ﬁre , as is customary , until it shall become earth , in which there will t i be a li tle colour . But f you wish to

T t t h e obtain the yrian tincture , ake t humidity which tha thing has ejected , and place it therewit h gradually in a

t t t t h e vessel , adding tha inc ure whereof T colour was disagreeable to you . hen cook with t hat same marine water* until l d r 1 Aft t it shall become y . erwards mois en

a with that humour , dry gradu lly , and

t o o cease not imbue it , to c ok , and to dry , until it be imbued with all its

T fo r humour . hen leave it several days in its own vessel , until the most precious Tyrian colour shall come out h from it to the surface . Observe o w I d escrib e the regimen t o yo u ! Pre

o f pare it with the urine boys , with

stic uesti o ns o f De . a e a M y ! mocritus In this, lso , urin pl ys a an import ant p rt . Th e u se o f sea water is speciﬁed in o n e o f th e

Demo crit ic trea tises . 1 Th e second recension reads : until it sh a ll become

e e a f e e a a e th e e . moist n d , t r which v por t moistur Th e Tu rba l m P hi osoph o m . 49

t o f t h e wa er sea , and with permanent t t t it clean wa er, so ha may be tinged , t t t and decoc wi h a gentle ﬁre , un il the blackness altogether shall depart from it , and it be easily pounded . Decoct ,

f it s there ore , in own humour until it f clothe itsel with a red colour . But if

it t h e T ye wish to bring to yrian colour, ’“ imbue the same with continual water , f and mix , as ye know to be su ﬁcient , acco rding to t h e rule o f sight ; mix the same with permanent water su fﬁcie nt l y , and decoct until rust absorb the T water . hen wash with the water of the sea which thou hast prepared , ’ which is water o f desiccated calx ; r cook until it imbibe it s own moist ure ; and do this day by day . I tell you that a colour will thence appear to you the like of which the Tyrians have never

An d if made . ye wish that it should l be a still more exa ted colour , place the gum in the permanent water, with which ye shall dye it alternately , and

Th e second rec ension r eads : W ith wa ter o f snow .

Th e a a a e o f a { ltern ative re ding is : w t r t lc . E h ur a hil o h m m 50 T e T b P os p o .

T afterwards desiccate in the sun . hen restore to the aforesaid water and the black Tyrian colour is intensiﬁed . But know that ye do not tinge the purple T f colour except by cold . ake , there ore ,

o f o f water which is the nature cold , and steep wool * therein until it extract the force o f the tincture from the water . Know also that the Philosophers have called the force which proceeds from

. S that water the Flower eek , there fore , your intent in the said water ; therein place what is in the vessel fo r days and nights , until it be clothed T with a most precious yrian colour .

t i m The F ifteen h D ctu . — F R I CTES saith O all ye seekers after f t Wisdom , know that the ounda ion o f

Art o f this , on account which many ’

o n l . r T have perished , is one y here is

Th e e e e e L u na fo r L a na s cond r c nsion substitut s ,

i . e. fo r . , Moon wool

Th e o n e a e th e o ne a e th e o ne wa are all f n tur , m tt r , y ,

e o f ee e . Th e f a e o n e th e conc ptions Gr k Alch my urn c is , be f e o ne a nd o n e a th e way which must ollow d is , is lso

2 The a ba P h iloso hormn 5 p .

gold into sheer spirit , without which vinegar, neither whiteness , nor black ness , nor redness , nor rust can be

An made . d know ye that when it is mixed with the body , it is contained therein , and becomes one therewith ; it t turns the same into a spirit , and inges with a spiritual and invariable tincture , is which indelible . Know, also , that if ye place the body over the ﬁre without vinegar , it will be burnt and

. An d t corrupted know , further , hat f the ﬁrst humour is cold . Be care ul , therefore , of the ﬁre , which is inimical A to cold . ccordingly , the Wise have said : Rule gently until the sulphur * Th e becomes incombustible . Wise

ea ea . a efe e e th e m ns cl r M . Berth elot supposes r r nc to

e a W a e M rcuri l t r . Th e Greek Alch emists give th e following recipe fo r th e production o f incombustible sulphur : Take unburnt

e th e e o f a e h as ea e Sulphur , dilut d in urin p rson who not r ch d e e a an e a a o f e pub rty ; th n t king qu l qu ntity brin , boil till th e e th e s fa e a n d e e e in sulphur ris s to ur c , th n it b com s

e it a an d e a combustible . Prov by r e soning x mining with

ﬁre e e i e a sa )until it b com s ncombustibl , th t is to y , until

T in m yo u see th at it no longer burns . ake th e same co bustible a e o f e o f a e a s w t r ( sulphur), pour on ﬂow r s lt, dilut Th e u rba P hiloso or m T ph u . 53 men have already shewn to those wh o

a o f Art possess re son the disposition this ,

o f Art and the best point their , which

t o f they men ioned , is , that a little this A sulphur burns a strong body . ccord in gly they venerate it and name it in

th e the beginning of their book , and

o f A son dam thus described it . For this vinegar burns the body, con v erts it into a cinder , and also whitens if the body , which , ye cook well and deprive of blackness , is changed into a stone , so that it becomes a coin of

o most intense whiteness . Co k , there it fore , the stone until be disintegrated , and then disso lve and t emper with h o f . t e water the sea Know also , that beginning of the whole wo rk is the

th e whitening , to which succeeds

t h e f o f redness , ﬁnally per ection the f work ; but a ter this , by means of

o f e vinegar , and by the will God , ther f follows a complete per ection . Now,

I have shewn to you , O disciples of

T th in th e ca se o f th e incombustible sulphur . his is e divine mystery . m 54 Th e Tu rba P hilosophorn .

T o f this urba , the disposition the one thing , which is more perfect , more o precious , and more hon urable , than all natures , and I swear to you by God that I have searched for a long time in books so that I might arrive at the knowledge of this one thing, while I prayed also to God that he wo uld teach He me what it is . My prayer was heard , shewed me clean water , whereby I knew pure vinegar , and the more I did

I . read books , the more was illuminated

Th e Sixteenth Dictmn .

OC E saith — S RAT S Know, 0 crowd of those that still remain of the Sons of the Doctrine , that no tincture can be produced without Lead , which possesses d H the require virtue . ave ye not seen how thrice - great Hermes infused the red into the body , and it was changed into an invariable colour Know , f there ore , that the ﬁrst virtue is vinegar ,

Th e e e e ea : a e e no t ee a s cond r c nsion r ds H v y s n , s ys e- ea e e a so f e a s f e thric gr t H rm s , th t o t n it is in us d into th e

th e a e a e an a a body, s m body is ch ng d into inv ri ble colour ? The Turba P hilosoph o rn m 55

* and the seco n d is the Lead o f which th e

v if Wise ha e spoken , which it be infused into all bodies , renders all unchange able , and tinges them with an invariable o T col ur . ake , therefore , Lead which is made out of the stone called Ku h u l i

o f let it be the best quality , and let it be cooked till it becomes black . Then pound the same with Water of Nitre until it is thick like grease , and cook again in a very bright ﬁre unt il the

o f spissitude the body is destroyed ,

e t e e a e a was e a e th e M . B r h lot t lls us th t l d r g rd d by Egypti a n alchemists a s t h e generator o f th e other m eta ls and th e a e o f a a h e e a ﬁrst m tt r tr nsmut tion , which xpl ins by th e a ppear a nces it possesse s in common with a number

o f e e o e a nd e a a . th e oth r simpl b di s m t llic lloys Zosimus, Pa no o lit e m a be e a o f h p , y cit d in conﬁrm tion this point ; e says All substance s were recognised by th e Egypti ans as

e ea a e fo r f ea a t h e produc d by l d lon , it is rom l d th t three — o e e are e e t . e. e an d . th r bodi s d riv d , , copp r , iron , tin Zosimus

- On th e S u bsta nces a nd Non su bst a nces o f Art .

Th e a e o f th e e Kuh ul e t signiﬁc nc t rm , or mor a a e K be f S a a e ccur t ly ohol , is to ound in yri c lch my ; it is t h e e quivalent o f alcool and sulphur a t ed an t imo ny in t h e

f o f a n a a e e . Kuh ul K o h eu l orm imp lp bl powd r , or , is

u l n b t h L e h expl a ined by R a du s to e e ad o f t e Philosophers .

Th e Alcohol m entioned by M . B erth elot seems to be

ffe e f o f e an d fa th e e di r nt rom Alcool win , is , in ct , pur

Part o f any body sep ara ted from th a t which is impur e . 56 Th e a ba P hilosophorum.

the water being rej ected . Kindle ,

f t b e there ore , above it un il the stone comes clean , abounding in precious metal , and exceedingly white . Pound f it a terwards with dew and the sun ,

fo r 2 1 and with sea and rain water days , t t I O for I O days wi h salt wa er , and * days with fresh water , when ye shall t t ﬁnd th e same like to a me allic s one . Cook the same once more wit h water o f nitre until it become tin by lique A it faction . gain cook until be deprived

o f . moisture , and become dry But know that when it becomes dry it drinks up what remains o f its humour f t . T swi tly , because it is burn lead ake T care , however , lest it be burnt . hus we

Th e second recension reads : Afterwards pound it dew a an d a a e fo r 2 a a a W a with , s lt , r in w t r 9 d ys , g in ith s lt

a e fo r 20 a an d et a a fre h e f r o w t r d ys , y g in with s wat r o t " Th e e a a o f a ll days . xpl n tion Rosicruci a n mysteries h as ee efe e t h e dew o f th e a e a nd t h e b n r rr d to lch mists , ros p hilosop ho ru m c ertainly plays an importa nt part in th e

th e N a tu ra l and M st eri o us uestions Great Mystery . In y ! o f De dew e e e a mocritus , is m ntion d in conn ction with e o f e an d t h e f a e o n t h e proc ss whit ning , in r gm nt P h ilo sop hica l Egg it is t abulated a s a n ame o f th e white

o r a a e e e . e e e philosophic l lbum n , but h r M B rth lot susp cts t f a h e additions o a l ater h nd . The ur a P hil s m T b o opho ru . 57

call it incombustible sulphur . Pound the same with the sharpest vinegar , and cook till it becomes thick , taking care lest the vinegar be changed into smoke and perish ; continue t his coct ion

fo r I 0 . f 5 days Now , there ore , I have demonstrated the disposition of the f white lead , all which a terwards follows ’ being no m o re than women s work and ’ child s play . Know , also , that the arcanum o f th e work o fgold proceeds out of the male and the female , but I have shewn you the male in the lead , while ,

m a n n er I in like , have discovered for f * you the emale in orpiment . Mix , therefore , the orpiment with the f lead , for the emale rej oices in

o f receiving the strength the male , because she is assisted by the male . But the male receives a tingeing spirit

f f . f rom the emale Mix them , there ore ,

e e in den t iﬁes e th e a e M . B rth lot orpim nt with rs nic Th e e f e n o t th e o f th e ancients . word its l do s occur in

ee w e e e is a f ee e a a Gr k rit rs , but th r ﬁ t nth c ntury tr nsl tion L ee o f th e S emita R ecta a e from atin to Gr k , scrib d to

e a ea ea as Pe e Th eocto n ico s Alb rtus M gnus , who r pp rs t r , in which it is found . ba Philoso ho 58 Th e a p m m.

together , place in a glass vessel , and pound with Eth elia and very sharp

fo r vinegar ; cook seven days , taking care lest the arcanum smoke away , and leave throughout the night . But if ye wish it to put on mud (colour), seeing that it is already dry , again imbue f r . t h ere o e I with vinegar Now, , have

t o notiﬁed you the power of orpiment , which is the woman by whom is a o complished the most great arcanum .

fo r Do not shew these unto the evil , they will laugh . It is the Eth elia of vinegar which is placed in t h e prepara

o t ti n , by which hings God perfects the work , whereby also spirits take

o o f p ssession bodies , and they become spiritual .

Th e Seventeen th D ictmn .

* Zi mo N sa ith O Turba of Ph ilo so

h ers t p and di sciples , now hast hou spoken about making into white , but it yet remains t o treat concerning the reddening Know, all ye seekers after

e a th e e e e Otherwise Z non , ccording to s cond r c nsion .

60 The Turba P h ilosoph o rwn .

f well ; add , there ore , another teaching o f this kind fo r the sake o f posterity . And h e I will speak o f making lead * T red . ake the copper which the Master ordered you to take f at the beginning o his book , combine lead therewith , and cook it u ntil it becomes thick ; congeal also and desiccate until it becomes red . H ere certainly is the Red Lead of which the wise spake copper and lead become a precious stone ; mix them W equally , let gold be roasted ith them , fo r if this , ye rule well , becomes a l ti ngei ng spirit in sp irit s n S o when the male and the female are conj oined i f there is not produced a volat le wi e , t h e but a spiritual composite . From composite turned into a red spirit is produced the beginning o f the world .

Th e vario us substances which alch emists co n

f e e th e a e o f etc. are ound d und r n m s Minium , Rubric , ,

e e a e . e e a th e num r t d by M B rth lot , including, in ddition to su r- e o f ea th e a e o f oxyd l d , which is e mod rn n m minium ,

no t e a a ea a etc. e only v rmillion , cinn b r , r lg r , , but som e f oxyd s o iron . 1 Th e second recension reads : “ becomes a mighty ” a spirit mong spirits . Th e u rba Philoso h m T p om . 6 1 Behold this is the lead which we have

called Red Lead , which is of our work , and without which nothing is effected

Th e Ei ht t m g een h Dictu .

MU NDU S sa ith to th e TURBA : Th e seekers after this Art must know that the Philosophers in their books have described gum in many ways , but it is

none other than permanent water , out o f which our precious stone is gene * rated . 0 how many are the seekers

f few a ter this gum , and how there are who ﬁnd it ! Know that this gum is t not ameliora ed except by gold alone . For there be very many Wh o investigate these applications , and they ﬁnd cer

e t t tain things , y hey cannot sustain the labours because t hey are dimi

It appears from Zosimus on Th e D eta iled Exp o si ti on o the Wo k a th e a o f a e h ilo so f r , th t with ddition littl [p

n f m a p h ical] gum a y sp ecies o body y be tinged . And wh en Mun dus identiﬁ es Gum with P erm an ent W a ter h e is

a ee e th e a e a fo r th e e in gr m nt with s m uthority , in cont xt o f th e passage just cited w e ﬁnd th e fo llo wmg words Tha t which tinges tinctures an d things tinged is Divine

a e th e ea e . Th e o f e e w t r , gr t myst ry gum gold is m ntion d in a fr a gm ent a ttributed to Agathodemon . 62 Th e Turba Philosoph oru m .

n ish e d . But the applications which are made out o f the gum and out o f t h e honourable stone , which has already held the tincture , they sustain the labours , and are never diminished .

f fo r Understand , there ore , my words , I will explain unto you the applications o f this gum , and the arcanum existing therein . Know ye that our gum is st ronger than gold , and all those who know it do hold it more honourable

fo r than gold , yet gold we also honour , without it the gu m cannot be improved .

um fo r Our g , therefore , is Philosophers more precious and more sublime than

o f pearls , because out gum with a little

th e gold we buy much . Consequently ,

Philosophers , when committing these things to writing that the same might not perish , have not set forth in their f books the mani est disposition , lest every one should become acquainted f therewith , and having become amiliar f to ools , the same would not sell it at

. T o n e a small price ake , therefore , part of the most intense white gum ; The u r a hiloso h oru 6 T b P p m. 3 one part of the urine o f a white calf ; o ne part o f the gall of a ﬁsh ; and o n e part of the body of gum , without which it cannot be improved ; mix these p o r f tions and cook fo r orty days . When these things have been done , congeal by the heat o f the sun till they are T dried . hen cook the same , mixed with milk of ferment , until the milk ft fail a erwards extract it , and until it become dry evaporat e t h e moisture by

T i o heat . hen mix it w th milk f the fill ﬁg , and cook it that moisture be dried up in th e composite , which afterwards mix with milk of the root of grass , and again cook until it be dry . T hen moisten it with rainwater , then sprinkle with water of dew , and cook A until it be dried . lso imbue with per manent water , and desiccate until it become of the most intense dryness .

H aving done these things , mix the same with the gum which is equipped with all manner of colours , and cook strongly until the whole force o f t h e water perish and the entire body be deprived 64 Th e a ba P hilosoph orn m .

o f its humidity, while ye imbue the same by cooking , until the dryness T fo r thereof be kindled . hen dismiss

L et t forty days . it remain in that tri ura tion or decocting until the spirit pene trate the body . For by this regimen the spirit is made corporeal , and the body is changed into a spirit . Observe the f t t vessel , there ore , les the composi ion T ﬂy and pass o ff in fumes . hese O things being accomplished , pen the vessel , and ye will ﬁnd that which ye T f purposed . his , there ore , is the

o f u m wh ich arcanum g , the Philosophers have concealed in their books .

Th e Nineteenth Dictum.

DAR DAR I S sa ith I t is common " knowledge t hat t h e Masters before us have described Permanent Water . t Now, it behoves one who is in roduced to this Art to at tempt nothing till he is familiar with t h e power o f this Per

Th e efe e e t h e a e e r r nc to M st rs , which occurs twic in

b e e o f e u ea e this dictum , is to und rstood not pr vio s Sp k rs th e e o f th e e e a e in Ass mbly , but old r philosoph rs , n m ly , th e Greek Alchemists . The r a P hilos 6 Tu b ophoruin . 5

manent Water , and in commixture , c i ontrition , and the whole reg men , it behoves us to use invariably this f H e amous Permanent Water . , there fore , who does not understand

indis en Permanent Water, and its p sable regimen , may not enter into this Art ff , because nothing is e ected with out the Permanent Water The force

e thereof is a spiritual blood , whenc the Philosophers have called it Per manent Water , for , having pounded it with the body , as the Masters before me have explained to you , by the will ’ of God it turns that body into spirit .

For these , being mixed together

fo and reduced to one , trans rm each other ; the body incorporates the t spiri , and the spirit incorporates the body into tinged spirit , like blood .

An d know ye , that whatsoever hath spirit the same hath blo od also f as well . Remember , there ore , this arcanum !

Th e second recension adds : “ and t h e spirit into t Th e Tu rba Ph ilosoph ornn .

m Th e Twen tieth Dictu .

EL sa ith —O B US disciples , ye have discoursed excellently PYT HAGORAS a nswers - S eeing that they are p h ilo so

h ers p , O Belus , why hast thou called — them disciples ? H e a nswereth I t is

o f o in honour their Master , lest I sh uld Th en make them equal with him .

T O S sa ith —T PY HAG RA hose who , in con j unction with us , have composed this

a ba book which is called the , ought

Th en h e not to be termed disciples . f Master , they have requently described m Permanent Water , and the aking of

Th e whol e o f this Dictum rec alls a pa ssage in — On Vi rt u e a nd I nter eta tion . I t fo r e e Zosimus , p r is th s ea a e e e a e De a e h i m r sons th t my xc ll nt m st r , mocritus , m k s self th e following distinction Take th at ston e which is a e a e h as a e a not ston , th t pr cious thing which no v lu , th t m e f a poly orphous obj ct which is without orm , th t unknown

is e e e h as a a e thing which known to v ryon , which m ny n m s ” an d h as a e efe a h ro selin o n . Fo r e no n m , I r r to p this ston n o t a e an d e e ee e at t h e is ston , whil it is xc dingly pr cious ,

a e e h a s e a e a e o n e s m tim it no mon y v lu ; its n tur is , its

a e o n e . Ne e e e a e a a e ee n m v rth l ss , m ny d nomin tions h v b n e sa a e ea a giv n it , I do not y bsolut ly sp king , but ccording a e so a e e a e th e e to its n tur , th t wh th r it is c ll d b ing which

ee th e ﬁre o r e e o r e e fa e ﬂ s , whit smok , whit copp r , no ls hood is uttered .

m 68 The Turba Philosoph o ru . gu ish ed it astronomically or arith m etica lly ; it has already received a thousand titles , of which the best is That which is produced out of metals . So also others have called it the H eart of the Sun , and yet others have declared it to be that which is brought forth out of quicksilver with the milk of volatile things .

h e - t m T Twenty ﬁrst Dic u .

P NDO LF U S saith — O A Belus , thou hast said so much concerning the despised

a h L e a w nting in t e exicons . It is v ry curious to note th t

Ru landu s e f e e e t h e Tu rba ee , who quit r qu ntly quot s , s ms seldom to h ave troubled himself about th e signiﬁc ance o f

a e e . On Vi tue a nd I n er reta its biz rr t rms In Zosimus , r t p ti on e e a e f e e e , th r is pr scription rom H rm s conc rning that ” fa fr th e e a an d h e is which lls om moon wh n it is w ning, efe e a s e e e be f an d h o w r rr d to d scribing wh r it is to ound ,

h a s th e a o f e th e ﬁre . fa a e e it qu lity r sisting In ct , s ys H rm s , ” m e a nd a a you will ﬁnd it with with Ag thod imon . M . Berthelot supposes this pa ssage to allegorise upon t h e a a f e th e vol tilis tion o m rcury . But expression in t h e

Tu ba e a th e a a e o f S n e iu r r c lls p ss g y s s . Note a l so th e

o f S e e e L a Arabicus A h ro selinum mythology l nit , pis , p ,

&c. e n o t e e t h e e e o f t h e , suppos d only to r ﬂ ct lik n ss Moon , ” be a e f dew th e f a o f th e but to m d rom by o m Moon .

R u la nd us . Th e w in ilo o 6 T s Ph s phoru m. 9

* stone that thou hast left nothing to b e ! H added by thy brethren owsoever , I teach posterity t hat this despised s w tone is a permanent water, and kno , o all ye seekers after Wisd m , that per manent water is water o f mundan e ’ r life , because , verily , Philosophers have stated that Nature rej oices in Nature ,

Nature contains N ature , and Nature

Th e overcomes Nature . Philosophers have constit uted this short dictum the principle o f the work fo r reasonable

An d o persons . know ye that no b dy

o is more preci us or purer than the Sun , and that no tingeing ve n o m I is gene

Th e Turb a Ph iloso ph o rum does not b etray a ny e e th e a o i a C a e a n d a t h e wh r h nd hristi n compil r , lthough reference to t h e despised stone suggests t h e ston e which th e e a e e e e th e ea e e f build rs h v r j ct d , id is d riv d rom

an d f th e New Te a e e e so far Zosimus , not rom st m nt , xc pt in as Zosimus himself m ay h ave dr awn it from th at sourc e .

ea o n t h e e o f a e Tr ting , in his dictum subj ct c lx , conc rning h a e e o f t h e e e a e t e uncommunic t d myst ry nc ph lous ston , th e Greek adept ca lls it th e despised thing which is most

e an d so o n a e o f t a pr cious , through numb r con r dicting de nomin ations .

1 Th e second rece nsion reads : clea n water . 1 Th e symbolism o f th e ve nom o f th e philosophers is

f e De . also ound in Zosimus , comm nting upon mocritus T e h a ba P hilosoph o ru m .

rated without the S u n and its shadow .

H e f , there ore , who attempts to make the venom o f the Philosophers without f these , already errs , and has allen into t hat pit wherein his sadness remains . But he who has tinged the venom o f ’“ the wise out o f the S u n and its shadow has arrived at the highest Arcanum . Know also that our coin ' when it becomes red , is called gold ; he , there f t h e i ore , who knows hidden Cambar o f t h e the Philosophers , to him is

A Th e T rcanum already revealed . URBA — answereth Thou hast even now intel

Th e ee e a a n a a o f Gr k word signiﬁ s , s ys nnot tion

. e e t h e o uille o f e a th e e e M B rth lot , r m t ls , sp ciﬁc virtu

o f e an d th e e o f e e . bodi s , v nom s rp nts According to t h e e a a e f th e an e o f a Zosimus , it is spirit s p r t d rom subst c

On irtu e a nd I n ta tio n . body . V terp re A quotation from M ary (th e ﬁrst)in Zosimus On the — M easure o f Yello wi ng runs thus Copper wh en burn ed

ea e W o il o f a an d e e e with sulphur, tr t d ith n tron , r cov r d af e a e e th e a e e e e a e t r h ving und rgon s m proc ss s v r l tim s ,

n becomes a excellent gold without sh a dow. f 1 This ori ental t erm is re erred to by M . Berthelot in h is Essa y o n th e Tra nsmissio n of Ancien t S ci ence without

a a o f a e a n d f a n expl n tion its signiﬁc nc , it is not ound in y

n o f th e L exicons o f Alch emy . In a ancient alchemical ea e e e The Co de o Truth u e as th e a e tr tis , ntitl d f , it ﬁg r s n m

f am a e . ' o d pt { an l ) Th e u rba Philoso h o r T p um . 7 1 li ibl g y described this stone , yet thou hast not narrated its regimen nor it s

. f t o th e composition Return , there ore ,

H e sa ith —I description . direct you to take an occult and honourable arca "e num , which is White Magnesia , and the same is mixed a n d pounded with

n o t wine , but take care to make use of this except it be pure and clean ;

ﬁnally place it in its vessel , and pray God that H e may grant you the sight of this l i T st o ne . o very great hen co k gradually , and , extracting, see if it has become a black stone , in which case ye have ruled excellently well . But rule it thus t for the white , which is a grea arcanum ,

K u h n l until it becomes , closed up with

Th e Chemistry of M oses gives t h e following proc ess fo r th e whitening o f M agn esia Taking M agn esia and an e a a o f Ca a a a a e a e e o f qu l qu ntity pp doci n s lt , pl c in v ss l

Le a e e f e e . burnt clay . t it st y th r rom v ning till morning

e if be a let be o e e Th n , it bl ck , it co k d till it whit ns , but it ’ - is far bett er to cook it in a glass maker s furnace . Hide

e fo r i e e e e this myst ry, it compr s s v rything which conc rns ” whitening by decoction . Jf I t doe s not appear th at th e conc eption o f t h e ’ Philosopher s Stone as a m edicine o f m etals and o f men was fa miliar to Greek alch emy . 72 The Turba P hilosophorum.

blackness , which blackness see that it does not remain longer than forty days . fo it s Pound the same , there re , with confections , which are the said ﬂower of copper, gold of the Indies whose root is an d one , a certain extract of an

u e o f ung nt , that is , a crocus , that is , I ﬁxed exalted alum , or ? cook the four,

0 2 . therefore , permanently for 4 or 4 days After these days God will show you t h e

o f principle (or beginning) this stone ,

o At ito s which is the st ne , of which favoured sight of God there are many

. o e accounts C ok strongly , and imbu

An d w with the gum that remains . kno ye that so often as ye imbue the cinder , so oft en must it b e desiccated and again humectated , until its colour turns into that which ye desire . Now, there fore , will I complete that which I have

Th e a e o f e tre e f uth nticity this sign is x m ly doubt ul , and th e margin al note which is app ended to most printed

e u t editions do s not h elp it o . It is no doubt really a mis ea o f th e H oc e e a e r ding word , which is r quir d to m ke s nse f th e e e a T o e s nt nc immedi tely following . h e second recension conﬁrms this vi ew . T ur a Phil s m he T b o ophoru . 73

if * u s . begun , God will look kindly on Know also that the perfection of the work of this precious stone is to rule it with the residue of the

t h e third part of medicine , and to preserve the two other parts fo r im buing and cooking alternately till t h e ’ a ea rs r required colour p p . Let the ﬁre be more int ense than the former ; let the matter be cerated , and when o o it is desiccated it coheres . C k , therefore , the wax until it imbibes the gluten of gold , which being desic ca t e d , imbue the rest of the work seven times unt il the other two im thirds be ﬁnished , and true earth

t h e bibe them all . Finally , place same o n a hot ﬁre until the earth extract its

ﬂower and be satisfactory . Blessed ! are ye if ye understand But , if not , I will repeat to you the perfection o f

Th e origin al is untranslatabl e ; th e conj ectur al

th e e h as a and emen d atio n given in t xt no uthority , is only

ea introduced to provide a m ning .

1 Th e reading o f th e second recension h as bee n

t ed in th e a e o f th e er e . subs itut , ow g to corrupt st t long t xt T ur a P iloso h r m 74 he T b h p o u .

T k the work . a e the clean white , which

th e is a most great arcanum , wherein is true tincture ; imbue sand therewith , which sand is made out of the stone seven times imbued , until it drink up

o f th e the whole , and close the mouth f f vessel ef ectually, as you have o ten been told . For that which ye seek o f it by

f o f the avour God , will appear to you ,

o f T which is the stone yrian colour . f Now, there ore , I have fulﬁlled the truth , so do I conj ure you by God and o u your sure Master , that y show not

th e this great arcanum , and beware of wicked

t - The Twen y Second Dictum.

T HEO P HI L U S saith : Thou hast spoken intelligently and elegantly , and art

S a ith the T held free from envy . URBA f Let your discretion , there ore , explain to us what the instruct ing P a ndo lfu s

. Th en has stated , and be not envious he f 0 all ye seekers a ter this science , the arcanum o f gold and the art o f th e coin is a dark vestment , and no one

o 76 Th e a ba Philos phorum.

ﬁnally , open the vessel , and ye shall ﬁnd copper turned into quicksilver ; wash the same by cooking until it be deprived of its blackness , and become as copper without a shadow . Lastly , cook it continuously until it be con

n gealed . For when it is co gealed it Ac becomes a very great arcanum . co rdin l g y, the Philosophers have called

B o ritis f this stone cook , there ore , that coagulated stone until it becomes a mat

T th e ter like mucra . hen imbue it with Permanent water which I directed you to reserve , that is to say , with the other portion , and cook it many times until f T f its colours mani est . his , there ore , i s the very great putrefaction which extracts (or contains in itself)the very

aith the T : great arcanum . S URBA

a a e a e an d e e e . until it sh ll h v bsorb d both , do this s v n tim s But do nec duo s ebi bat doe s not agree with th e subsequent

e f ea dir ctions ound in ch version . B o ritis a Ru lan dus th e W e S e , ccording to , is hit ton

aft e th e a a e and e e ea a e . a e r bl ck st t , it r duc s rth to w t r A l t French Lexicon observes th at t h e n ame wa s applied by Philosoph ers to th eir M ercury when it h ad reached th e e e e a a e is th e L a xtr m bl ck st g . It ton which must be

e e . Th e whit n d word is o f Oriental origin . T r a P hiloso hor m he Tu b p u . 77

Return to thine exposition , O Theo p h ilu s ! And he : It is to be known that the same afﬁnity which exists between the magnet and iron , also exists assuredly between copper and

. e permanent water If, therefore , y rule copper and permanent water as I t have direc ed , there will thence result the very great arcanum in the following T fashion . ake white Magnesia and * quicksilver , mix with the male , and pound strongly by cooking , not with the hands , until the water become thin .

But dividing this water into two parts , in the one part of the water cook it for eleven , otherwise , forty days , until there be a white flower , as the flower of salt in its splendour and coruscation but stro n gly close the mouth o f the vessel , and cook for forty days , when ye will find it water whiter than milk ; deprive it of all blackness by cooking continue the cooking until its whole nature be disintegrated , until the de

Th e second recension rea ds Take quicksilver ” mixed with th e m ale . 8 T e Tu r a ilo o orum 7 h b Ph s ph .

ﬁlement perish , until it be found clean , and is wholly broken up (or becomes wholly clean). But if ye wish I that the whole arcanum , which have given you , be accomplished , wash the same with water , that is to say , the other part which I counselled you to preserve , until there appear a crocus , and leave in its own vessel . For the I ksir pounds (or contains) itself ; imbue also with the residue o f the water , until by decoction and by water it be pounded and become like a syrup of pomegranates ; imbue it , o therefore , and c ok , until the weight f f o the humidity shall ail , and the co lour which the Philosophers have magniﬁed shall truly appear .

Th e went - t i T y h rd D ictum.

* ERU S saith C Understand , all ye Sons t T of the Doctrine , hat which heophilus hath told you , namely , that there exists an afﬁnity between the m agnet and the

Th e n ame substituted by th e second recension is r a Philoso h o m Th e Tu b p ru . 79

o f iron , by the alliance composites existing between the magnet and the ﬁtl iron , while the copper is y ruled for l e one hundred da ys z what statement can be more useful to you than that there i s no afﬁnity between tinj' and quicksilver ?I Th e T URBA answereth

Thou hast ill spoken , having disparaged

And h e the true disposition . I testify that I say nothing but what is true ; why are yo u incensed against me ? T t Fear the Lord , all ye urba , tha your Master may believe you ! Th e T URBA

swer h And h e an et S ay what you will .

I direct you to take quicksilver , in which is t h e male potency! or strength

Th e second rec ension adds B etween t h e copper n f th T a fﬁ an d a a d water o e Philosoph ers . his nity combin " t h n tion is given to th em in e sp ac e o f o e hundr ed days .

Th e e ma be a e a 1 d ﬁnition y not import nt , but it is , p rh ps , as well to state th at t h e Greek L exico n of Ch rysop ei a explains

a a e a a a an d a a a th t tin lch mic lly is cinn b r , th t cinn b r is e a a e sublim d v pour obt in d by coction in c auldrons . H ere e e e e a th e efe e M . B rth lot obs rv s th t r renc is to sublimed m ercury or th e sulphur thereof. 1 According to t h e altern a tive version Th e n a ture h ” o f th e o ne does not agree with t e n ature o f th e oth er . ” Th e e en d o f th e e art a “ prop r whol , s ys Horus , is

a th e e e o f t h e a e e e ee a all to obt in s m n m l s cr tly , s ing th t 0 T e u r 8 h T ba Philosophoru m . coo k the same with its body until it becomes a ﬂ u xible water ; cook t h e masculine together with the vapour, until each shall be coagulated and T become a stone . hen take the water which you had divided into two parts , o f which one is fo r liquefying and cook ing the body , but the second is for cleansing that which is already burnt , and its companion , which [two] are made o n e . Imbue the stone seven

n disint e times , and clea se , until it be f grated , and its body be purged rom

deﬁle m en t all , and become earth .

Know also that in the time o f forty - two days the whole is changed into earth f by cooking , therefore , lique y the same until it become as true water, which is T quicksilver . hen wash with water o f l nitre until it become as a iqueﬁed coin . Then cook until it be co ngealed and become like to tin , when it is a most

e things are m ale and femal e . H enc Horus says in a e a a e : th e a e a n d th e fe a e an d o u c rt in pl c j oin m l m l , y a as a fa will ﬁnd th t which is sought ; ct , without this

e o f e can ee fo r Na e proc ss r union , nothing succ d , tur ” — a Na e &c. Ol m iodo rus On th e S a cred Art . ch rms tur , y p The Tu rba P hiloso h o rum 1 p . 8

t o great arcanum ; that is say , the

o f stone which is out two things . Rule the same by cooking and pounding , until it becomes a most excellent cro cus . Know also that unto water desiccated with it s companion we have

o f given the name crocus . Cook it , f there ore , and imbue with the residual water reserved by you until you attain your purpose .

Th e went - o urth ictum T y f D .

’“ B o m scu s sa ith : Thou hast spoken 0 f f well , Belus , and there ore I ollow thy steps ! H e a nswereth As it may

o u please y , but do not become envious ,

And for that is not the part of the Wise .

B OCAS CU S ’ T hou speakest the truth , f and thus , there ore , I direct the Sons of T the Doctrine . ake lead , and , as the

Philosophers have ordain ed , imbue ,

f f o lique y , and a terwards c ngeal , until a stone is produced ; then rule the stone with gluten of gold and syrup o f pome granates until it be broken up . But you

ti Th e name in th e second recension is B o ra s. G 82 The ur a Philoso h o r m T b p u . have already divided the water into

t o f two parts , wi h one which you have liqueﬁed the lead , and it has become as water ; cook , therefore , the same until it be dried and have become earth ; then pound with the water reserved until it acquire a red colour , f ale as you have been requently ordered . Th e TU RBA a nswereth Thou hast done nothing but pile up ambiguous words .

t f A nd Re urn , there ore , to the subj ect . h e : Ye who wish to coagulate quick l silver it i n must mix with its equal .

O e e : e f e e a s a e a . th rwis Rul r qu ntly , I h v s id {Th e Gr eek alch emists cl a im to h ave accomplished th e a o f e ea o f th e o f a e a ﬁx tion M rcury by m ns Body M gn si ,

a mo l bdo h alch s by which Zosimus underst nds y c o . An unassign ed fragment o f t h e Byz antine collection h as th e following poetic al reference to t h e ﬁxation o f Mercury M ercury is obtain ed in like m a nn er with artiﬁcial

a a a a e a e a o n e m et a e . cinn b r, r r subst nc , th t is , with r r ly I refer to cinn ab ar obta ined by t h e dry w ay a nd a suitable a ll e e e an d roa sting . It is th t above a which is t rm d dri d ea a e e e t h e e o f . a sily vol tilis d , mploy d in t sting souls H ving e e an e e e a a th e e b com th ris d spirit , it d rts tow rds upp r

e e e e e and a e a th e a h misph r ; it d sc nds sc nds , voiding ction o f th e ﬁre role o f f e e a e a , until , quitting its ugitiv , it r ch s

a e o f . h as a a e st t wisdom Until it tt in d this condition , it is ”— f e a and a . a bri ca tion o th e A ll. di ﬁcult to r t in , is mort l F f ” W a t h e e e e a 1 ith its body , s ys s cond r c nsion it is ’ printer s choice b etween co mp a ri a nd co rp ori .

84 Th e Tu rba Ph ilosoph o ru m .

f but these incorporeal things bo dies For by this regimen the composite is

o f prepared , and the hidden part its t nature is ext ract ed . With hese bodies accordingly join quicksilver and the t body of Magnesia; the woman also with the man , and by means of this there

o u r t Eth elia is extracted secre , through which bodies are coloured ; assuredly, if I understand this regimen , bodies become not bodies , and incorporeal I f t things become bodies . ye diligen ly pound the t hings in t h e ﬁre and digest

Th e Byz a ntine fragm ent upon Th e P h i lo sOp hi cal Egg contains this sta tem ent : Unl ess bodies lose their

ea a e a nd e e a a a e e corpor l st t , unl ss bodi s g in ssum th ir ” ea a e a e e b e a a e . corpor l st t , th t which is d sir d will not tt in d But M ary is quoted by Olymp io do ru s in terms which correspond liter ally with th e text o f th e Tu rba : Except

e ea a e ea an d you conv rt corpor l subst nc s into incorpor l ,

ea a e ea an d e a e incorpor l subst nc s into corpor l , unl ss you m k

e o ne no e e e b e two bodi s into body, d sir d r sult will ” ” Th “ Z e e achieved . e divin e o z imu s a lso quotes H rm s

e e th e a e fa an d h e e e e e e e in pr cis ly s m shion , obs rv s ls wh r th at to convert a nd tra nsmute is to impart body to th e — Th e B o d o M a esi a . incorporeal . y f g n

e a e a Zosimus, comm nting upon M ry, conclud s th t t h e o f a e a mo l bdo c alch o s o r a Body M gn si is y h . bl ck

ea . See n Th e f o f e l d [ note o p . con usion old ch mis

u t h f h a try o e subj ect o t e l st substance is well known . Th e u r a P hiloso 8 T b phorum. 5

Eth elia s (or join to)the , they become

An d clean and ﬁxed things . know ye that quicksilver is a ﬁre burning the f bodies , morti ying and breaking up , with one regimen , and the more it is

o t mixed and p unded wi h the body , the more the body is disintegrated , while the quicksilver is attenuated and b e comes living . For when ye shall dili gently pound ﬁery quicksilver and cook it as required , ye will possess Ethel , a *‘ ﬁxed nature and colour , subj ect to every tincture , which also overcomes , f h . breaks , and constrains the re For this reason it does not colour things unless it be coloured , and being coloured

A n it co lo u rs . i d know that no body can tinge itself unless its spirit be ex f f tracted rom the secret belly thereo , when it becomes a body and soul with

T a a t h e e e e s “ o n e h t is , ccording to s cond r c n ion , ” ﬂ f th e ﬁre which does not ee rom . ” e a e a ll e ee a efe a e Alt rn tiv ly, bodi s , which s ms pr r bl reading . I Th e second recension says th at it holds an d all e a e Eth eli a e all co lours spirits , b c us ting s things when once it h as been itself tinged . a i um The Turb Ph losophor .

* out the spirit , which is a spiritual

o f r tincture , out which colou s have f mani ested , seeing that a dense thing d t oes not tinge a enuous , but a tenuous nature colours t hat which enters into a body . When , however , ye have ruled

o f the body copper , and have extracted f rom it a most tenuous (subj ect), then the latter is changed into a tincture by t which it is co lo u red n H ence has th e wise man said , that copper does not tinge unless ﬁrst it be tinged . An d know that those four bodies which you

Thi s distinction betwee n t h e soul a nd th e spirit is

e e f De . Th e r cognis d by Zosimus , who ollows mocritus th e e e and a a soul is primitiv ly sulphur ous c ustic n ture. Th e purifying inﬂuence o f ﬁre preserves t h e sp irit when th e op eration h as b een conduct ed a ccording to th e rules o f

. Th e t h e ef a th e e e e e . Art spirit is us ul p rt , ting ing l m nt

Thc F ou r M eta llic B o dies, (t o .

ea e On Virtu e a nd I nter reta tion In his tr tis p , Zosimus

e De th e effe a e e n o t e cit s mocritus to ct th t copp r do s ting ,

a a e ea o f o il o f a n but th t c pp r burnt by m ns n tron , a d

a e e t ea e e ea e e h ving und rgon this r tm nt r p t dly , b comes more

a f C n be uti ul th an gold . opper does o t tinge so long as it e er e an e e e e e pr s v s uniqu ss nc , but it ting s by its combin a

e e . H o w e if a tion with oth r bodi s th n , this combin tion be

a and ef e t h e e h as ee e can n w nting, b or copp r b n ting d , o e succeed in tingeing obj ects made subj ect to th e action of ﬁre 7 The ur a P hiloso ho rum 8 T b p . 7

o are directed to rule are this c pper , and that the tinctures which I have signiﬁed unto you are the condensed * t h e and humid , but the condensed is

a conjoined vapour , and the humid is t the wa er of sulphur, for sulphurs t are contained by sulphurs , and righ ly by these things Nature rej oices in

Nature , and overcomes , and con

strains .

- i Th e Twenty Sixth D ctum.

ZENO N saith : I perceive that you , O crowd of the Wise , have conj oined two bodies , which your Master by no means ordered you to do ! Th e T URBA a nswereth : Inform us according t o 0 Z your own opinion , enon , in this

w o f ! Th en matter , and be are envy h e : Know that the colours which shall appear to you out of it are these . 0 Know , Sons of the Doctrine , that it behoves you to allow the composition

fo r f to putrefy orty days , and then to

Th e second rece nsion r eads : “ Th e condense d an d th e are e e e th e e e e humid th s two tinctur s , cond ns d b ing ” th e joined with humid . Th e Turba P hilosoph o ru m .

sublimate ﬁve times in a vessel . Next

o f join to a ﬁre dung , and cook , when these colours shall appear to you On

' th e ﬁrst day black citrine , on the t second black red , on the hird likei * unto a dry crocus , ﬁnally , the purple co lour will appear to you the ferment and the coin of the vulgar shall b e i h ‘ imposed ; then is t h e I xir composed

o f t h e out the humid and dry , and then it tinges with an invariable tinc t ture . Know also tha it is called a body wherein ther e is gold . But when ye I xir are composi ng the , beware lest

t l fo r you extract the same has i y , it L lin ersn f t h e g Extract , there ore , same

I x r i . as an For this venom is , as it f were , birth and li e , because it is a t soul extracted out of many hings , and

co in s z i imposed upon its tincture ,

Th e prefer able reading is “ Crocus like unto ” sericu s.

“ {Th e second recension substitutes : B eware lest

e a t h e a e fo r e a e you xtr ct Spirit in h st , p rch nc it will " e p rish . I Th e second recension reads : And t h e soul shall e a a e e a e o f a and r m in , tinctur xtr ct d out m ny things , ” imposed upon coins . Th e u rba hiloso T P pho ru m . 89

f t there ore , is life to those hings with

f re which it is j oined , rom which it t moves evil , but it is dea h to the bodies A from which it is extracted . ccord in l g y , the Masters have said that between them there exist s the same desire as between male and female , if and any one , being introduced to this

Art h e , should know these natures , would sustain the tediousness o f cook ing until he gained his purpose accord ing to the will of God .

T en t - n ct Th e w y S eve th Di u m.

E S * sa ith : T GR GORIU O all ye urba , it is to be observed that the envious have called the venerable stone L Effi u cidinu sn and they have ordered it to be ruled until it coruscates like marble in its sp len do u r/I And

Th e n ame in th e second recension is Ch ambar .

th e e e e . Th e Antimony, in s cond r c nsion most biz arre terms o f th e Tu rba did not ﬁnd favour with W estern e Alch emists ; Efﬂucidinu s is a special insta nc in point . It

diﬂi cult ea i e e a ma be is to sp k w th compl t uthority , but it y a u o f sa id almost certainly th a t no l a ter author m de se it .

e e a a e . Mor ov r , no voc bul ry m ntions it I Th e comparison o f th e Stone in its sple ndour to

a e f a e o f th e ee gleaming m rbl is ound , mong oth r Gr k 90 The Turba Philosopho ru m. th e : o f t y Sh w , there ore , wha it is Th en h e : to posterity . Willingly ; you must know that the copper is commingled with vinegar , and ruled until it becomes water .

Finally , let it be congealed , and it remains a coruscating stone with a brilliancy like marble , which , when ye see thus , I direct you to rule until it becomes red , because when it is cooked till it is disintegrated and t becomes earth , it is turned in o a

. W red colour hen ye see it thus , repeatedly cook and imbue it unt il it f assume the a oresaid colour , and it r shall become hidden gold . Then e it peat the process , when will become f gold o a Tyrian colour . It behoves

f 0 o f you , there ore , all ye investigators

a e an d e e a D eta iled lch mists , in Zosimus , sp ci lly in his Ex osi ti on o th e Wo rk e e e e h e p f , wh r , how v r , is quoting

De . a th e e e e a mocritus M rk Philosoph r , s iz d with divine ra th e e o f e : I f t h t nsport , on subj ct this whit sulphur e

e a a e e e a e e e e a ea pr p r tion b com lik unto m rbl , th n is th r gr t ” e . a a a e e a h e myst ry And g in , h ving cit d St ph nus ,

ee : No w a e n d proc ds , th t which ting s tinctures a tinged

t a e th e a e e a e th e ea e subs nc s , s m is divin w t r, gr t myst ry , ” a which is like unto m rble.

92 Th e Turba Philosophorum .

* fo r u tion , the p nic dye , having em f braced his spouse , passes swi tly into

li u eﬁe s s her body , q , congeals , break up , and disintegrates the same . Finally, the redness does not delay in coming , i and f ye effect it without the weight , death will take place , whereupon it

W i o u t t o . H ll be th gh be bad ence , I order that the ﬁre should be gentle in f lique action , but when it is turned to ’ r an d earth make the same intense , imbue it until God shall extract the r colours fo us and they appear .

Th e went - i t t T y e gh h Dic um.

Cu sro s sa ith : I am surprised , O all ye Turba ! at the very great force and

o f nature this water , for when it has entered into the said body , it turns it

ﬁrst into earth , and next into powder , to test the perfect ion o f which take in if it the hand , and ye ﬁnd impalpable as water, it is then most excellent ;

Th e second recension reads : th e m al e. ” T a “ e e e a a to h t is , int ns r in cong l tion , ccording th e second recension . P iloso h orum The a ba h p .

otherwise , repeat the cooking until it is brought to the required condition . An d know that if ye use any substance other than our copper , and rule with our water, it will proﬁt you nothing .

If, on the other hand , ye rule our copper with our water , ye shall ﬁnd all

B u t that has been promised by us . th e T a nswereth : en URBA Father, the * vion s created no little o bscurity when they commanded us to take lead and white quicksilver , and to rule the same with dew and the sun till it becomes

- Th en h e T a coin like stone . hey meant our c o pper and our permanent

o u water , when they thus directed y to f cook in a gentle ﬁre , and a ﬁrmed that there should be produced the said coin like stone , concerning which the Wise N have also observed , that ature rej oices ffi in N ature , by reason of the a nity which they know to exist between the

Th e distinction b etween t h e W ise and th e Envious

a e f f at all e a a th e is littl di ﬁcult to ollow, nor is it c rt in th t

h d e m a t h e e o r th e e e envious a l ss wisdo th n wis , wis l ss

th e . e e a e e e e all e nvy than e nvious In ith r c s , th y w r

' in iﬂ n tl Greeks d ere y . ba Ph iloso h rum 94 Th e a p o .

a two bodies , th t is to say , copper T f and permanent water . here ore , the

fo r nature of these two is one , between ffi them there is a mixed a nity , without

so which they would not swiftly unite , and be held together so that they

Saith the T may beco me one . URBA : Why do the envious direct us to take the copper which we have now made , and roasted until it has become gold ?

e went - in th ictum Th T y N D .

D I AM ED ES saith : Thou hast spoken * n r already , O Moses , in an u g udging manner, as became thee ; I will also t h conﬁrm thy words , passing over e hardness o f the elements which the wise desire to remove , this dispo sition being most precious in their eyes .

Know, O ye seekers after this doctrine , that man does not proceed except from a man that only which is like unto themselves is begotten from brute ani mals ; and so also with ﬂying creatures .

efe e e e f th e e e This r r nc is omitt d rom s cond r cension .

e ma be a fo r C o r vice vers Mos s y misprint ustos , a .

6 The u rba P hi o so m 9 T l phoru .

n u n out of no other . K ow also that less you sei z e hold o f this Nature and rule it , ye will obtain nothing . j oin , f there ore , that male , who is son to * the red slave , in marriage with his f f d ragrant wi e , which having been one , Art is produced between them ; add no foreign matter unto these things , neither powder nor anything else that

f fo r fo r conception is su ﬁcient us , it is l i H still . o w near , yet the son is nearer exceeding precious is the nature of

Th e allegory o f th e S ervus Fugi tw us abounds in

e a e an d is f a o ld a a rea e lat r lch my , ound lso in Ar bi n t tis s , “ such as th e Twelve Chap ters of Osta nes : Th ey h a ve defined this S tone by saying th at it is running wa ter a nd p erm an ent water ; burning fire and froz en fire ; dead ea a e an d f e th e a e rth ; h rd ston so t ston . It is flying sl v , th e swift and t h e st able ; th e thing which m akes and is ” a e &c th e S eculum M a us o f V e m d , . In p j inc nt de

ea a a ea a s a o f e o f B uv is it pp rs synonym M rcury , which Rulan dus a e course is an obvious symbolism . ttribut s it to some treatise a scribed to H ermes . According to other e th e Red S e a is th e a e f th l xicons , rv nt m tt r rom which e

P e e a e e e ef hilosoph rs xtr ct th ir M rcury , which must th r ore h a ea e n h Th be t e marri g bl so m ention ed in t e text above. e fugitive role o f M ercury is referred to in th e Greek frag

o n Th e F a brica ti on o th e All as a ea e . ment f , lr dy cit d “ {Th e second recension reads : A true so n is ” be gotten . P iloso m The Tu rba h ph oru . 97

that red slave , without which the regimen cannot endure B ACS EN saith

re O Diomedes , thou hast publicly vealed this disp osition H e answereth

I will even shed more light upon it .

Woe unto you who fear not God , for H e may deprive you of this art !

Why , therefore , are you enviou s towards your brethren Th ey a nswer We do not ﬂee except from fools tell

f And h e us , there ore , what is thy will Place Cit rine with his wife after the conjunction into the bath ; do not kindle the bath excessively , lest they be deprived o f sense and motion ; cause t hem to remai n i n the bath until f their body , and the colour thereo , shall become a certain unity , where upon restore unto it the sweat thereof ; ff again su er it to die then give it rest , and beware lest ye evapo rate them by burning them in too strong a ﬁre . * V t h e f enerate king and his wi e , and

Rula n du s th e K t h e a According to , ing is spiritu l a e e e th e fe a e e e are w t r which giv s moistur to m l , but th r

T a a e t h e f a - ea o f th e m a ny meanings . his p ss g is ount in h d w f th e a e a a a e hol e symbolism o lch mic l m rri g , which is H m 98 The Turba Philosoph oru .

do not burn them , since you know not when you may have need of t hese things , which improve the king and his f wife . Cook them , there ore , until they t become black , hen white , afterwards red , and ﬁnally until a tingeing venom is produced . O seekers after this

Science , happy are ye , if ye under stand , but if not , I have still performed t my duty, and that brieﬂy , so hat if ye remain ignorant , it is God who hath concealed the truth from you !

th e Blame not , therefore , Wise , but if yourselves , for God knew that ye t possessed a faithful mind , mos cer t a inly he would reveal unto you th e rt t u h . Behold , I have established you f therein , and have extricated you rom error !

e i t i Th Th rtie h D ctum. B ACSEN saith : Thou hast spoken 0 well , Diomedes , but I do not see that

e e a a a e a e . C a e th e conc rn d , lw ys with roy l p rson g s omp r Sp o nsus and Sp o nsa o f th e Ch emica l Nup ti a ls of Christi a n

Ro s Cro ss a nd th e e y , innumerabl pictorial embl ems which

a e La e e a ea b illustr t tin Alch my. It do s not pp r to e trace a e a ee e bl to Gr k sourc .

Th e ur a P ilos T b h ophorum .

s seven times , because when it arrive

t n at perfec ion it ti ges the who le body . — Th e TURBA a nswereth : Thou hast

h B a csen ! spoken the trut , O

e hirt - irst ict m Th T y F D u . — PYTHAG O RAS sa ith H o w does th e d B a csen t o iscourse of appear you , since he ha s omitted t o name th e substance by its artiﬁcial names ?

And th e : y Name it , therefore , oh Pythagoras ! And h e : Co rsu ﬂe being its composition , they have applied t o it all the names of bodies in th e

o f world , as , for example , those coin , copper, tin , gold , iron , and also the

o f name of lead , until it be deprived

xir Th e that co lour and become I . TURBA answereth : Thou hast spoken

P ! And h e : well , O ythagoras Ye

o e have als spoken well , and som a mong the others may discourse con cerning the residual matters .

- The Thirty Second D ictum .

ONELL S saith : A B U ccording to thee ,

O Pythagoras , all things die and live T e u r a P hiloso h or m 1 0 1 h T b p u .

o f by the will God , because that nature from which the humidity is removed , t that nature which is lef by nights , does indeed seem like unto something that is dead ; it is then turned and f (again)le t for certain nights , as a man is left in his tomb , when it becomes a " o wderf T p hese things being done , G o d will restore unto it bo th the soul a n d W the spirit thereof, and the eak n ess being taken away , that matter will be made strong , and after corruption w ill be i mproved , even as a man becomes st ronger after resurrection and o t t y unger han he was in his world . T f here ore it behoves you , O ye S ons o f the Doctrine , to consume that matter with ﬁre boldly until it shall

o e become a cinder , when kn w that y fo r have mixed it excellently well , that c inder receives the spirit , and is imbued

T Th h e text is corrupt and unintelligible . e second rec ension reads : Therefore tha t n ature from which th e h a s ee e e e h as ee ef f humidity b n r mov d , wh n it b n l t or

e o ne ea and e a a e a nights , is lik to d d ; th n th t n tur is w nting in ﬁre until th e spirit o f th at body returns ; an d th en it

e n b ecomes dust lik unto o e d ead in his tomb . The a P o a b hilos phorum. with the humour until it assumes a fairer colo u r than it previously pos

s . essed Consider , therefore , O ye Sons

t a re of the Doctrine , that artis s unable to paint with their own tinctures until they convert them into a powder ; th similarly , e philosophers cannot com bine medicines for the sick slaves until o they also turn them into powder , co k

e ing some of them to a cinder, whil others they grind with their hands . Th e case is the same with those wh o h compo se t e images of the ancients . But if ye understand what has already

a w been s id , ye will kno that I speak the truth , and hence I have ordered yo u to burn up the body and turn it into a cinder , for if ye rule it subtly f many things will proceed rom it , even as much proceeds from the smallest

e things in the world . It is thus becaus copper like man , has a body and a soul , for the inspiration of men cometh f r from the air , which a ter God is thei life , and similarly the copper is inspired by the humour from which that sam e

The Tu rba Philosopho rum.

in combustion , when it is placed on coins and changes them into gold ,

t h e according to Divine pleasure . Do you not see that sperm is not produced from the blood unless it be diligently cooked in the liver till it has acquired f an intense red colour , a ter which no change takes place in t hat s perm

It is the same with our work , for unless it be cooked diligently until it shall w become a powder , and after ards be p u t reﬁed until it shall become a spiritual

Sperm , there will in no wise proceed from it that colour which ye desire . But if ye arrive at the conclusion of this regimen , and so obtain your pur pose , ye shall be princes among the

o f people your time .

t - hird ictum The Thiry T D . — NI CARU S saith Now ye have made

Th e T A this arcanum public . URB

Th e comp arison o f th e progress o f th e work to t h e e e e o f t h e e e e th e d v lopm nt mbryo , which is sugg st d by a e efe e e an d fa all L a bov r r nc , is , in ct , common to tin a e s is f a th e ee e and a d pt , ound lso in Gr k writ rs , mong o h r m 1 0 Th e Tu rba Ph ilos p o u . 5 a nswereth Thus did the Master order .

A nd he : No t . the whole , nevertheless B ut they H e ordered us to clear away f the darkness there rom do thou , there

A nd h e fore , tell us . I counsel pos f erity to take the gold which they wish e to multiply and renovate , then to divid

h And the t e water into two parts . y f Distinguish , there ore , when they divide

B u t h e t h e water . : It behoves them t o burn up our copper with one part .

v For the said copper , dissol e d in that f * water , is called the erment of Gold , if

t e e Co mariu s a a th e e o f ﬁre es h s , in , who s ys th t t st nourish ’ th e materia l as th e embryo is nourished in th e moth er s womb .

a t h a M . Berthelot tr ces e origin al notion o f th e ferment t o f e a th e a di l s e e ion m t ls to sophistic tion called p o si . R cip s d esigned fo r th e accomplishment o f a mor e profound i a are a met W fo r e a e th e a a e o f mit tion lso ith , x mpl , lli nc gold o r silver W ith a more o r l ess considerabl e qu antity o f some l ess precious m etal ; this w as th e opera tion o f ” di lo sis . f th e L e e a e p It is ound in yd n p pyrus , but th re a re a e a t h e E a e e e or at an tr c s th t gypti n goldsmith b li v d , y ra e a e e e e e “ a th e e e a t sought to m k oth rs b li v , th t tru m t l w as really multiplied by a n operation comparable to ” Th f ferm entation . e erm entation o f metals is me ntion ed in m any places by th e Greek writers : It is n ecessa ry t a a e af e th e a e o f ea e e e h t this w t r , t r m nn r l v n , should d t r e t h e fe e a e e e t h e e min rm nt tions d stin d to produc lik , by a The Turb Philosophorum.

e ye rule well . For the same in lik manner are cooked and liquefy as water ; ﬁnally, by cooking they are

a n d congealed , crumble , the red t o appears . But then it behoves you imbue seven times with the residual water, until they absorb all the water , and , all the moisture being dried up , they are turned int o dry earth ; then kindle a ﬁre and place therein for forty f days until the whole shall putre y , and its colours appear .

T e ir - c h Th ty Fourth Di tum.

B ACSEN saith : On account of thy ‘E b ewa re dicta the Philosophers said .

T C o rsu ﬂe e ake the regal , which is lik

o f to the redness copper , and pound in the urine of a calf until the nat ure

ea o f th e e t h e e a be e . m ns lik , in m t llic body to ting d As a, fa af e th e a e a e a t h e ea e o f e ct , t r s m m nn r th t l v n dough , us d a a a fe e a ea a o f a e so in sm ll qu ntity, rm nts gr t m ss p st , also will this little morsel o f gold ferment all th e dry " a T e ea e er e a m tter . his notion is r p t d in t ms ess nti l an d literal by innumerable L atin alchemists . Fo r this som ewh a t biz arre reading th e second re cen sio n substitutes It seems n eedful to lay stress upo n " a some m atters which h ve been already m ention ed .

Th e ur a P hiloso h or m T b p u . th e T saith : s URBA Finish your peech ,

B a sen And h e O c . : I direct them t o whiten copper with white water, by which also they make red . Be careful not to introduce any foreign matter . And th e TURBA : Well hast thou

B a csen Ni timeru s spoken , O , and c also has spoken well ! Then h e : I f I have spoken well , do one of you continue .

The hirt - i th ictu m T y F f D .

B ut Z I MO N sa ith Hast thou left a ny . thing to be said by another ? And the Tu n na z Since the words of Nica ru s and B a cse n are of little go od to those who f Art seek a ter this , tell us , therefore , what thou knowest , according as we

And he have said . Ye speak the t f Art ! ruth , O all ye seekers a ter this Nothing else has led you into error but ‘ o f e nvio u s r the sayings the , because what an d fo r this rea son th e prie sts who were acqu ainted with th e minera l secrets did not d ar e to disclose th em publicly. In t h e second rec ension th e n ame is re ndered

Zeun o n .

Th e se cond recension h as an important variation ” Th e words o f th e Egyptians h ave led us into error . T e hilo o h o m 1 h Turba P s p ru . 09 ye seek is sold at the smallest possible * price . I f men knew this , and how great was the thing they held in their hands , they would in no wise sell it . T herefore , the Philosophers have glori

ﬁed ven o m i o f that , have treated it

e variously , and in many ways , hav taken and applied to it all manner of f names , where ore , certain envious per sons have said : I t is a stone and not a

u m o f Asco tia stone , but a g , con

co n sequently , the Philosophers have cea led the power thereof. For this

e spirit which ye seek , that y may tinge therewith , is concealed in the body , f and hidden away rom sight , even as the soul in the human b o dy . I But ye

This passage rec alls m any statements to t h e same effe t h e ee a e as fo r e a e a th e ct in Gr k lch mists , , x mpl , th t end to be a e e fo r t h e L is not obt in d by mon y, ord God h as e e e t h e a e ra ea o f t h e d liv r d s m g tuitously , by r son ” a e f t h be gga rs an d th e despairing . But this pa ss g rom e Byz an tine Assembly o f the P h ilosop hers is in part at l ea st n a interpol ation . {Th e se cond recension r eads : th at useful an d " abject thing . O e i e : T e e t h e ee 1 th rw s h r in is spirit which you s k , ” c e viviﬁes e ea an d fe e . whi h ting s , , giv s h lth li to bodi s The ur a P l T b hi osophorum.

Art disin seekers after the , unless ye e rat e t g this body , imbue and pound both cautiously and diligently , until ye extract it from its grossness (o r grease), and turn it into a tenuous and o i impalpable spirit , have y ur labour n e vain . Wherefore the Philosophers hav said : Except ye turn bodies into not o bodies , and incorp real things into bodies , ye have not yet discovered the

B u t h rule o f operation . t e T URBA saith : Tell , therefore , posterity how

- bodies are turned into not bodies . And he : They are pounded with ﬁre and Eth elia till they become a * A powder . n d know that this does not take place except by an ex ceedin l g y strong decoction , and con tin u o u s o c ntrition , performed with l ﬁre 1 h a n ds a moderate , not with , l

Th e second recension rea ds : W hen Eth elia is ” o e e e e e r . p und d until it b com s dust , but it is vid ntly co rupt Th e counsel o f Olympio do rus is simil ar : Th e ﬁre

e a an d e e e e th e a must burn with mod r tion g ntl n ss , l st v pour ” e and be a a K should escape in smok lost , And , g in now " f ﬁr that this Art is no t practised by means o a ﬁerce e . 1 Some Latin alch emists say that t h e M ag num Op us e e and a e e is a work o f th e hands, which oth rs d ny , v ry pr tty

Th e w ins P iloso h or m T h p u .

nor the common without the precious . f 0 It behoves you , there ore , all ye

Art f th e investigators of this , to ollow * Victim eru s d sayings of , when he sai to his disciples : Nothing else helps you save to sublimate water an d An vapour . d th e TURBA : Th e whole work is in the vapour and the sublima tion of water . Demonstrate , there f t o ore , them the disposition o f th e

And h vapour . e When ye shall per ceive that the natures have become water by reason o f the heat of t h e

fire , and that they have been purified , and th at the whole body o f Magnesia is liquefied as water ; then all things

a have been m de vapour , and rightly , for then the vapour contains its own

e nvio u sl equal , wherefore the call either vapour , because both are j oined

a n d s in decoctions , one contain the T other . hus our stag ﬁnds no path to escape , although ﬂight be essential to

” Of t h e e e a th e e e e . ld rs , s ys s cond r c nsion

Th e second r ecension substitutes Th e Ph ilo so . " h ers a a a wa a . p , v ri tion which , in its y, is signiﬁc nt e ur a Philoso h um Th T b p or .

Th e it . one keeps back the other, so that it has no opportunity to ﬂy, and it ﬁnds n o plac e to escape ; hence all

re fo r o n e a made permanent , when the

is falls , being hidden in the body , it

e congealed with it , and its colour vari s , and it extracts its nature from the pro p ert ies which God has infused into H is

i t . elect , and it alienates , lest it ﬂee But

a n d the blackness redness appear , and it falls into sickness , and dies by rust and

o n putrefacti n ; properly speaki g , then , it has not a ﬂight , although it is desirous to escape servitude ; then wh e n it is free it follows its spouse , that a favourable colour may befall itself and

n o t its spouse its beauty is as it was , but when it is placed with coins , it makes them gold . For this reason , therefore , the Philosophers have called the spirit and the soul vapour . They have also called it the black humid

' wa nting p erlu tio n ; and forasmuch as in ma n there are both humidity and

r th e d yness , thus our work , which

e e envious have concealed , is nothing ls 1 1 h 4 Th e Turba P ilosophoru m. but vapour and water The TURBA a nswereth : Demonstra te vapour and water ! And h e : I say that the work is out of two ; the envious have

o f e called it composed out two , becaus f these two become our , wherein are dr e t yn ss and humidi y , spirit and

Th e a nswe eth : T u vapour . T U RBA r ho hast spoken excellently , and without e Z nvy . Let imon next follow .

he hi t - th ictu m T T ry Six D .

* AFFLONTU S saith , the Philosopher , s I notify to you all , O ye investigator o f Art th e this , that unless ye sublime substances at the commencement by t cooking , wi hout contrition of hands ,

e until the whole become water , ye hav n o t And yet found the work . know ye , that the copper was formerly called sand , but by others stone , and , indeed , the names vary in every

r . t h e egimen Know further, that n e e atur and humidity becom water,

be then a stone, if ye cause them to

th e e e Th e n ame in seco nd r c nsion is Assotes.

Th e u r a ilo o h o T b P h s p rum. saith : Coo k the copper until it b e l come a gent e and impalpable body , and impose in its o wn vessel ; then sublimate the same six or seven times

An d until the water shall descend . know that when the water has become powder then has it been ground diligently . But if ye ask , how is the water made a powder ? note that the intention of the Philosophers is that the body before which before it falls into the water is not water may become water the said water is mixed with the other

o . water , and they bec me one water f It is to be stated , there ore , that unless ye turn the thing mentioned * o t int water, ye shall not at ain to f the work . It is , there ore , necessary for the body to be so possessed by the ﬂame O f the ﬁre that it is dis integrated and becomes t weak with

n the water, when the water has bee

menta ry of Aga th o da i mo n up on the Ora cle o f Orp heus is e a th e ee e xt nt in Gr k coll ction . Th e second recension rea ds : unl ess ye turn both ” into water . The Tur a Ph iloso h r m b p o u . 1 1 7

b added to the water , until the whole e

comes water . But fools , hearing o f

water, think that this is water of th e

clouds . H a d they read our books they

would know that it is permanent water , which cannot become permanent with

o u t its companion , wherewith it is

made one . But this is the water which the Philo sophers have called Water V of Gold , the Igneous , Good enom , and that Sand of Many Name s which Hermes ordered to be washed

frequently , so that the blackness of

the Sun might be removed , which he introduced in the solution o f the f . And a body know, all ye seekers ter Art this , that unless ye take this

pure body , that is , our copper without

se the spirit , ye will by no means e

o what ye desire , because no f reign

thing enters therein , nor does any it T thing enter unless be pure . here fo Art re , all ye seekers after this , dismiss the multitude of obscure

n ames , for the nature is one water ; if anyone err, he draws nigh to de l ho r m The Tu rba Phi osop u .

f stru ction , and loses his li e . Therefore ,

e keep this one natur , but dismiss what is foreign .

- The Thirty Seventh Dictum.

B ONELLU S saith : I will speak a littl e

e The T concerning Magn sia . URBA answereth : And he : 0 Speak . all ye

o f n Sons the Doctrine , when mixi g

Magnesia , place it in its vessel , the mouth of which close carefully , and f cook with a gentle ﬁre until it lique y , and all beco me water therein ! For the heat of the water acting thereupon , it becomes water by the will of God . When ye see that the said water is about to become black , ye know that the body is already liqueﬁed . Plac e again in its vessel , and cook for forty

u days , ntil it drink up the moisture * o f the vinegar and honey . But certain

Ther e is an exceedingly curious reference to hon ey Th in th e Discourse o f Synesius . e question being wha t

’ is th e diﬁere nce betwe en th e mercury which is obtained f a a and a a e f a se rom cinn b r , th t which is obt in d rom r nic , th e P e e a a e all e is o ne hilosoph r xpl ins th t whil m rcury , e e are a a e o f a n d h e e e e th r still v ri ty sorts , quot s H rm s ” “ Th e ra o f e e a n d th e ra o f e y hon y is whit , y hon y is

1 20 The Turba Philosophorum.

b e o ne divided into two parts , with o f which burn up the body, and with

t h e . An d a ll e other putrefy know , y

e th e seek rs after this Science , that whole wo rk and regimen does n o t

e e tak place except by water , wherefor , they say that th e thing which ye seek

o ne a n d es is , , unless that which improv e it be present in the said thing , what y

look for shall in no wise take place .

Therefore , it behoves you to add those f things which are need ul , that ye may

thereby obtain that which you purpose . Th e TURBA a nswereth : Thou has spoken

B o n ellu s ! e excellently , O I f it pleas

thee , therefore , ﬁnish that which thou art saying ; otherwise repeat it a second

B u t he ° time . Shall I indeed repeat these and like things ? 0 all ye in

h ad e ee e e ea a th e a e which xc dingly div rs m ning mong nci nts . Th e Vi a ea e a e rus , ccording to Pliny , m nt c rt in prop rties o r s ec e o f e su ch a s t h e o f C p iﬁc virtu s bodi s , odour opper,

or and an a a th e e a ac of a iv y , s d r c ; m dic l tion c lx o f gold th e a e e a e r th m gn tic virtu communic t d to i on by e magn et .

e e th e e e th e o e and th e e a i H nc t rm signiﬁ d p w r not op r t on , o r if th e O e a e all a e e p r tion , th n this in its ph s s . wh th er o f ea t 10 a e h ling o r hur ing . 8 lso signiﬁ d in a sp eci al way th e o xyde o f metals . The ur a Philoso h orum 1 1 T b p . 2

vesti a t o rs Art g of this , take our Copper ; place with the ﬁrst part o f the water in the vessel ; cook fo r forty days ; purify from all uncleanliness ; cook fur e o th r until its days be acc mplished , and

it become a stone having no moisture . Then cook until nothing remains except

a v f eces This done , cleanse se en times , wash with water , and when the water is used up leave it to putrefy in its vessel , so long as may seem desirable to your purpose . But the envious called this composition when it is turned into blackness tha t which is suﬁiciently bla ck : , and have said Rule the same with vinegar and nitre . But that which remained when it had been

su cientl white whitened they called ﬁ y , and ordained that it should be ruled A with permanent water . gain , when

Th e e e t h e sco riw a whol myst ry is in , s ys Zosimus , in The Di versi t o B u rnt CO er an d th e e a y f pp , though r m rk h as a a a a a was a a e o f p rticul r pplic tion , it lso with lch mists th e a e a e So Ol m io do ru : n tur o f g n eral axiom . y p s In fa th e e a e a r excellence a a ct , n g tiv body p , th t which is c lled

a ea a th e E a e bl ck l d , th t which gypti n proph ts desir ed to a th e a e o f th e e a e e ea ed know, th t which or cl s d mons h v r v l , ” ll e th ae f a th se are e scori and cinders o M ary . The ur a Philoso ru T b pho m.

su icientl red they called the same ﬂ y , they ordained that it should be rule d with water and ﬁre until it became

The T answereth red . URBA : Show forth unto posterity what they intended

A he by these things . nd They called

I xir satis o f v it , by reason the ariation

e of its colours . In the work , how ver, t there is neither variety , mul iplicity , nor o pposition o f substances ; it is necessary o nly to make the black H copper white and then red . owever , the truth - speaki n g Philosophers had no

o f other intention than that liquefying,

I xir n t h e pounding , and cooking u til stone should beco me like unto marbl e

. A in its splendour ccordingly , the envious again said : Cook the sam e with vapour until the stone becomes coruscating by reason of its brilliancy .

u t B when ye see it thus , it is , indeed , N th e most great Arcanum . o twith standing , ye must then pound and wash

' it seven tim es with permanent water ;

ﬁnally , again pound and congeal in its own water, until ye extract its own con

1 2 The ur a P hilo so h o ru m 4 T b p .

B not need any contrition of hands . e o f ware , however , making a separation from th e waters lest the poisons get a t you , and the body perish with th e ‘ vessel r other things which are in the .

The hi t - i hth t T ry Eg Dic u m.

EFF I STU S saith : Thou hast spoken

B o n ellu s most excellently , O , and I bear witness to all thy words ! Th e TURBA sa ith : Tell us if there be any

o f B o n ellu s service in the speech , so that tho se initiated in this disposition

EFFI S T S may be more bold and certain . U saith : t Consider , all ye investiga ors o f Art H f t h e this , how ermes , chie of

Philosophers , spoke and demonstrated

W hen he wished to mix the natures .

Take , he tells us , the stone of gold , combine with humour which is per manent water , set in its vessel , over a gentle ﬁre unt il liquefactio n

“ Oth erwise th e and are th e i , body soul which in " vessel shall quickly perish . The ur a Philoso horu T b p m. 1 25

t akes place . Then leave it until t h e water dries , and the sand and water are combined , one with another ; then let the ﬁre be more intense than before , until it again becomes dry , and is made earth . When this is done , understand that here is the beginning of the arcanum ; but do this many

- times , until two thirds of the water perish , and colours manifest unto you . Th e T URBA answereth Thou hast

o Efﬁstu s ! sp ken excellently, O Yet ,

: And h e brieﬂy inform us further . I t estify to posterity that th e dealbation doth not take place save ‘ d eco ctio n ﬁ A a . by Consequently , g daimon has very properly treated of l imbu in ] cooking, of pounding, and of g ,

Th e Greek equivalent o f Decoction identiﬁes th e pro cess with that cooking which is so often ordaine d in all

th e New Li h t o f Arn l us alchemical experiments. In g o d d V a N a h ee a e o f th e era are e ed e ill ov t r gr d s Op tion d scrib , f a e and a together with th e spe cial urn c s ppli ances required .

th a e th e a e e e a th e In e ﬁrst gr d , m tt r b com s bl ck ; in

se e an d th e red . Th e e is cond , whit ; in third , d scription e a e a a f t h Turbo accompanied in ach c s by cit tion rom e . f Th e second rece nsio n substitutes : fo r which ” f e an d cause there must be requ nt pounding imbuing. 1 26 The ur a Philo r T b sopho um.

h e t elia . Yet I direct you not to pour

a t on the whole of the water one time , l I xir it est the be submerged , but pour

n in gradually , pou d and dessicate , and do this several times until the water be exhausted . Now concerning this the envious have said : Leave the water when it has all been poured in , w B u t and it ill sink to the bottom .

t h e their intention is this , that while r humour is d y ing, and when it has been turned into powder, leave it in its

fo r glass vessel forty days , until it passes through various colours , which the Philosophers have described . By this method o f cooki ng the bodies put on their spirits and spiritual tinctures , and become The TURBA ah swereth : T hou hast given light to us ,

Eﬂistu s t ! 0 , and has done excellently Truly art thou cleared from envy ; t wherefore , let one of you o hers speak as he pleases .

Th e second recension reads : bodies become ” s i and th e are a e and e e. pir ts , Spirits m d hot , th y ting

1 28 Th e ur a Philoso horum T b p .

is not occupied with vain thoughts , f but ears God , and shall reign in the Kingdom without fail until he t For wha ye seek is not of small price . Woe unto you who seek the very great and compensating treasure o f God ! Know ye not that fo r the smallest purpose in the world , earthly men will

t o a nd give themselves death , what ,

f s there ore , ought they to do for thi most excellent and almost impossibl e ff ? o ering Now, the regimen is greater than is p erceived by reason , except e through divine inspiratio n . I onc met with a p erson who was as well Th e fear o f God h as always b een regarded as h h e Th e ex essentia l to t e succ ess o f t e true alch mist . plana tion is to be sought in th e fa ct tha t th e Operations o f nature were a region o f awe a n d wonder to early exp eri

Th e e e a e e a a s ment . Greek alch mists r g rd d no Op r tion e t h e e e e and possibl without divin concurr nc , Zosimus s ays : Abide at thine o wn ﬁreside acknowledging but o ne G od an d o ne Art ; do not devi ate in search o f a nother Go d ; fo r e ee H e e e e e e e . God will com to th , who is pr s nt v rywh r e and a so R st thy body , hush thy p ssions ; , e e f a a ee th e D e gov rning thys l , thou sh lt c ll unto th ivin

e a nd th e D e e e ee. B ing, ivin B ing will com to th W e a e f e a k a h n thou sh lt know thys l , th n sh lt thou now lso th e only Go d existing in thee ; an d a cting thus thou shalt ” a a a nd a e e e a e . tt in truth n tur , r j cting m tt r with contempt Th e ur a i o o u T b Ph l s phor m. acquainted with the elements as

. f I mysel , but when he proceeded to t rule this disposition , he at ained not to the j oy thereof by reason of his sadness l and ignorance in ru ing , and excessive eagerness , desire , and haste concern ing the purpose . Woe unto you , sons o f the Doctrine ! For one who plants trees does not look for fruit , save in due season ; he also who sows seeds does not expect to reap , except at

. H o w harvest time , then , should ye desire to attain this offering when ye have read but a single book , or have adventured only the ﬁrst regimen ? But the Philosophers have plainly stated that the truth is not to be discerned except after error , and nothing creates greater pain at heart Art than error in this , while each imagines th at he has almost the whole world , and yet ﬁnds nothing in his t ! hands . Woe un o you U nderstand the dictum of the Philosopher , and h Ow he divided the work when he — said pound , cook , reiterate , and be x 1 30 The Turba Philosophorum .

thou not weary . But when thus he di vided co mmin the work , he signiﬁed g ling , cooking , assimilating , roasting , heating , whitening , pounding , cooking

Eth elia , making rust or redness , and H tingeing . ere , therefore , are there

o n e many names , and yet there is

An d if o n e regimen . men knew that decoction and one contrition would s fﬁ u ce them , they would not so often

e repeat their words , as they have don , and in order that the mixed body may be pounded and cooked diligently , have admonished you not to be weary f H thereo . aving darkened the matter

fﬁ me to you with their words , it su ces to speak in this manner . It is needful

co m lexio n a t e o to p the ven m rightly , then cook many times , and do not grow tired of the decoction . Imbue and cook it until it shall become as I have ordained that it should be ruled — by you namely, impalpable spirits , and until ye percei ve that the I xir is

o f clad in the garment the Kingdom . For when ye behold the Ixir turned into

1 32 Th e Tu rba P h ilosoph oru m .

And he a nswereth Th e co pper o f which

n o t thou hast before spoken is copper , nor is it the tin of the vulgar it is our true work (or body)which must be

o f combined with the body Magnesia , that it may be cooked and pounded wi t hout wearying until the stone is

a Aft t m de . erwards , hat stone must be pounded in its vessel with the water o f nitre , and , subsequently , placed in liquefaction until it is destroyed . But , all ye investigators of this art , it is necessary to have a water by which

so the more you cook , much the more * you sprinkle , until the said copper

fo u n da shall put on rust , which is the

. t h erefo re a n d tion of our work Cook , , pound with Egyptian vinegar .

F t - ict m The ary First D u .

’ Z I M ON r saith Whatsoever thou hast u a r o s ttered , O J g , is true , yet I do

Th e second recension reads : It is n ecessary to u se a water which b ecomes inspissated in proportion as it is " cooked . h th a 1 In t e s econd recension e n me is Gadmon . T a 1 Th e urb Philosoph o ru m . 33 not see t hat the whole Turba hath spoken concerning the

Th en he S a : pe k , therefore , thine 0 Z ! opinion concerning it , imon Z I MO N sa ith : I notify to posterity that the rotundum turns into four elements , and is derived out of t o n e t h in gﬂ Th e TURBA a nswereth : Inasmuch as

fo r thou art speaking , explain future generations the method of ruling . And h e : Willingly : it is necessary to take one part of our copper , but of Permanent Water three parts ; then let them be mixed and cooked until they be thickened and become one W stone , concerning hich the envious have said : T ake one part o f the pure

o f body , but three parts copper of Magnesia ; then commingle with

Th e term rotundum used in this curious m a nner is to be e f th e S e Th e S ca le P hilo so horu m und rstood o ton . p ” ea o f “ ur e fe t riac a nd e th e f sp ks o p r ct y rotund ston , our el ements being concordantly exalted in th e quality o f th e t emp erate ston e . f Th ere is a variation in th e second recension : I signify to future generations th a t th e rotundum which co n . ” n verts copper into four is from o e thing . 1 Th e ur a i o h o r m 34 T b Ph los p u . r ectiﬁed vinegar, mixed with male o f e earth ; close the vessel , observ what is in it , and cook continuously until it becomes earth .

e t - ec nd ict m Th F ory S o D u .

Ascau m s sa ith : To o 0 much talking, o f all ye Sons the Doctrine , leads this subj ect further into error ! But when ye read in the books o f the Philosophers

o n e sh e that Nature is only , and that overcomes all things : Know that they are one thing and o ne composite . Do ye not see that the complexion o f a man is formed out of a so ul and body ; thus , also , must ye conjoin these , because the Philosophers , when they prepared the matters and conjoined spouses mutually in love with each f m other , behold there ascended ro them a golden water ! Th e TURBA answereth : When thou wast treating o 10 ! of the ﬁrst w rk , thou didst turn unto the secon d ! H o w a m bi o u s gu hast thou made thy book , and how obscure are thy words !

1 36 Th e t rba Philosoph o ru m. o f t Ethel , and nex makes them red , tinges every body, because , when by diligent cooking ye pound the body , ye extract a pure , spiritual , and sub lime soul therefrom , which tinges

Th e T a nswereth every body . U RBA f t Inform , there ore , posterity wha is

And he : that body . It is a natural sulphureous thing "6 which is called

o f by the names all bodies .

t - T ird ict m Th e F o ry h D u .

DARDAR I S sa ith Ye h ave frequently v treated of the regimen , and ha e intro ’ d u ced co n u n ctio n r the j , yet I proclaim to posterity that they cannot extract

Eth elia the now hidden soul except by , by which b o dies become not bodies through continual cooking , and by sub

o f E h li limation t e a . Know also that quicksilver is ﬁery , burning every body t f more han does ﬁre , also morti ying

“ Th e e e e ea : o f a e s cond r c nsion r ds sulphur n tur , conc erning which much is found in later alchemic al writers .

“ 1 According to th e second recension : much h as been ” e i e o f th e said o f th e r g m n but conjunction little. The 1 Tu rba Philosoph o ru m. 37

bodies , and that every body which is mingled with it is ground and delivered

over to be destroyed . When , there

fore , ye have diligently pounded the

bodies , and have exalted them as

required , therefrom is produced that is Ethel nature , and a colour which * tingeing and not volatile , and it tinges the copper which the Turba said did

not tinge until it is tinged , because that

which is tinged tinges . Know also that the body o f the copper is ruled by

Magnesia , and that quicksilver is four

bodies , also that the matter has no

being except by humidity , because it

o f is the water sulphur , for sulphurs

Th e T are contained in sulphurs . URBA sa ith : D a rda ris f O , in orm posterity what sulphurs are ! And he Sulphurs are souls which are hidden in four

bodies , and , extracted by themselves ,

a re do contain one another, and

naturally conj oined . For if ye rule that which is hidden in the belly of sulphur t wi h water , and cleanse well that which

‘ O e e : ee f th e ﬁre th rwis not ﬂ ing rom . 1 8 Th e ur a P il 3 T b h osophoru m.

is hidden , then nature rej oices , meeting with nature , and water similarly with its equal . Know ye also that the four * Aml bodies are not tinged but tinge . the TURBA : Why dost thou not say like the ancients that when they a re

? And h e : tinged , they tinge I state that the four coins of the vulgar p o p u lace are not tinged , but they tinge copper, and when that copper is

o f tinged , it tinges the coins the p o p u la ce ﬁ

T e t - urt ictu m h For y Fo h D .

M OYS ES sa ith This one thing of which

0 Da rda ris thou hast told us , , the Philosophers have called by many t names , some imes by two and sometimes by three names ! DARDARI S a nswereth

N ame it , therefore , for posterity ,

And h e : Th e o ne setting aside envy . is that which is ﬁery , the two is the

th e e e e “ e e a According to s cond r c nsion , th y ting

o th e e e e e are 1 Acc rding to s cond r c nsion , th y not

e e e e e e th e o f th e ting d , xc pt copp r , which th n ting s coins vulgar .

il 1 40 The Tu rba Ph osopho rum .

being dissolved , to take care lest

t o they be burnt up , as also wash them t with sea wa er , until all their salt be turned into sweetness , clariﬁes , tinges ,

t o f becomes incture copper , and then goes o ff in ﬂight ! Because it was necessary that one should become t tingeing , and that the o her should

fo r be tinged , the spirit being separ ated from the body and hidden in the other spirit , both become volatile . Therefore the Wise have said t hat the gate o f ﬂight must not be open

fo r t ed that which would ﬂee , (or hat which does not by W hose ﬂight

fo r death is occasioned , by the con version o f the sulphureous thing into t a spirit like unto itself, ei her becomes f volatile , since they are made aeri orm spirits prone to ascend in the air . But the Philosophers seeing that which was

it is needful to understa nd th at ! uicksilver Camb ar is ” a e a &c. M gn si ,

Th e ea o f th e e e e ea e r ding s cond r c nsion is cl r r ,

a e C e t h e o n th e a e e a e n m ly , los door vol til . l st it t k ” ﬂight . il 1 1 The Ta rba Ph osophorum. 4

not volatile made volatile with th e

e volatiles , iterated these to a body lik

t - u t o the non volatiles , and p them into that from which they could not * escape . They iterated them to a body like unto the bodies from which t they were ex racted , and the

same were then digested . But as for th e statement of the Philo sopher that the tingeing agent a n d that which is to be tinged are f made one tincture , it re ers to a spirit concealed in another humid

spirit . Know also that one o f the

humid spirits is cold , but the other

h o t is , and although the cold humid

is not adapted to the warm humid ,

nevertheless they are made one . f Therefore , we pre er these two bodies , because by them we rule the whole

n o t - work , namely , bodies by bodies ,

in o r o rea ls u ntil c p become bodies , f stead ast in the ﬁre , because they are

In th e second recension th e pa ssa ge reads thus Concerning th ese th e Philosoph ers also said Th ey fl ed " and et e e e a e . not with flying things , y w r th y m d flying T e r 1 42 h Ta ba P hilosophorum.

conjoined with volatiles , which is not t possible in any body , these excep ed .

For spirits in every wise avoid bodies , but fugit ives are restrained by in

I n co r o rea ls f corporeals . p , there ore , f similarly flee rom bodies ; those , con sequently, which do not flee are better and more precious than all bodies . T f hese things , there ore , being done , take those which are not volatile and j oin them ; W ash the body with the i n corporeal until the incorporeal re ceives a non - volatile body ; convert the earth into water , water into fire ,

ﬁre into air , and conceal the ﬁre in the

o f th e depths water , but the earth in the belly of the air , mingling the hot with the humid , and the cold with the dry . Know , also , that N ature over comes Nature , Nature rej oices in

Nature , Nature contains Nature .

Th e ort - Sixth ictum F y D .

ATTAM U S saith : It is to be noted that the whole assembly of the Philosophers have frequently treated concerning

1 Th e u r a P h m 44 T b ilosopho ru .

At ta m u s ! I will speak , therefore , of venom , and will instruct future genera tions that venom is not a body , because subtle spirits have made it into a tenuous spirit , have tinged the body and burned it with venom , which venom the Philosopher assert s will A tinge every body . But the ncient Philosophers thought that he who turned gold into venom had arrived at

b u t n o t the purpose , he who can do

ro ﬁteth this p nothing . Now I say

o f unto you , all ye Sons the Doctrine , that unless ye reduce the thing by ﬁre t until those things ascend like a spiri , ff f . T ye e ect nought his , there ore , is a spirit avoiding the ﬁre and a ponderous

* smoke, which when it enters the body

a e e all e o r e f e e th e ntimony, w r mor l ss con ound d und r

a e o f &c. n m s rubigo , minium , e a a a w as a e It is not , p rh ps , surprising th t wh t bov ll th e e o f th e ﬁre an d t h e f a e a things myst ry urn c , should concern itself considera bly with th e smoke in which it so ft e e e and a a e o f we a e o n nd d, thus inv rious st g s its history h v alch emy discoursing o f that specially philosophical smoke e a ae and e e o n t h e a which is id ntic l with scori , h nc uthority o f th e Greeks involves th e whol e art ; w e h ave also white s e e a e e e e a mok , id ntic l with m rcury ; citrin smok , id ntic l Ta r a h Th e b P ilosophorum. 1 45

penetrates it entirely , and makes the “ body rejo ice ﬁ Th e Philosophers have all said : T ake a black and conjoining spirit ; therewit h break up the bodies and torture them till they be altered .

Th e F o rt - Ei h th ict y g D um.

PYT HAGO RAS saith : We must affirm unto all you seekers after this Art that the Philosophers have treated of con j unction (o r continuation)in various ways . But I enj oin upon you to make quicksilver con strain the bo dy of

Ku h u l Magnesia , or th e body , or

o f the S pume Luna , or incombustible sulphur , or roasted calx , or alum

o f w which i s out apples , as ye kno . But if there was any singular regimen

o f t for any hese , a Philosopher would not say so , as ye know . Understand ,

w re d e with yello sulphur smok , which is orpim ent ; smoke o f e e e e o f th e L a e e xtr m subtl ty , which tin G b r discourses ; a n d t h e e e o f th e Tu rba l a stly pond rous smok . M any

e be a e e e ar e e are su ﬂi cient oth rs might n m d , but th s v i ti s to show th at smoke w as as important to t h e alch emists as to i ” t h e votari es o f my L ady Nicot ne .

O e se th e n a e e i e e e th rwi tur r jo c s th r in . 1 46 Th e Turba Philosoph o rum.

t therefore , hat sulphur , calx , and alum

f Ku h u l which is rom apples , and , are all nothing else but water of sulphur . t Know ye also tha Magnesia , being mixed with quicksilver and sulphur,

H o u they pursue one another . ence y must not dismiss that Magnesia is without the quicksilver , for when it composed it is called an exceeding

o ne o f th e strong composition , which is ten regimens established by the Philo .

n sophers . Know , also , that whe

Magnesia is whitened with quicksilver ,

u yo must congeal white water therein , but when it is reddened you must

fo r Ph ilo so congeal red water , , as the

h ers p have observed in their books , *

o n e . A the regimen is not ccordingly ,

o f the ﬁrst congelation is tin , copper, and lead . But the second is com

e e a re e e a a S n esiu s in Th r oth r d nomin tions , s ys y

e e Dio sco rus. T e a a a his l tt r to hus whit ning is c lcin tion , and yellowing an ign eous regeneration ; fo r some o f these a e a e e e e and e e re (subst nc s)c lcin th ms lv s , (oth r som ) e e e e th e h d g n rate th ms lves . But e Philosoph r as design ate

e e e e a a e a nd e e th e a th m und r s v r l n m s , som tim s in singul r , e e t h e a e e e and see som tim s in plur l p rson , in ord r to t st us " e e we re e e wh th r a int llig nt .

1 Th Tu rba Phil so h or m 48 e o p u . from the one composition and a part * out of ferment of gold , and on these f T o . impose pure water sulphur his , t then , is the poten (or revealed)arcanum T which tinges every body . PY HAGORAS a nswereth : O Belus , why hast thou called it a potent arcanum , yet hast ’ n o t shown it s work 7 A nd he : In our 0 books , Master , we have found the same which thou hast received from the ancients ! A nd PYT HAGORAS Therefore have I assembled you

o together , that you might rem ve any obscurities which are in any books .

And he : Willingly , 0 Master ! It is to be noted that pure water which is from sulphur is not composed of

b u t sulphur alone , is composed of

fo r u i several things , the one s lphur s l su l h u rs n H o w made out of several p ,

Th e anci ent Latin treatise which passes as th e work o f e a e e : Th e fe e f Mori n , s ys s nt ntiously rm nt o gold is ” e e a s th e fe e o f ea ea . Th e gold , v n rm nt br d is br d state m ent is reproduced litera lly by th e Ro sa ry of the Ph i lo sop h ers. 1 According to th e second rece nsion : “ th e clean water which is from sulphur is not derived from sulph u r The Tu rba Ph ilosoph o ru m 1 49

0 therefore , Master , shall I compose these things that they may becom e

? A nd h e : 0 t one Mix , Belus , hat which strives wit h the ﬁre wit h that

fo r which does not strive , things which are conjoined in a ﬁre suitable

t h e t h e to same contend , because warm venoms of the physician are o in co mb u ren t c oked in a gentle , ﬁre Surely ye p erceive what the Ph ilo so

h ers t o p have sta ed c ncerning decoction , that a little sulphur burns many strong things , and the humour which remains t is called humid pi ch , balsam of gum , and other like things . Therefore our Philo sophers are made like to t h e

t h e physicians , notwithstanding that tests o f the physicians are more

o f intense than those the Philosophers .

h e T a nswereth : T URBA I wish , O th e Belus , that you would also shew disposition of this potent arcanum !

e o f e e a a e a lone, but is compos d s v r l things which m k up ” o n e sulphur . Fo r this la st se ntence th e second rec ension sub ” stitu tes an d friendship is m ade const ant . 1 50 The Turba P hilosoph oru m .

And h e : I proclaim to future genera tions that this arcanum proceeds from

o two c mpositions , that is to say , sulphur and magnesia . But after it

n is reduced and conjoined i to one , the Philosophers have called it water , spume o f Boletus a species o f

o f . fungus), and the thickness gold

When , however , it has been reduced r into quicksilver , they call it sulphu o f water ; sulphur also , when it con t tains sulphur , hey term a ﬁery venom , because it is a potent (or open)arcanum which ascends from those things ye know .

e i t eth ictu m Th F f i D .

P ANDOL PH U S sa ith I f 0 , Belus , thou * dost describe the sublimation o f

Th e Greek term which t h e alchemists o f th e Byz antine collection m ade u se o f as th e equiva lent o f subli

a e a as . B erth elo t inf r m tion , signiﬁ d origin lly ﬁlings , M o ms

e e th e ea o f th e e e e a e a us , thus xpr ssing id xtr m tt nu tion o f

Th e a e ea was a a e a e n matter . s m id tt ch d l t r o by th e Latin e e e a a “ ad pts to th ir t rm lcoolis tion , which signiﬁes redue th e o f an a a e tion to condition imp lp bl powder . (Co llecti o n

des Anciens Alchimistes Grecs . , Int , Another speci es o f a was a e sta la ma wh 1ch sublim tion c ll d g , mea nt distilla

va o urisat io n a . Ih . tion by p or ﬁltr tion ( ,

1 52 Th e Tu rba P hilosoph o ru m .

Ebsemich Ku h nl , Magnesia , , or

Chuhul , and many other names .

Concerning this , philosophers have said that , being ruled by its regi men (fo r ten is the perfection o f all

it s n things), white ature appears , nor T is there any shadow therein . hen * the envious have called it lead from

Ebmich M a rt eck e , Magnesia , , Whit t Copper . For , when ruly whitened , f w it is devoid o shado and blackness , it f has le t its thickened ponderous bodies , and therewit h a clean humid spirit has

d t . ascende , which spirit is tinc ure A t ccordingly , the wise have said hat

No w copper has a soul and a body . , t t its soul is spiri , and its body is hick .

T it t o herefore , behoves you destroy the thick body until ye extract a

f . tingeing spirit rom the same Mix , t f also , the spiri extracted there rom t with light sulphur until you , inves i gators , ﬁnd your design accomplished . f an d no t th e a e e rom colophon , known to nci nts und r thi s design ation .

T t h e e e e P e hroughout s cond r c nsion , hilosoph rs ” o r th e W e are e fo r e . is , substitut d this t rm Th e Ta rba Philosoph orum.

- Th e Fiffy First Dictum. * H O RFo L co s sa ith Thou hast narrated

n 0 P a n do l h u s othing , p , save the last ! T regimen of this body hou hast , h t erefore , composed an ambiguous de

if n scription for readers . But its regime f were commenced rom the beginning ,

S aith you would destroy this obscurity .

th e T : S URBA peak , therefore , con

cerning this to posterity , so far as

And h e : b e it may please you . It

o f Art hoves you , investigators this , i ﬁrst to burn co p p er in a gentle ﬁre , like that required in the hatching of

eggs . For it beh o ves you to burn it with

its humidity lest its spirit be burnt , and let the vessel be closed on all

s o ides , so that its c lour heat] may

o f b e be increased , the body copper be destroyed , and its tingeing spirit

t h e extracted , 1 concerning which

t h e e e e th a e M o rfo leus In s cond r c nsion e n m is . ” O e e th e . 1 th rwis , humidity 1 According to th e second r ecension : when t h e ﬁre is ea e an d th e e e ea e effe a e th e incr s d v ss l s l d ctu lly, l st body ” o f th e copper and its ﬂying spirit b e extracted . Th e a r a Philoso horu m 1 54 T b p . envious have said : Take quicksilver

' o f o f out the Flower Copper , which also they have called the water of our copper , a ﬁery venom , and a substance e f xtracted rom all things , which further

t Et h elia they have ermed , extracted * . A out of many things gain , some have said that when all things become one , bodies are made not

- o An bodies , but not bodies b dies . d

o f Art know , all ye investigators this , that every body i s dissolved with the

t is spirit wi h which it mixed , with which without doubt it becomes a similar t spiritual thing, and hat every spirit

o f which has a tingeing colour spirits , t and is constant agains ﬁre , is altered and coloured by bodies . Blessed t hen be the name o f H im who hath inspired the Wise with the idea o f turning a body into a spirit having strength and colour , unalterable and incorruptible , so that what formerly was volatile sul

- phur is now made sulphur not volatile ,

Oth erwise which ﬂower o f c0p p er they h ave c alled ” r a er an d e e e a e fr . o u w t , ﬁ ry v nom xtr ct d om iron

1 6 Tu rba P ilo so h oru m 5 The h p . we sometimes say is lead and copper and copulated coin .

- Th e F ifty Second D ictum .

I XU M D RU S saith You will have treated

H o rfo lcu s most excellently , O , con cerning the regimen o f copper and the humid spirit , provided you proceed

t And h e : f ef therewi h . Per ect , ther ore ,

o t t I xu m dru s ! what I have mi ed , O I XU M D R U S sa ith : You must know that * this Eth elia which you have previously mentioned and notiﬁed , which also the envious have called by many names , doth whiten , and tinge when it is whitened ; then truly the Philosophers have called it the Flower of Gold , because it is a certain natural thing . process occurs : W ater o f sulphur obta ine d by m ea ns o f c alx is m anfact ured in this m anner : H aving mixed all th e waters in th e c at alogu e (which it is impossible to extric ate e an d a e t h e as o f a f e from its cont xt pl c in comp s ootnot ),

a a add e ea th e taking e qu l p rts , whit rths until compound

er e . P a e a ta e a ﬁre b ecome s v y whit l c in mor r , kindl ” e ea an d e e e a . T e e a a und rn th , r c iv wh t distils h r is lso ” “ pure water o f sulphur which is obta ined somewh at differently . ea W a e o f Eth elia Th e second rec ension r ds t r . T r i o h o r m 1 Th e u ba Ph l sop u . 57 Do you not remember what the

Philosophers have said , that before it t arrives at his terminus , copper does not t i nge But when it is tinged it

a tinges , bec use quicksilver tinges when it is combined wit h its tincture . But when it is mixed with those ten things which the Philosophers have de . f t t nominated ermen ed urines , hen have they called all these things Multiplica tion . But some have termed their mixed bo dies Co rsu ﬂe and Gum of ’ r T f o l . G d here ore , those names which are found in the books o f the Philo

According to t h e secon d rec ension B efore it ” ea e a e e . r ch s this point , it is c ll d copp r

T a sa th e Ch r so co ra llo s o f th e ee 1 h t is to y , y Gr k

Th e f f ri i a lch emists . ollowing is rom a c p e o f Pse udo

D e : e a o f S e 1 a e Ea o f mocritus Min r ilv r , p rt ; Fin st rth C o r O e 2 a o f 1 a t hios , chr , p rts ; Minium Pontus , p r ; prep aration given previously (it is too complic ated fo r

e e e 2 a : e th e f r production h r ), p rts combin with humour o t h e S ulphur (a noth er abstruse r ecipe); cook over a ﬁre

a ef e u a e . Yo u a e a e c r ully r g l t d will ﬁnd pot nt subst nc ,

a t h e o f a a a o r . T h ving colour cinn b r , cor l , minium his

ea e e a e a e a e C r gr t wond r , this ind scrib bl m rv l , is c ll d h yso

r ll C a o f S n siu s co a o s ( or l And y e , quoting

D e a : e e h e e e e e f : mocritus , s ys H r is how xpr ss s hims l

h e a o f a e a a e o e C T e body (m t l) m gn si , lon (pr duc s) hryso ” cor a l . 1 58 The Turba Philosoph orum .

sophers , and are thought superﬂuous t and vain , are rue and yet are ﬁctitious , t because hey are one thing, one

o n e T opinion , and way . his is the quicksilver which is indeed extracted * o u t from all things , of which all things e are produced , which also is pur water that destroys the shade of

An d copper . know ye that this quick it silver , when is whitened , becomes a sulphur which contains sulphur , and is a venom that has a brilliance like

Et h elia marble this the envious call ,

o f orpiment and sandarac , out which a tincture and pure spiri t ascends with a mild fire , and the whole pure flower is sublimated , which flower becomes t f wholly quicksilver . It is , here ore , a most great arcanum which t h e Philo sophers have thus described , because

t . sulphur alone whi ens copper Ye , O

o f Art investigators this , must know that the said sulphur cannot whiten

Th e reading a b ko minibus fo r a b omni bus is su bst i t uted t h e e e e e e a e D by s cond r c nsion s v r l tim s in this ictum , ’ e an b but th re c e no doubt that it is a printer s error.

1 60 Th e Turba Philoso h oru m p . o f two . This is , therefore , the great f arcanum , the con ection of which is with it s own gum ; it is cooked with ﬂowers in a gentle ﬁre and with earth it is made red with mucra and with * vinegar , salt , and nitre , and with m u t a l is turned into rubigo , or by any o f the select tingeing agents existing in our coin .

Th e F i - Third ictu m fty D . Ex U M EN U S i saith : Th e envious have laid waste the whole Art with the

o f t multiplicity names , but the en ire work must be the Art of the Coin . For the Philosophers have ordered the doctors o f t his art to make coin - like t h gold , which also e same Philosophers

o f have called by all manner names .

Th e T a nswereth : f U RBA In orm , there

t Exu m e n u s fore , pos erity , O , concern

e e a a e efe e M . B rth lot expl ins th at th e subst nc r rr d to under th e terms Nitrum an d N atron w as r eally Carbon at e o f S a and a N e o r S a e e w as a e od , th t itr ltp tr sc rc ly known

a ee th e 6th e in ntiquity , nor , ind d , till c ntury. 1 For this nam e t h e second recension substitutes n s Obsemega u . The ur a P hiloso ho ru T b p m.

ing a few of these names , that they may take warning ! And h e : They have named it salting , sublimating,

n Eth elia s washing, and poundi g , f whitening in the ﬁre , requently cooking vapour and coagulating , turning into rubigo , the confection o f Ethel , the art of the water of

e sulphur and coagula . By all thes names is that operation called which has pounded and whitened copper .

An d know ye , that quicksilver is

s white to the ight , but when it is

o f possessed by the smoke sulphur , it

a n d reddens becomes Cambar . T herefore , when quicksilver is cooked with its confections it is turned into red , and hence the Philosopher saith that the nature of lead is swiftly converted . Do you not see that the Philo sophers have spoken without envy ? H ence we deal in many ways with pounding and reiteration , that ye may extract the spirits existing in the vessel , which the fire did not cease to burn continuously . But the M Th e Turba Philosophorum. water placed with those things pre vents the fire from burning , and it befalls those things that the more they are possessed by the flame of

fire , the more they are hidden in the depths of the water , lest they should be i njured by the heat o f the fire ; but the water receives them in its belly and repels the flame of

f Th e T answereth ﬁre rom them . URBA Unless ye make bodies not - bodies ye achieve nothing . But concerning the sublimation o f water t h e Philo

n o t sophers have treated a little . An d know that unless ye diligently pound the thing in the ﬁre , the

Et h elia b u t does not ascend , when that does not ascend ye achieve nothing . When , however, it ascends it is an instrument fo r the intended

t a n d tincture wi h which ye tinge , con cerning this Eth e lia H ERM ES saith Sift the thi ngs which ye know ; but T another : Liquefy t h e things . here

A : fore , rras saith Unless ye pound

Eth elia the thing diligently in the ﬁre ,

e r a P il s Th Tu b h o ophorum .

Th e T answe eth to imbibe . URBA r

A 18 Explain , O naxagoras , what this obscurity which you expound , and beware of being envious ! And h e : I t estify to you that this volatile burnt t hing , and this other which thirsts , are

Eth elia , which has been conj oined

t . T wi h sulphur herefore , place these in a glass vessel over the ﬁre , and cook until the whole becomes Cambar . Then God will accomplish the arcanum ye seek . But I direct you to cook continuously , and not to grow tired of

An repeating the process . d know ye that the perfection of this work is the confection o f water of sulphur * o with tabula ; ﬁnally , it is c oked

fo r until it becomes Rubigo , all the Philosophers have said : H e who is able to turn Rubigo into golden venom has already achieved the de sired work , but otherwise his labour is vain .

According to th e second recension : Th e whole perfection o f sulphur consists in t h e decoction o f " t abul a . The a ba Phil so m o ph oru .

Th e F i t - i th i t fy F f D c u m .

’“ ZENON saith Pythagoras hath treated concerning the water, which the envio u s v ha e called by all names . Finally , at t h e end o f his book he has treated o f f the erment of gold , ordaining that thereon should be imposed clean

t o f wa er sulphur , and a small quantity

. 0 of its gum I am astonished , all ye T urba , how the envious have in this work discoursed o f the perfection rather than the commencement o f the same

Th e T a nswereth URBA Why , therefore , have you left it to putrefy ? And h e Thou hast spoken t ruly ; put refaction does not take place without the dry and the humid . But the vulgar t T putrefy wi h the humid . hus the humid is merely coagulated with the dry . But out of both is the beginning f t o t h e . work N otwi hstanding , the envious have divided t his work into t three parts , asser ing that one quickly

ﬂees , but the other is ﬁxed and immovable .

t Th e n ame in t h e second r ec ension is Pr h eo n . m The a ba Philosopho ru .

Th e i t - i t ict m F fy S x h D u .

C ONSTANS saith : What have you t o do with the treatises of . the envious , for it is necessary that this work should deal with four things ? Th ey answer f e Demonstrate , there ore , what are thos fo And he ur Earth , water , air , and f ﬁre . Ye have then those our elements without which nothing is ever gene

th e rated , nor is anything absolved in

Art . t h e Mix , therefore , the dry with humid , which are earth and water , and cook in the ﬁre and in the air, whence the spirit and the soul a re * An d dessicated . know ye that the tenuous tingeing agent takes it s power

s o f out of the tenuou part the earth , out of the tenuous part of the ﬁre

o f and the air , while out of the tenuous part of the water, a tenuous spirit t de ssica t ed n T has been his , there o fore , is the process of our w rk,

According to th e second recension : Th e spm t is ” dessiccated in th e soul . 1 Th e second recension merely says that th e power in

e e e f th e e a o f th e ea air qu stion is d riv d rom t nuous p rt rth , , an d water .

a o The Turb Philos phorum .

is the quicksilver from the Male . I n w nothing , ho ever , look beyond this , sinc e the two quicksilvers a re also

o n e .

The Fifty - S eventh Dictum: ’“ ACRATU S saith : I signify to po sterity that I make philosophy near to the

S u n . H e and Moon , therefore , that will attain to the truth let him take the moisture o f the S u n and th e l u m e ] f M o n The S p o the o . l TURBA a nswereth : Why are you made an adversary to your brethren ? And he

I have spoken nothing but the truth . B ut th ey : T ake what the Turba hath

. And h e : taken I was so intending , if t yet , you are willing , I direc pos t erity to take a part o f the coin s P which the hilosophers have ordered , which also H ermes has adapted to

trat u In th e second r ecension th e n am e is As s . th a a 1 Otherwise e spirit ; it is probably misre ding. t This o n e o f th e two passages which seem to indicate an a e a a o f th e e a e e e e ma y pl n t ry ttribution m t ls , but v n h r it y be an analogy borrowed from th e a stronomy o f th e period

a Th e without ny real a ttribution . distinction between m ercury and quicksilver in t h e 67th Dictum should be noted . i The Tu rba P h losopho rum . 1 69 the true and a part of the o o f c pper the Philosophers , to mix th e th e same with coins , and place

o th e all the four b dies in the vessel , mouth of which must be carefully

o . cl sed , lest the water escape Cooking m u fo r st proceed seven days , when th e copper, already pounded with the c o oins , is found turned int water .

Let both be again slowly cooked , and T fear nothing . hen let the vessel be

e opened , and a blackness will app ar above . Repeat the process , cook continually until the blackness of R f uhul , which is rom the blackness

o f . coins , be consumed For when that is consumed a precious whiteness will appear on them ; ﬁnally , being returned to their place , they are cooked until the whole is dried and is turned into stone . Also repeatedly and continuously cook that stone born o f Copper and coins with a ﬁre

According to th e second rec ension : “ t ake a p art o f th e o f th e e are th e o f coins Philosoph rs , which coins ” H ermes . P o h o 1 70 Th e Ta rba hilos p rum.

f th e sharper than the ormer , until stone is destroyed , broken up , and turned into cinder , which is a precious A cinder . las , O ye sons of the

Doctrine , how precious is that which ! is produced from it Mixing , there fore , the cinder with water, cook again , until that cinder liquefy there with , and then cook and imbue with permanent water , until the composition becomes sweet and mild and red .

Imbue until it becomes humid . Cook in a still hotter ﬁre , and carefully close the mouth of the vessel , for by this regimen fugitive bodies becom e

- a re not fugitive , spirits turned into bodies , bodies into spirits, and both T are connected together . hen a re spirits made bodies having a tingeing

Th e T and germinating soul . URBA a nswereth : Now hast thou notiﬁed to posterity that Rubigo attaches itself to copper after the blackness is washed o ff T with permanent water . hen it is congealed and becomes a body of magnesia . Finally , it is cooked until

1 72 The Tu rba Philosophorum . You must know that the envious have described this arcanum in the shade ; o in physical reasoning and astron my , and the art of images ; they have also likened it to trees ; they have a m bigu o u sly concealed it by the names o f metals , vapours , and reptiles ; as is generally perceived in all their work .

n I , evertheless , direct you , investigators of this science , to take iron and draw it into plates ﬁnally , mix (or sprinkle) t it wi h venom , and place it in its

b e vessel , the mouth of which must f closed most care ully , and beware lest ye too much increase the humour , or ,

t o o on the other hand , lest it be dry ,

be but stir it vigorously as a mass ,

if t h e cause , water be in excess , it will not be contained in the chimney , if while , it be too dry , it will neither be conj oined nor cooked in the chimney ; hence I direct you to confect it dili t it gen ly ; ﬁnally , place in its vessel , the mouth of which must be closed t in ernally and externally with clay ,

v o and , ha ing kindled c als above it , Th e Turba Ph ilosopho ru m 1 73

after some days ye shall open it , and there shall ye find the iron plates already liquefied ; while on the lid of t h e vessel ye shall find globules . For when the fire is kindled the vinegar* ascends , because its spiritual nature

th e passes into air , wherefore , I direct you to keep that part separately . Ye ’ must also know that by m u ltip lied r decoctions and attritions it is congealed and coloured by the ﬁre , and its nature is changed . By a similar decoction and liquefaction Cambar is

dis n not joi ed . l I notify to you that

Among th e Greek technical trea tises there is o ne

' e i e The Work o th e o u r Eleme nts and a nt tl d f F , this cont ins a brief section o n th e Nomencla ture of the Divine Vinega r a nd th e Divi ne Wa ter co n , which is worth citing in n ectio n with th e question o f th e unity o f subj ects amidst th f a e e a th e Ph iIOSO h ers e multiplicity o n mes . H r is wh t p sa o n t e : D e a e e e a e y his subj ct ivin w t r, divin vin g r , whit ’ a e a a e o f a e e u sea m gn si , w t r c lx , virgin s urin , m rc ry ,

a e a o f th e sh e ass th e th e w t r , virgin l milk , milk , bitch ,

a a a e a sh o f a a e o f a o c bl ck cow , lum w t r , c bb g , n tron ,

cident al a e a . e e th e a e m tt r , v pour Th r is subst nc which ” e th e o f a e a a is e &c. whit ns body m gn si , th t , burnt copp r, 1 Th e number three is indicated by th e second recension .

3 Th e second recension says th at it is disjoined . 1 Th e u rba P hiloso horu m 74 T p . by the said frequent decoction th e weight of a third part o f the water is consumed , but the residue becomes a wind in the Cambar o f the second An d know ye that nothing is more precious or more excellent than

fo r h the red sand of the sea , t e Sputum o f Luna is united with the ’ ’ r s r light of the S un s ay . Luna is rf pe ected by the coming on of night , and by the heat o f the Sun the T dew is congealed . hen , that being

o f wounded , the dew the death

o ined l dealer is j , and the more the days pass on the more intensely is it con gealed , and is not burned . For he who cooks with the Sun is himself ! t congealed , and hat signal whiteness causes it to overcome the terrene ﬁre .

“ W hich C amb ar a nd its spirit bears in th e b elly ” e e f th e a e a e ea . th r o , is lt rn tiv r ding t h e e e e t h e a is 1 According to s cond r c nsion , s nd th e e o f th e e th e f spum Moon , which is join d to light o ” th S u n a nd e a e . e , is cong l d

e I Omitted in th e s cond rec ension . For this nonsensica l pa ssage th e second recension “ substitutes : Tha t which is cooked by t h e h eat o f th e ” S un is congealed .

T a ba P iloso 1 76 he h pho ru m. dew s , and hall have placed on it a man of a hundred years ; shut and secure the door lest dust or wind should reach them . Then in the time of 1 80 days send them away to their homes . I say that man shall not cease to eat of the fruit of that tree to the p erfec tion of the number [of the days] until the old man shall become young . 0 what marvellous natures , which have transformed the soul o f that old man into a j uvenile body , and the father is

! b e u made into the son Blessed tho , 0 most excellent God !

- ni ct Th e F{ﬂy Ni k Di u m.

THEOP HI L US sa ith I propose to speak further concerning those things which

And e Bonites hath narrated . th

’ TURBA Speak , Brother , for thy brother hath discoursed elegantly . And he : Following in the steps of Bonites I will make perfect his say w t ings . It should be kno n hat all the

Philosophers , while they have con

e t h e cea led this disposition , yet spok Th e ur a Philo o m T b s phoru . 1 77 tru th in their treatises when they

fo r named water of life , this reason , that whatsoever *‘ is mixed wi th the said

b e water ﬁrst dies , then lives and

An d comes young . know , all ye

disciples , that iron does not become

o f rusty except by reason this water , because it tinges the plates it is then placed in the sun till it liqu eﬁes and

i s imbued , after which it is congealed . e In thes days it becomes rusty , but t silence is bet er than this illumination .

Th e a nswer th T TURBA e O heophilus , beware of becoming envious , and com p le te thy speech ! A nd h e : Would that I might repeat the like thing ! And th ey : What is thy will ? Th en

he : f Certain ruits , which proceed ﬁrst f rom that perfect tree , do ﬂourish in

o f the beginning the summer , and the more they are multiplied the more l are they a do rn edn until they are

Th e referenc e in t h e s econd rec es sion is to th e o ld

m n f t h a o e previous dictum . 1 According to th e second r ecension Th e more th e r t ee is adorned . 1 8 The u r a P il o r 7 T b h os pho um.

f per ected , and being mature become * sweet . In the same way that woman , f ﬂeeing rom her own children , with whom she lives , although partly angry , yet does not brook being overcome , nor that her husband should possess her beauty , who furiously loves her , and keeps awake contending with her, till h e shall have carnal intercourse with f her , and God make per ect the foetus , when he multiplies children to himself

a . H is ccording to his pleasure beauty, f there ore , is consumed by ﬁre who d oes not approach his wife except by

f F o r reason o lust . when the term is ﬁnished he turns to her . I also make known t o you that the dragon v ne er dies , but the Philosophers have put to death the woman who slays

o f her spouses . For the belly that

Th e compiler o f th e Turba seems to h ave introduced

f a e e h a ee this allegory rom noth r sourc , or it s possibly b n

e a e at a a e e e ee a o f int rpol t d l t r p riod ; its styl , ind d , is th t t h e e o f e a is an a e e o u t o f poch Tr vis n ; it , in y c s , quit

‘ a e t h e e a s a e a n d efe be char ct r with t xt whol , r rs , it will e h as ee e seen , to som thing which not b n pr viously described .

Th e a ba Philo soph o ru m.

" j unction and regim en f because sperma is generated out o f blood and desire .

For the man mingling with the woman , the sperm is nourished by the humour o f the womb , and by the moistening f blood , and by heat , and when orty nights have elapsed the sperm is f if o f ormed . But the humidity the

o f blood and the womb were not heat ,

n o t the sperm would be dissolved , nor f the oetus be procreated . But God has constituted that heat and blood for the nourishment o f the sperm until

f e f f the o tus is brought orth , a ter which it is not nourished , save by milk and

ﬁre , sparingly and gradually , while it is dust , and the more it burns the t more , the bones being streng hened , it is led towards youth , arriving at which it is in dep en de n t l Thus it behoves you also to act in

“ Oth erwise : Know th at nothing is gener ated without complexion . 1 This ab surd confusion is not found in th e second

ea : “ S o as e I S r ec ension , which r ds long it is littl , it

a n d as th e a ea nourish ed with milk , in proportion vit l h t ” a a e th e e are e e e . is m int in d , bon s str ngth n d The a ba Ph iloso h r 1 1 p o um. 8

Ar this t . Know ye t hat without heat nothing is ever generated , and that the bath causes the matter to perish by means of intense heat . If, indeed , it be frigid , it puts to ﬂight and disperses , if t but it have been empered , it is con ven ien t and sweet to the body , where fore the veins become smooth and the ﬂesh is augmented . Behold it has been demonstrated to you , all ! t ye disciples Unders and , therefore , and in all things which ye attempt to rule , fear God .

- t m The S ixty First Dic u .

M O SES saith : It is to be observed that the envious have named lead of copper f instruments of ormation , simulating , ale ro st erit deceiving p y , to whom I give notice t hat there are no instruments

except from our own white , strong , f and splendid powder , and rom our

b u n This pas sa ge is so corrupt a s to e almost “ th e e e e : Th e tr anslatable . According to s cond r c nsion e th e e o f envious h ave in many ways describ d proc ss

a nd a e e e e e a e e are a making lead , h v r pr s nt d th t th r ” e etc. number o f instrum nts , a hi The Turb P losophorum.

ak sto n e t o th e concave and marble , whole work whereof there is no more s co n uitable powder , nor one more

o th e j oined to our comp sition , than l powder of Alo ciaen out of which are f produced instruments of ormation .

Further , the Philosophers have already

: T f said ake instruments o u t o the egg . Yet they have not said what the egg

. i An d is , nor of what bird know ye

Th e conc ave ston e does not seem to b e a term which enter ed into th e nom encl a ture o f later philosophers .

W e ea e th e f o f t h e e a h r much conc rning orm ston , but th t

b e e a s a e n e is not to und rstood its conﬁgur tion , b i g us d in t h e same s ense as Latin th eology was accustomed to speak o f

th e f o f th e . S o e a T e a E i stle to orm soul B rn rd r vis n , in his p Tho ma s of B o no nia Our ston e does not possess a formal form (forma f orma bi lis)such a s vegetative o r se e et e e e e h as a f e f o rma nsitiv , y , n v rth l ss , it orm d orm (f fo rma ta f t h e e e e e e e and ), which orm is l m nts th ms lv s , this e a e e e e ea th e a is b c us it is homog n ous , wh r s hum n body , ” or a o f e e e is e e e e . Fo r th t oth r s nsitiv things , h t rog n ous t h e term concave ston e t h e s econd rec ension substitutes

ea i . e. candidus. gl ming, ,

e e e a fa e a e e 1 A s v r critic , h ving il d to tr c this t rm , e a e e a a nd ea Alo ia' might sugg st slight m nd tion , r d g , ” i . e. a and e e . , m ny words no s ns 1 This entire p a ssa ge is consider ably shortened in th e se e e e e a o f t cond r c nsion , which simply obs rv s th t out h e e e e at th e e powd r m ntion d b ginning, instruments adapted

th e e are e a a t th e a th to g g compos d , but th t s me time e

e a e e a e th e e etc. nvious h v omitt d to n m gg ,

1 8 Th e u r a P h iloso h o rum 4 T b p .

f the ﬁrst place , there ore , impose nine — ounces o f vinegar t wice ﬁrst while v the essel is being made hot , and second when it is heated .

h e ixt - con T S y Se d D ictum .

ND sa ith : 0 MU US It behoves you ,

f Art all ye seekers a ter this , to know that what soever t h e Philosophers

t o Ken ckel have narra ed or rdained , ,

eldu m herbs , g , and carmen , are one * ! n o t t f thing Do , here ore , trouble

o f fo r about a plurality things , there is one Tyrian tincture o f t h e Philosophers to which they have

n a n d given ames at will , having

t h e abolished proper name , they

e have called it black , becaus it has

An been extracted from our sea . d

e e e a a n d a as a tinctur . p n tr tion , ﬁx tion , just body a Th e h as m athematic lly three dimensions . distinction is L a m ere subtl ety . a ter a lch emists sp eak much o f th e E at t h e W e an d t h e E a t t h e Red et t h e lixir hit lixir , y

e t h e e a a a n d so a th e E o f s cond is ﬁrst in x lt tion , lso lixir

at t h e e t h e o f metals is e sam e tim e h ld to b m edicine men . According to t h e second r ec ension : “ Certain

e a e a e Ch eli do n Karn ech Philosoph rs h v n m d Gold y, ,

G eldum, etc. Th e ur a Philoso h oru m T b p . 1 85 know that the ancient priests did not condescend to wear artifi cial

fo r f garments , whence , puri ying altars , and lest they should introduce into them anything sordid or impure , they tinged K en ckel with a Tyrian colour ; T but our yrian colour , which they

a pl ced in their altars and treasuries , was more clean and fragrant t han can be described by me , which also has been extracted from our red and most pure sea , which is sweet and of a pleasant odour , and is neither f sordid nor impure in putre action . An d know ye that we have given many names to it , which are all

— a n o f true example which , for those that possess understanding , is to be traced in corn t hat is being ground . For after grinding it is called by f another name , and a ter it has been passed through the sieve , and the various substances have been separa f t ted one rom another , each of hese has its own name , and yet funda mentally there is but one name , to 1 86 Th e a ba P hilos ophoru m.

f , wit , corn , rom which many n ames T are distinguished . hus we call the purple in each grade of its regimen by the name of its own colour .

Th e Sixt - hird ictum y T D .

’“ P H I L O SOPH U S saith : I notify to pos t erity that the nature is male and f female , where ore the envious have called it the body of Magnesia , because therein is the most great ! A arcanum ccordingly , 0 all ye f Art seekers a ter this , place Magnesia ! in its vessel , and cook diligently

T o f hen , pening it a ter some days , ye shall ﬁnd the whole changed into

f co a u water . Cook urther until it be g

o f. lated , and c ntain itsel But , when ye hear o f the sea in the books of the envious , know that they signify humour , while by the basket they signify the

a n d vessel , by the medicines they mean Nature , because it germinates

th e e e e ee In s cond r c nsion , this sp ch is put into th e mouth o f Rarso n .

1 88 Th e a rba P ilo o h o r T h s p um. o f this small and most common thing , wherein the p recious thing is concealed !

An d if 0 in the vulgar knew , all ye ve st i a t o rs o f g this art , the same small t and vile thing , hey would deem it a ! if fﬁ lie Yet , they knew its e cacy , v they would not ilify it , but God hath ’ co ncealed this from the crowd “ lest the world should be devastated .

t - i th c m Th e Six y F f Di tu .

H O R FO LC S saith : 1 U You must know ,

o 0 all ye who l ve wisdom , that whereas Mundus hath been teaching Art this , and placing before you most lucid syllogisms , he that does not understand what he has said is a brute animal ! But I will explain

o f t the regimen his small thing , in order that any one , being introduced

t Art o bo lder l in o this , may bec me ,

L iterally from th e sea . 1 I n th e second recension t h e sp eaker is c alled

Orfulus.

I O n th e principl e o f Zosimus : B e not dissuaded by

e ex e e e an d e o u e e e a thin in p ri nc , wh n y p rc iv th t every h as e e ash e a e a ll thing b com , und rst nd th n th t a goe s ” - On th e Diversit o B urn t Co well . y f p p er. The ur a Philoso h T b p oru m . 1 89

may more assuredly consider it , and b e although it small , may compose the common with t hat which is dear , and the dear with that which is common . Know ye that in the beginning of the mixing , it behoves you to commingle elements which are crude , gentle , sincere , and not n cooked or gover ed , over a gentle f ﬁre . Beware of intensi ying the ﬁre t until the elemen s are conj oined , fo r f these should ollow one another, and be embraced in a complexion , whereby they are gradually burnt , until they be dessicated in the said gentle

An d ﬁre . know that one spirit burns one thing and destroys one thing , and one body strengthens one spirit , and teaches the same to contend with

B u t f co mb s the ﬁre . , a ter the ﬁrst u tion , it is necessary that it should be

dea lba t ed washed , cleansed , and on the ﬁre until all things become one colour ; t with which , af erwards , it behoves you to mix the residuum o f the whole humour , and then its colour will be 0 Th e ur a P il so r 1 9 T b h o pho um.

exalted . For the elements , being diligently cooked in the fire , rej oice , ff and are changed into di erent natures , because the liquefied , which is the * - li u efied lead , becomes not q , the humid becomes dry , the thick body

n becomes a spirit , and the ﬂeei g spirit becomes strong and ﬁt to do battle

Ph ilo s against the fire . Whence the o pher saith : Convert the elements and thou shalt find what thou seekest . But to convert the elements is to make the moist dry and the fugitive fixed . T hese things being accomplished by the disposition , let the operator leave it in the fire until the gross be made subtle , and the subtle remain as

. w a tingeing spirit Kno ye , also , that the death and life o f the elements proceed from ﬁre , and that the com

o site f p germinates itsel , and produces that which ye desire , God favouring . But when the colours begin ye shall behold the miracles o f the wisdom

According to t h e second recension Th e n o n e e t h e ea o f art liquid b com s liquid which is h d this .

Th e ur a P il T b h osoph orum .

The Sixt - S eventh ictu m y D .

C saith : LU AS I testify to posterity , and what I set forth is more lucid o than are your w rds , that the Philo

' * sopher saith Burn the copper , burn

. H ERM I G ANU S the silver , burn the gold replies : Behold something more dark than ever ! Th e T URBA a nswereth

Illumine , therefore , that which is

And he : As dark . to that which he — d said Burn , burn , burn , the iversity

fo r is only in the names , they are one

A nd th e : and the same thing . y Woe unto you ! how shortly hast thou dealt with it ! why art thou poisoned with jealousy And h e I s it desirable that I should speak more clearly ?

An h e : A nd th ey : Do so . d I signify

t o that whiten is to burn , but to make L red is life n For the envious have

Th e following vari ation occurs in th e opening o f th e second recension : Th e books o f th e Philosophers be ea fo r e a e a a e a th e should r d , th y h v not in v in dvis d th t

be e e e fo r e e an a a sucking child should h d d , th r in is rc num , ” out o f which t h e W ise h ave op era ted good things . 1 According to th e second recension : To make red ” is to vivify . Th e Tu rba Philoso m pho ru . 1 93 multiplied many names that they t might lead posterity as ray , to whom I t estify that the deﬁnit ion of this Art is the liquefact ion o f t h e body and the separation o f the soul from t h e t body , seeing tha copper , like a man , h a s T a soul and a body . herefore ,

0 o f th e it behoves you , all ye Sons

t h e Doctrine , to destroy body and ex tract the soul therefrom ! Where fore the Philosophers said that the t body does not pene rate the body,

but that there is a subtle nature , which is the soul , and it is this which tinges and penetrates the body . In

r nature , therefo e , there is a body

Th e T and there is a soul . URBA a nswereth : Despite your desire to f explain , you have put orth dark

And he : f t words . I signi y hat the envious have narrated and said that the splendour of S aturn does not appear unless it perchance be dark when it ascends in the air , that Mercury is hidden by t h e rays o f the

viviﬁes Sun , that quicksilver the body 0 1 e il o rum 94 Th Turba Ph osoph .

by its ﬁery strength , and thus the work

sh e is accomplished . But Venus , when * Su n . becomes oriental , precedes the

- The Sixty Eighth Dictum.

ATTAM U S saith : 0 in Know , all ye vesti a t o rs Art g of this , that our work , o f which ye have been inquiring, is

o f produced by the generation the sea , f by which and with which , a ter God , ! T the work is completed ake , there f H a lsu t t ore , and old sea s ones , and boil with coals until they become white .

Then extinguish in white vinegar . I f 2 f 4 ounces thereo have been boiled , let the heat be extinguished with a 8 third part of the vinegar , that is , ounces ; pound with white vinegar , and cook in the sun and black earth fo r 42 days . But the second work is per fo rmed from the tenth day o f the month o f S eptember to the tenth day

This is th e second o f t h e two passages mention ed in th e note o n p a ge 1 68 o f this volume a s containing tra ce s o f a a e a a o f e a as th pl n t ry ttribution m t ls , but , in e

th D th e efe e e ma b e a a a n s7 ictum , r r nc y stronomic l d not chemical .

1 6 The ur a Philoso hor m 9 T b p u . whiteness has been hidden in th e o f T b belly that blackness . hen it e hoves you to extract that whitenes s

f fo r most subtly rom that blackness ,

e y know how to discern between them . But in the second decoction let that whiteness be placed in a vessel with its instruments , and let it be cooked gently until it become completely

. 0 s white But when , all ye seeker f Art t a ter this , ye shall perceive tha whiteness appear and ﬂowing over all , be certain that redness is hid in that

! H o whiteness owever , it d es not it * behove you to extract , but rather to cook it until the whole become a most deep red , with which nothing can compare . Know also that the ﬁrst blackness is produced out o f the

o f M a rteck nature , and that redness is extracted from that blackness ,

t h e which red has improved black , and has made peace between the

- f fugitive and the non ugitive , reducing

Th e second recension afﬁrms th at it do es behove you to extract it . Th e a ba Ph iloso h oru m I p . 97

two the into one . Th e TURBA a nswereth : An d why was this ? A na h e : Because the cruciated matter

when it is submerged in the body, c hanges it into an unalterable and i ndelible nature . It behoves you , f there ore , to know this sulphur which

An w blackens the body . d kno ye t hat the same sulphur cannot be

cr handled , but it u cia t es and tinges . An d the sulphur which blackens is t hat which does not open the door to the fugitive and turns into t h e f * ugitive with the fugitive . Do you not see that the cruciating does not c ruciate with harm or corruption , but ’ by coadunation and utility of things ?f For if its victi m were noxious and inconvenient , it would not be embraced thereby until its colours were ex tracted from it unalterable and

According to t h e second recension : It converts ” a -f e a f e a t th t which is non ugitiv into ugitiv n ture. Bo h

a a readings are corrupt and ungr mm atic l .

Th e e e e a e er e 1 e s cond r c nsion som wh t r v s s this , reading : Th at which cruciat es with harm or corruption ” a a does no t cruci ate with utility and co dun tion . 1 8 Th e a r a Philoso h o r 9 T b p um. indelible . This we have called water t of sulphur , which wa er we have prepared for the red tinctures ; fo r the rest it does not blacken ; but that which does blacken , and this does not come to pass without blackness , I have testiﬁed to be the key of t h e work .

Th e Seventieth Dictum .

" ND S saith : v MU U Know , all ye in esti o f Art gators this , that the head is all things , which if it hath not , all that it A imposes proﬁts nothing . ccordingly, the Masters have said that what is

t o n e perfec ed is , and a diversity of natures does not improve that thing , but one and a suitable nature , which it f behoves you to rule care ully , for by ignorance of ruling some have erred .

f o f Do not heed , there ore , the plurality these compositions , nor those things which the philosophers have enu mera t ed in their books . For the f nature of truth is one , and the ollowers

h a M ndin s In th e second recension t e n me is a u .

T e P l h r m h Ta rba hi osop o u . hath described this sulphureous water ! For unless solid bodies are destroyed by a nature wanting a body , until the

- e bodies become not bodies , and ven as a most tenuous spirit , ye cannot [attain] that most tenuous and tinge

t h e ing soul , which is hidden in natural

An d belly . know that unless the body be withered up and so destroyed that it d t t f it ies, and unless ye ex rac rom its

S soul , which is a tingeing pirit , ye are unable to tinge a body therewith .

T e e en t - S ec ict h S v y ond D um.

" P H I LO SOPHU S sa ith : Th e ﬁrst compo

u o f sitio , that is , the body Magnesia ,

o f t is made out several things , al hough they become one , and are called by

t h e one name , which ancients have termed Albar of copper . But when it is ruled it is called by ten names , taken from the colours which appear in the

f o f regimen o the body this Magnesia .

s It is neces ary , therefore , that the lead be turned into blackness then the ten

Th e fe Ph il ti e s cond recension re rs this dictum to o s. Th e a ba h iloso P phorum. 2 01

a foresaid shall appear in the ferment o f * gold , with sericon , which is a com

position called by ten names . When a ll these things have been said , we mean nothing more by these names t A han lbar of copper , because it tinge s every body which has entered into th e

composition . But composition is two — fold one is humid , the other is dry . When they are cooked prudently they

become one , and are called the good t hing o f several names But when it

becomes red it is called Flower of Gold ,

o f 1 Ferment Gold , Gold of Cora , 1

Gold of the B ea k . I It is also called redundant red sulphur and red orpi

e ment . But while it remains crud

a nd lead of copper , it is called bars

a re plates of metal . Behold I h ve

Se o ne o f th e a e o f acco rdin to ricon is n m s Minium , g

Rulan du s . e e e a a wa s a , but M B rth lot xpl ins th t it com b ination o f Sandyx an d Sinopis . 1 Later alch emica l writers d eﬁn e Gold o f Coral as th e matter o f t h e Philosophers when it h as become ﬁxed a

th e red stage . h a e o f h a e o f e er I T e signiﬁc nc this p r s is , cours , p

t l a e e e an efe e e th fec y inscrut bl , but is th r y r r nc to e rostru m o r ro stellum o f th e alembic ? Th e u r a P hiloso horu m T b p .

vealed its names when it is raw , which also we should distinguish from t h e a n mes when it has been cooked . Let it f there ore be pondered over . It behoves me now to exhibit t o you th e

o f o f quantity the ﬁre , and the numbers * o f its days , and the diversity intensity f thereo in every grade , so that he who shall possess this book may belong ’ h im self r f unto , and be freed rom poverty , so that he shall remain secure in that middle way which is closed t o those who are deﬁcient in this most f precious art . I have seen , there ore ,

o u many kinds of fire . One is made t of straw and cinder , coals and flame , but one without flame . Experiment shows that there are intermediate grades between these kinds . But lead

o f is lead copper, in which is the whole arcanum . Now, concerning

ee all e a e a e Gr k , in common with oth r lch mists , h v recognised th e n ecessity fo r a certain lapse o f time and ” S l m io d r a favourable moment . ee O y p o us On the S acred

Art . 1 Compare th e motto o f Paracelsus : Alterius no n sit

ss t t qui suus e e po es .

0 Th e ur a P il so 2 4 T b h o phorum .

f only need ul to do so once . Wishing ,

f o f th e there ore , to know the certitude * r o w adversa y , c nsider hat Democritus

h o w saith , he begins speaking from bottom to top , then reversing matters

f o . he proceeds rom top to b ttom For, ’ : T a lb a rr he said ake iron , lead , and

n for copper , which reversing , he agai

: An d says our copper for coins , lead fo r o fo r g ld , gold gold of coral , and

o f . A gold of coral for gold crocus gain , in the second place , when he begins

m t o t h e h e fro the p to bottom , saith

e Tak gold , coin , copper, lead , and

f e iron ; he shews , there or , by h is

t - sayings hat only semi gold is taken . An d without doubt gold is not changed into rust without lead and copper ,

Demo critus at t h e beginning o f th e assembly is

ﬂect uall e e and ee be e as an e y sil nc d , now s ms to quot d enemy at th e conclusion o f a symposium in which h e f e a a e was o rbidd n to p rticip t .

be e a e e e ate t h e e 1 It will w ll in this pl c to num r t rms , o f e a th e Turba fo r mostly ori nt l origin , occurring in which t b e no explanation can a present e found . Th y are : Absumech Ebmich Co rsuﬂe a a Geldum , , , Mucr , Murt l , ,

sut a and th e u se o f th e L a H al , Alb r , curious tin word

Carm en . The ur a Philoso ho rum T b p . 2 05 and unless it be imbued with vinegar w kno n by the wise , until , being cooked , is . T it turned into redness his , therefore , is the redness which all the

Philosophers signiﬁed , because , how ever they said : Take gold and it becomes gold of coral ; Take gold o f coral and it becomes purple gold—all these things are only names of those c o ol urs , for it behoves them that vinegar be placed in it , because these f colours come rom it . But by these things which the Philosophers have

n mentioned u der various names , they f have signiﬁed stronger bodies and orces . f t It is taken , there ore , once , tha it may become rubigo and t hen vinegar is imposed on it . For when the said colours appear , it is necessary that each be decocted in forty days , so that it may be desiccated , the water being consumed ; ﬁnally being imbued and placed in the

it s vessel , it is cooked until utility appear . Its ﬁrst grade becomes as a citrine mucra , the second as red , the Th m e Turba Philosophoru . third as the dry pounded crocus o f the vulgar . So is it i mposed upon coin .

* Co nclusion .

Ac M o N saith : I will add the following by way of a corollary . Whosoever does not liquefy and coagulate errs

. T f t h e greatly here ore , make earth black ; separate the soul and the water f ft thereo , a erwards whiten ; so shall ye ﬁnd what ye seek . I say unto you that whoso makes earth black and then

. dissolves with fire , till it becomes even like unto a naked sword , who also fixes the whole with consuming fire , deserves t o be called happy , and shall be exalted T above the circle of the world . his much concerning the revelation of our

fo r stone , is , we doubt not , enough the

Th e Sons of the Doctrine . strength f o thereo , shall never bec me corrupted , but the same , when it is placed in the

ﬁre , shall be increased . I f you seek to if dissolve , it shall be dissolved ; but

This constitutes t h e l ast Dictum in th e second

an e f th e e e . recension , d is omitt d rom long r v rsion

I N D EX .

2 1 Dea 22. Ad am, . th ,

- Demo c i s 1 1 204. Air 1 2 20 2 1 . r u , 3, 4, , t , 3 ,

w 1 22. 1 2 26 . De , Angels, 9, 3,

1 a o n 1 8. Arca um 2 8 64. 70. 7 . D g , 7 n . 7 . 39. 57. 5 . r

81 1 22. 76 , ,

Ati to s, 72. Ea 8 -1 27 . rth , 3,

s 8 . Eﬂl ucidin u , 9

1 1 1 1 82. Egg, , 53,

- 2 . E emen s o u , 7 l 1 1 1 8 1 8. l , , 7 B ackn e ss , 2 1 1 , 2 , 7, 9 r 9, 7 t F

l a e 2 1 . is E emen ry ir , B o ri t . t F , 75 1 8 Eth eh a 0 3 . 39. 44. 5 . E o d u m 1 2 . . 3 . r i , 3 , 3 - 1 37 , 1 55. B urn o e 1 . t C pp r , 3

B n L ead 6. ur t , 5

es . Faec , 39

f G o d 1 0 1 8. Fermen t o l , 5, 4 - -1 1 6 1 20 22. e 8, 1 0 3, , 9, 1 . i , 4, 5, a ll 4 . 49. 45 C s 44. 5 F r - 6 1 0 1 2. ed an d Vo l a l e , 3 , 4 4 amb ar 0 1 1 1 1 61 . Fix ti C , 7 , 39, 5 ,

2 1 . lo we o f o ppe , 7 , 54 r n e . F r C r Cit i , 97 f G o d 1 1 . l o wer o l , 3 , 43 a u la 1 61 . F Co g , l o f Bel 1 . 0 80 1 00 1 1 o wer , 3 , 39 “ 0 1 31 F t C 01 )29i 3 1 4 : 7 : 74: 1 3

f Art 0 . o un d a i o n o , 5 1 38 . F t

o u Seaso ns, 59. 8 F r o e 28 2 5: 86: 71 C pp r. 1 3 : 441 7 1 0 1 0 1 06 94. 1 02 . 3. 5. .

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 20 1 22. 1 32. 33. 35i 4, 7 , , Gad en b e, 39.

6 1 6 1 . 1 8 1 40 1 5 , 9, 93 60 6 1 62 0 1 0 , 1 1 3, 3 , , Go ld , 57, , , , 9 , 5 81 u m o f 1 . 34. 73. . 1 1 06 1 0 1 . s . 3 C o rsu ﬂ e, 99, 00, , 7 , 57

ld o f co al 201 20 . 1 57 ; go r , , 5 o us 81 . Cr c , I NDEX .

G o de W a e 1 . Pe manen W a e 1 l n t r , 34 r t t r, 3 , 34, 39, 45,

- G ee s o ne 6 . 6 66 6 82 r n t , 7 49. 4 . 7 . . 94. 1 - f i o f G um, 6 63 , o asco t a, 1 09 ,

s o a P efac o 6 1 6 . c ri , 44. utr ti n, 7 , 5

H alsut 1 . cks l e 6 6 80 82 , 94 ! ui i v r, 3 , 7 , 77, 79, , ,

- H ea o f th e S u n 68 . 8 8 1 1 1 1 rt , 4. 5. 93. 35 37. 39. 45.

H e mes 1 2 1 1 1 62. 1 1 1 . r , , , 54, 7, 9 , 93

dde G o 6 . Hi n l ry, 7

Redness 2 8 8 . 34. 35. 5 . 53. 5 . 59. 2 .

I xir 8 1 00 1 21 1 22, 1 26, 1 30. , 7 , , , 1 06. 1 23. 1 30. 1 43

R d la 6 e e . S v , 9

Ro un d m 1 r t u , 33. Key o f th e A t, 25.

Ru b o 1 1 60 1 6 1 0. l 8 1 1 8 ig , 43, , 4, 7 Kuh n . 34. 4 . 55. 7 . 5 Ru s 2 1 0 1 0 1 2 t, 5 , 7, 3 , 3 .

81 8 Lead . 54. 55. 57. 60. 72. . 2. 93.

red ead 60 6 1 . 1 00, 1 61 l , , S a gin atum, 31 .

Lea e o f Go d 1 . a u n 1 . v n l , 3 S t r , 93

a d o w o f et a s 6. Sh M l , 70, 7

Smo k e, 58 , 1 44.

8 1 a nes a 3 . 39. 7 . 77. o f B a ss 6 . M g i . Spirit r , 7 1 6 d o f 8 1 33. 1 37. 4 ; bo y . 34. 4. u me o f th e o o 6 Sp M n, 43, 44, 7 ,

1 1 2, 1 32 , 1 45, 1 86. 8 agne . 42. 77. 7 . 79 o ne 6 1 M t St . 44. 45. 9. 9 . 93. an d emale 60 a e . l o f o d 1 2 . , 57 , 7 , 7 M F , 7 9 g l , 5 1 1 80 35. u u 4 6 2 8 S lph r. 3 . 3 . 39. 46. 5 . 57. 7 . 1 M arteck , 1 52, 96.

e cu y, 1 93. M r r S un 6 . , 9

k o f Fi 6 . Mil g, 3

u a 6 1 60 20 . M cr , 7 , , 5

Tests , 1 63.

1 1 6 Ti n , 79, 80, 32 , 4 . N e 1 21 . itr , T nc u e 28 86 1 1 . i t r , , 35, , 4 n e - 0 0 2 1 1 Tyn a Dy . 47 5 . 74. 9 . 9 . 3 .

1 8 . Or me 1 . 4 pi nt, 57, 39