The Turba Philosophorum (complete) — trans. A. E. Waite (1896)
The text is shown on its own: no facing layer is held for this issue.
The translator’s English as printed (A. E. Waite). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
Reduce, therefore, the same by means of cooking into a humour, until the hidden nature appear. If, therefore, it be manifested externally, seven times imbue the same with water, cooking, imbuing, and washing, until it become red. O those celestial natures, multiplying the natures of truth by the will of God! O that potent Nature, which overcame and conquered natures, and caused its natures to rejoice and be glad !* This, therefore, is that special and spiritual nature to which the God thereof can give what fire cannot. Consequently, we glorify and magnify that [species] , than which nothing is more precious in the true tincture, or the like in the smallest degree to be found. This is that truth overcomes nature : Nature contains Nature : Nature is ruled by Nature: are derived literally from the Greek Alchemists.
* These alchemical Grand Antiphons in O are either literally borrowed from the Greek alchemists, or are formed on the model of precisely similar exclamations in those writers : — " O, Supreme Wonder 1 O, most happy and Sovereign Matter," &c.
36 The Turba Philosophorum.
which those investigating wisdom love. For when it is liquefied with bodies, the highest operation is effected. If ye knew the truth, what great thanks ye would give me ! Learn, therefore, that while you are tingeing the cinders, you must destroy those that are mixed. For it overcomes those which are mixed, and changes them to its own colour. And as it visibly overcame the surface, even so it mastered the interior. And if one be volatile but the other endure the fire, either joined to the other endures the fire. Know also, that if the vapours have whitened the surfaces, they will certainly whiten the interiors. Know further, all ye seekers after Wisdom, that one matter overcomes four, and our Sulphur* alone consumes all things. The Turba answereth : Thou hast spoken excellently
* Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt figure in all Hermetic literature as the most indispensable principles of the Magmim Opus. The later writers never weary of affirming that they are not the substances commonly so called, but this does not appear so plainly in earlier and especially in Greek Authors.
The Turbo, Philosophorum. 37
well, O Parmenides, but thou hast not demonstrated the disposition of the smoke to posterity, nor how the same is whitened !
The Twelfth Dictum. Lucas saith: I will speak at this time, following the steps of the ancients. Know, therefore, all ye seekers after Wisdom, that this treatise is not from the beginning of the ruling !* Take quicksilver.^ which is from the male, and coagulate according to custom. Observe that I am speakmg to you in accordance with custom, because it has been already coagulated. Here, therefore, is not the beginning of the ruling, but I prescribe this method, t It should be noted in this connection that the attribution of the seven metals to the seven planets is not found in the Turba. Thus, quicksilver is never spoken of as Mercury, nor gold as Sol, &c.
* A further insight into the artificial character oi the book is afforded at this point. The meaning which is designed to be conveyed is, that in common with many other alchemical works,' the instruction begins in the middle of the process— for the more complete confusion of the uninitiated.
38 The Turba Philosophorum.
namely, that you shall take the quicksilver from the male, and shall either impose upon iron, tin, or governed copper, and it will be whitened.*