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.
requent and reverent allusion ; we now know that they are Zosimus, the Panopolite, the adepts of the school of Democritus, and the other writers preserved in the Byzantine collection. M. Berthelot, however, infers that the Greek influence found in The Turba Philosophorum was not a direct influence, but was derived mediately through channel's which are now unknown In any case the Turba summarises the author's preceding Geber, and is therefore the most valuable, as it is the most ancient, treatise on Alchemy, which exists in the Latin language.
The chief printed versions of The Turba Philosophorum, are those of the " Theatrum Chemicum," the "BibHotheca Chemica Curiosa," and that of the smaller collection entitled " Artis Auriferae Tractatus." There are some translations of the work existing in German and some also in French. Those in the latter language are specially remarkable for the very slender way in which they represent the original. The versions contained in Salmon's " Biblioth^que des Philosophes Alchimiques," and in the "Tro-S Anciens Traict^s de la Philosophie Naturelle," are instances in point. One English version in manuscript is known to the present editor, and it will be found in the British Museum amongst the treasures of the Sloane collection. It is rendered, however, from the French, and iv. Preface.
has been found useless for the purposes of this translation.
It may be added that the great collections of Alchemy, such as the " Theatrum Chemicum " and Mangetus, contain colloquies, commentaries, and enigmas which pretend to elucidate the mysteries of The Turba PkUosophorum. While they are of a considerably later date, they at the same time belong to the early period of Latin Alchemy. It may be added also that the editor has collected a considerable amount of material concerning this curious work, which the limits of the present volume preclude him from utilising.
Arthur Edward Waite.
The Turba Philosophorum,
Taken from an Ancient Manuscript Codex, mobe perfect than any edition published heretofore.
The Epistle of Arisleus, prefixed to the Words of the Sages, concerning the purport of this Book, for the Benefit of Posterity, and the same being as here follows : —
ARISLEUS,* begotten of Pythagoras, a disciple of the disciples by the grace of thrice great Hermes, learning from the seat of knowledge, unto all who come after wisheth health and mercy. I testify that my
• An ancient gloss describes Arisleus as the son of Abladus. M. Berthelot supposes him to be synonymous with the Aristenes of the second recension {Eleventh Dictum) and of the Exercitationes on the Turba, which are found in the first volume of the Bibliotheca Chemica. Beyond the similarity of the name, and the fact that most names are mutilated in the Turba, there seems no reason to suppose that the compiler intended to connect Pythagoras with alchemical traditions through Aristeus, the sophist of the time of Antoninus.
B
2 The Turha Philosophorum.
master, Pythagoras,* the Italian, master of the wise and chief of the Prophets, had a greater gift of God and of Wisdom than was granted to any one after Hermes. Therefore he had a mind to assemble his disciples, who were now greatly increased, and had been constituted the chief persons throughout all regions for the discussion of this most precious Art, that their words might be a foundation for posterity. He then commanded Iximidrus, of highest council, to be the first speaker, who said :t — tThe French version of Salmon has the following distinct variations : — " The beginning of the book, the Turha of the Philosophers, in which Arisleus has gathered together the sayings of the more prudent among the scholars, by introducing Pythagoras the Philosopher, that Master collecting the opinions of the scholars. The book is also called the Third Pythagorical Synod, instituted concerning
* The Greek alchemists of the Byzantine Collection make no mention of Pythagoras, and the tradition which describes him as an adept of the Hermetic Mystery must be referred to an Arabian origin, to the treatises of El Habib, the Kit§,b-al-Firhirst, and the true Geber, where alchemical writings attributed to this sage are freely quoted.
The Turba Philosopkorum. 3