The Turba Philosophorum (complete) — trans. A. E. Waite (1896)

call it incombustible sulphur. PouHi the same with the sharpest vinegar, and cook till it becomes thick, taking care lest the vinegar be changed into smoke and perish ; continue this coction for 150 days. Now, therefore, I have demonstrated the disposition of the white lead, all which afterwards follows being no more than women's work and child's play. Know, also, that the arcanum of the work of gold proceedsout of the male and the female, but I have shewn you the male in the lead, while, in like manner, I have discovered for you the female in orpiment.* Mix, therefore, the orpiment with the lead, for the female rejoices in receiving the strength of the male, because she is assisted by the male. But the male receives a tingeing spirit from the female. Mix them, therefore,

* M. Beithelot indentifies orpiment with the arsenic of the ancients. The woid itself does not occur in the Greek writers, but there is a fifteenth century translation from Latin to Greek of the Semita Recta, ascribed to Albertus Magnus, who reappears as Peter Theoctonicos, in which it is found.

5" The Turba Philosophorum.

^.bgether, place in a glass vessel, and pound with Ethelia and verj' sharp vinegar; cook for 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 with vinegar. Now, therefore, I have notified to you the power of orpiment, which is the woman by whom is accomplished the most great arcanum. Do not shew these unto the evil, for they will laugh. It is the Ethelia of vinegar which is placed in the preparation, by which things God perfects the work, whereby also spirits take possession of bodies, and they become spiritual.

The Seventeenth Dictum. ZiMON* saith : O Turba of Philosophers and disciples, now hast thou spoken about making into white, but it yet remains to treat concerning the reddening ! Know, all ye seekers after

* otherwise Zenon, according to the second recension.

The Turba Philosophorum. 59

this Art, that unless ye whiten, ye cannot make red, because the two natures are nothing other than red and white. Whiten, therefore, the red, and redden the white !* Know, also, that the year is divided into four seasons ; the first season is of a frigid complexion, and this is Winter ; the second is of the complexion of air, and this is Spring ; then follows the third, which is summer, and is of the complexion of fire ; lastly, there is the fourth, wherein fruits are matured, which is Autumn. In this manner, therefore, ye are to rule your natures, namely, to dissolve in winter, to cook in spring, to coagulate in summer, and to gather and tinge the fruit in autumn. Having, therefore, given this example, rule the tingeing natures, but if ye err, blame no one save yourselves. The Turba answereth : Thou hast treated the matter extremely

* A commentary introduced into the text of Zosimus on Virtue and Interpretation, observes : If thou dost commence by making white, the yellowing will be perfect, perfect and solid.

6o The Turba Philosophorum.