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

• The second recension adds : — " Between the copper and water of the Philosophers. This affinity and combination is given to them in the space ol one hundred days."

t The definition may not be important, but it is, perhaps, as well to state that the Greek Lexiconof CAr^sqpsia explains that tin alchemically is cinnabar, and that cinnabar is sublimed vapour obtained by coction in cauldrons. Here M. Berthelot observes that the reference is to sublimed mercury or the sulphur thereof.

{ According to the alternative version : — " The nature of the one does not agree with the nature of the other.''

§ " The proper end of the whole art," says Horus, " is to obtain the semen of the male secretly, seeing that all

8o The Turba Philosophorum.

cook the same with its body until it becomes a fluxible water; cook the masculine together with the vapour, until each shall be coagulated and become a stone. Then take the water which you had divided into two parts, of which one is for liquefying and cooking the body, but the second is for cleansing that which is already burnt, and its companion, which [two] are made one. Imbue the stone seven times, and cleanse, until it be disintegrated, and its body be purged from all defilement, and become earth. Know also that in the time of forty-two days the whole is changed into earth ; by cooking, therefore, liquefy the same until it become as true water, which is quicksilver. Then wash with water of nitre until it become as a liquefied coin. Then cook until it be congealed and become hke to tin, when it is a most things are male and female. Hence Horus says in a certain place : Join the male and the female, and you will find that which is sought ; as a fact, without this process of reunion, nothing can succeed, for Nature charms Nature," &c. — Olympiodorus Ore the Sacred Art.

The Turba Philosophorum. 8i

great arcanum ; that is to say, the stone which is out of two things. Rule the same by cooking and pounding, until it becomes a most excellent crocus. Know also that unto water desiccated with its companion we have given the name of crocus. Cook it, therefore, and imbue with the residual water reserved by you until you attain your purpose.

The Twenty -fourth Dictum. BocAScus* saith : Thou hast spoken well, O Belus, and therefore I follow thy steps ! He answereth : As it may please you, but do not become envious, for that is not the part of the Wise. And BocAscus : Thou speakest the truth, and thus, therefore, I direct the Sons of the Doctrine. Take lead, and, as the Philosophers have ordained, imbue, liquefy, and afterwards congeal, until a stone is produced ; then rule the stone with gluten of gold and syrup of pomegranates until it be broken up. But you

• The name in the second recension is Boratis.

G

82 The Turba Philosophorum.

have already divided the water into two parts, with one of which you have Hquefied 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, as you have been frequently ordered.* The Turba answereth : Thou hast done, nothing but pile up ambiguous words. Return, therefore, to the subject. And he : Ye who wish to coagulate quicksilver,+ must mix it with its equal. +