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

these, in Comaiius, who says that the test of fire nourishes the material as the embryo is nourished in the mother's womb.

* M. Berthelot traces the original notion of the fermentation of metals to the sophistication called diplosis. " Recipes designed for the accomplishment of a more profound imitation are also met with, for example, the alliance of gold or silver with a more or less considerable quantity ot some less precious metal ; this was the operation of diplosis." It is found in the Leyden papyrus, but there are traces that the Egyptian goldsmith believed, or at any xate sought to make others believe, " that the true metal was really multiplied by an operation comparable to fermentation." The fermentation of metals is mentioned in many places by the Greek writers: " It is necessary that this water, after the manner of leaven, should determine the fermentations destined to produce the like, by io6 The Turba Philosophorum.

ye rule well. For the same in like manner are cooked and liquefy as water; finally, by cooking they are congealed, crumble, and the red appears. But then it behoves you to imbue seven times with the residual water, until they absorb all the water, and, all the moisture being dried up, they are turned into dry earth ; then kindle a fire and place therein for forty days until the whole shall putrefy, and its colours appear.

The Thirty-Fourth Dictum. Bacsen saith : On account of thy dicta the Philosophers said beware.* Take the regal Corsufle, which is like to the redness of copper, and pound in the urine of a calf until the nature means of the like, in the metallic body to be tinged. As a tact, after the same manner that the leaven of dough, used in a small quantity, ferments a great mass of paste, so also will this little morsel of gold ferment all the dry matter." This notion is repeated in terms essential and literal by innumerable Latin alchemists.

* For this somewhat bizarre reading the second recension substitutes : " It seems needful to lay stress upon some matters which have been already mentioned."

The Turba Philosophorum. 107

of the Corsufle is converted, for the true nature has been hidden in the belly of the Corsufle. The Turba saith : Explain to posterity what the nature is. And he : A tingeing spirit which it hath from permanent water, which is coinlike, and coruscates. And they : Shew, therefore, how it is extracted. And he : It is pounded, and water is poured upon it seven times until it absorbs the whole humour, and receives a force which is equal to the hostility of the fire; then it is called rust. Putrefy the same diligently until it becomes a spiritual powder, of a colour like burnt blood, which the fire overcoming hath introduced into the receptive belly of Nature, and hath coloured with an indelible colour. This, therefore, have kings sought, but not found, save only to whom God has granted it.* But

* It was different in the days of Zosimus, who tells us that in Egypt the divine art of operating on minera belonged to the Kings, and the alchemists of the Nile no more worked in their own interest than the minters of coin. The increase of the King's riches was the only end in view,

To8 The Turba Philosophorum.

the Turba saith : Finish your speech, O Bacsen. And he : I direct them to whiten copper with white water, by which also they make red. Be careful not to introduce any foreign matter. And the Turba: Well hast thou spoken, O Bacsen, and Nictimerus also has spoken well ! Then he: If I have spoken well, do one of you continue.

The Thirty-Fifth Dictum. But ZiMON * saith : Hast thou left anything to be said by another ? And the Turba : Since the words of Nicarus and Bacsen are of little good to those who seek after this Art, tell us, therefore, what thou knowest,' according as we have said. And he •• Ye speak the truth, O all ye seekers after this Art ! Nothing else has led you into error but the sayings of the envious, + because what and for this reason the priests who were acquainted with the mineral secrets did not dare to disclose them publicly.

* In the second recension the name is rendered Zeunon.

t The second recension has an important variation : " The words of the Egyptians have led us into error."

The Turbo. Philosophorum. 109