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

acquainted with the elements as I myself, but when he proceeded to rule this disposition, he attained not to the joy thereof by reason of his sadness and ignorance in ruling, and excessive eagerness, desire, and haste concerning the purpose. Woe unto you, sons of the Doctrine ! For one who plants trees does not look for fruit, save in due season ; he also who sows seeds does not expect to reap, except at harvest time. How, then, should ye desire to attain this offering when ye have read but a single book, or have adventured only the first regimen ? But the Philosophers have plainly stated that the truth is not to be discerned except after error, and nothing creates greater pain at heart than error in this Art, while each imagines that he has almost the whole world, and yet finds nothing in his hands. Woe unto you ! Understand the dictum of the Philosopher, and how he divided the work when he said — pound, cook, reiterate, and be

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130 The Tuvha PMlosophorum.

thou not weary. But when thus he divided the work, he signified commingling, cooking, assimilating, roasting, heating, whitening, pounding, cooking Ethelia, making rust or redness, and tingeing. Here, therefore, are there many names, and yet there is one regimen. And if men knew that one decoction and one contrition would suffice them, they would not so often repeat their words, as they have done, and in order that the mixed body may be pounded and cooked diligently, have admonished you not to be weary thereof. Having darkened the matter to you with their words, it suffices me to speak in this manner. It is needful to complexionate the venom rightly, then cook many times, and do not grow tired of the decoction. Imbue and cook it until it shall become as I have ordained that it should be ruled by you — namely, impalpable spirits, and until ye perceive that the Ixir is clad in the garment of the Kingdom. For when ye behold the Ixir turned into

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Tyrian colour,* then have ye found that which the Philosophers discovered before you.t If ye understand my words (and although my words be dead, yet is there life therein for those who understand themselves), they will forthwith explain any ambiguity occurring herein. Read, therefore, repeatedly, for reading is a dead speech, but that which is uttered with the lips the same is living speech. Hencfi we have ordered you to read frequently, and, moreover, ponder diligently over the things which we have narrated.

The Fortieth Dictum.

Jargus saith : Thou hast left obscure a part of thy discourse, O Bacsen ! And he: Do thou, therefore, Jargus, in thy clemency shew forth the same !

* Latin alchemists made use ot the symbolism of Tyrian dye when describing the Red state of the Magistery. The Kenckel, previously referred to, is apparently an Eastern term designating the Crustacea from the shells of which the dye was anciently obtained.

t The second recension reads : " then shall ye comprehend the sayings of the Philosophers,"

132 The Turba Philosophorum.

And he answereth : The copper of which thou hast before spoken is not copper, nor is it the tin of the vulgar ; it is our true work (or body) which must be combined with the body of Magnesia, that it may be cooked and pounded without wearying until the stone is made. Afterwards, that stone must be pounded in its vessel with the water of nitre, and, subsequently, placed in liquefaction until it is destroyed. But, all ye investigators of this art, it is necessary to have a water by which the more you cook, so much the more you sprinkle,* until the said copper shall put on rust, which is the foundation of our work. Cook, therefore, and pound with Egyptian vinegar.

The Forty-First Dictum.
ZiMONt saith : Whatsoever thou hast
uttered, O Jargos, is true, yet I do

• The second recension reads : " It is necessary to use a water which becomes inspissated in proportion as it is cooked."

t In the second recension the name is Cadmon.

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