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.
* According to the second recension : " That which bads and flowers is one nevertheless."
t This dictum is omitted altogether by the second i88 The Turba Philosophorum.
of this small and ' most common thing, wherein the precious thing is concealed ! And if the vulgar knew, O all ye investigators of this art, the same small and vile thing, they would deem it a lie ! Yet, if they knew its efficacy, they would not vilify it, but God hath concealed this from the crowd* lest the world should be devastated.
The Sixty-Fifth Dictum. HoRFOLCUS saith :t You must know, O all ye who love wisdom, that whereas Mundus hath been teaching this Art, and placing before you most lucid syllogisms, he that does not understand what he has said is a brute animal ! But I will explain the regimen of this small thing, in order that any one, being introduced into this Art, may become bolder,!
* Literally " from the sea."
t In the second recension the speaker is called Oifulus.
J On the principle of Zosimus: " Be not dissuaded by thine inexperience, and when you perceive that everything has become ash, understand then that all goes well." — On the Diversity of Burnt Copper.
The Turba Philosophorum. 189
may more assuredly consider it, and although it be small, may compose the common with that which is dear, and the dear with that which is common. Know ye that in the beginning of the mixing, it behoves you to commingle elements which are crude, gentle, sincere, and not cooked or governed, over a gentle fire. Beware of intensifying the fire until the elements are conjoined, for these should follow one another, and be embraced in a complexion, whereby they are gradually burnt, until they be dessicated in the said gentle fire. And know that one spirit burns one thing and destroys one thing, and one body strengthens one spirit, and teaches the same to contend with the fire. But, after the first combustion, it is necessary that it should be washed, cleansed, and dealbated on the fire until all things become one colour ; with which, afterwards, it behoves you to mix the residuum of the whole humour, and then its colour will be igo The Turba Philosophorum.
exalted. For the elements, being diligently cooked in the fire, rejoice, and are changed into different natures, because the liquefied, which is the lead, becomes not-liquefied,* the humid becomes dry. the thick body becomes a spirit, and the fleeing spirit becomes strong and fit to do battle against the fire. Whence the Philosopher saith : Convert the elements and thou shalt find what thou seekest. But to convert the elements is to make the moist dry and the fugitive fixed. These things being accomplished by the disposition, let the operator leave it in the fire until the gross be made subtle, and the subtle remain as a tingeing spirit. Know ye, also, that the death and life of the elements proceed from fire, and that the composite germinates itself, and produces that which ye desire, God favouring. But when the colours begin ye shall behold the miracles of the wisdom
* According to the second recension : " The non-liquid becomes liquid which is the head of this art."
The Turba Philosophorum. 191
of God, until the Tyrian colour be accomplished. O wonder-working Nature, tingeing other natures I O heavenly Nature, separating and converting the elements by regimen! • Nothing, therefore, is more precious than these Natures in that Nature which multiplies the composite, and makes fixed and scarlet.
The Sixty-Sixth Dictum.*