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.
* In the second recension this dictum is ascribed to Aichelaus.
200 The Turba Philosophorum.
hath described this sulphureous water ! For unless solid bodies are destroyed by a nature wanting a body, until the bodies become not-bodies, and even as a most tenuous spirit, ye cannot [attain] that most tenuous and tingeing soul, which is hidden in the natural belly. And know that unless the body be withered up and so destroyed that it dies, and unless ye extract from it its soul, which is a tingeing spirit, ye are unable to tinge a body therewith.
The Seventy-Second Dictum. Philosophus* saith : The first composition, that is, the body of Magnesia, is made out of several things, although they become one, and are called by one name, which the ancients have termed Albar of copper. But when it is ruled it is called by ten names, taken from the colours which appear in the regimen of the body of this Magnesia. It is necessary, therefore, that the lead be turned into blackness ; then the ten
* The second recension refers this dictum to Philotis.
The Turba Philosophorunt. aoi
aforesaid shall appear in the ferment of gold, with sericon,* which is a composition called by ten names. When all these things have been said, we mean nothing more by these names than Albar of copper, because it tinges every body which has entered into the composition. But composition is twofold— one is humid, the other is dry. When they are cooked prudently they become one, and are called the good thing of several names. But when it becomes red it is called Flower of Gold, Ferment of Gold, Gold of Coral, t Gold of the Beak.J It is also called redundant red sulphur and red orpiment. But while it remains crude lead of copper, it is called bars and plates of metal. Behold I have ret Later alchemical writers define Gold oi Coral as the matter of the Philosophers when it has become fixed a the red stage.
* Sericon is one of the names of Minium, according to Rulandus, but M. Berthelot explains that it was a comliination of Sandyx and Sinopis.
X The significance of this phrase is, of course, periectly inscrutable, but is there any reference to the rostrum or rottellum of the alembic ?
ao3 The Turba Philosophorum.
vealed its names when it is raw, which also we should distinguish from the names when it has been cooked. Let it therefore be pondered over. It behoves me now to exhibit to you the quantity of the fire, and the numbers of its days,* and the diversity of intensity thereof in every grade, so that he who shall possess this book may belong unto himself,+ and be freed from poverty, so that he shall remain secure in that middle way which is closed to those who are deficient in this most precious art. I have seen, therefore, many kinds of fire. One is made out of straw and cinder, coals and flame, but one without flame. Experiment shows that there are intermediate grades between these kinds. But lead is lead of copper, in which is the whole arcanum. Now, concerning
• Greek, in common with all other alchemists, have recognised the necessity for " a certain lapse of time and a favourable moment." See , Olympiodorus On the Sacred Art.
t Compare the motto of Paracelsus : Alteriut turn sit qui suits esse potest.
The Turba Philosophorum. 203