Translation anl Co'mwntaly 6l' F Sherwood Ta!'lor 127

)68

TR{I{SLATION.

STEPHA\OS OF ALE:L{J'-DRI..I. THE UNIVERS'\I PHILOSOPT{ER .{\D TEACHER

OF THIS GRE.{T A\D SACRED ART OF IHE ]1AKI}-G OF COT,O. LECTTRT I

WITH TI{E HErP oF GoD.

Having praised God the cause of all good things and the King of ali, and

his oniy begotten Son resplendent before the ages together rvith the Holv

Spirit, and having eamestly intreated for ourselres the il.lumination of the

knowledge of Him, we will begin to gather the fairest fruits of the s'ork in

hand, of this verv treatise, and we trust to track down the truth \orv from

a true theory of nature our problem mrrst be set out. O nature ja superior

to nature conquering the natures, O nature become superior to itseif, well

regulated, transcending and surpassing the natures, O nature one lrnd tire same

yietding ana fulfilling the -{ll, O union completed irnd separation united.

O identical and nowise alien nature, supplying the -{ll !a Irom itself, O matter

immaterial holding matter fast, O nature concluering and rejoicin< in nature'

O heavenly nature maling the sPiritual existcnce to shine forth, O bodiless

body 5, making bodies bodiless, O course of the moon il luminating the rvhole

order of the universe, O most generic species irnd most specific genus 16, () naiure

truly superior to nature conquering the natures, tell whar sort of narure thou

art-that which with affection receives itself from itself again, r-eri lv that

rvhich yields sulpbur without hre 17 and has the frre-resisting porver, the archety'pe

of many names arld name of manl' forms, the experienced nature and the

unfolding, the many-coloured painted rainbow, that which discloses from

itself the All. O nature itself and displa-v-ing its nature from no other nature,

O like bringing to l ight from its l ike a thing of l ike nature, O sea becoming

as the ocean :s drawing up as vaPour its manl -coloured pearls O conjunction

of the tetrasglqla adorned upon the surface, O ilsqqPqqn of tire threefold

triad and completion 2e of the universal seal, body of magaesia bv rvhich the

rvhole mysten' is brought about, O golden-roofed 30 stream of heaven, and

silver-crested spirit sent lorth from the sea, O thou that hast the silver-breasted

garment and providest the liquid golden curls 31, O fair exercise of the \tisest

intellects, O wise all-creative pou'er of men most holy, O sea inscrutable by

uninitiated men, O igaorance seized on beforehand by vainglorious men'

O srnoky kindling of disdainiul mankind, O uncovered iight of pious men,

O countenance contemplated bv virtuous men O srveetl,"- breatlt ing :loler

of practical philosophers, O perfect PreParation of a single species. r) \r 'ork

of rvisdom, ha\,ing a beautv composed of intellect O tltou thlt l lashest such

122 Alchetnical llto*s of Stephauos of Alerandtia:

ilaotptintouca, it oe)',|t1 ir ;oA i1\-rarcoi {arti9 {ri9 iro).apBivouca. d piaSJoc |1 altrj, rai oirc d,\1,,7 giot<, t(prouoa rul rcpropivtl, tcpdaotla, kd,ircparovptv4, ca(optv1 te xai Soqti(ovoa. ri iy.iv ral tff ro\>,i iI?, ;r;s6vros roi $uctro| rzi pt6.;6itoe<os vtrtia4s ri

' .6,v. tola,s radtns eiri.

roias; itpiv rois ei $povoAcw ,iv,rti9qpc ri piyo roiro B6pov, tois tr)vipet)v ip$rcoptro6, r oig |tapqttrct)v z;pd.(u rexooltr;ptvoc. r'ai rpart4xtiv9eopiav dvlipupiroLt' Totag :,autry, $p,iaoov. roto}tov itttiv lrpol,Tlvtro)vEoeo9at it 36pov. roiae, \l1a rcai oitr itotpJ$a. 6pd,o16t rfis d.va\tv$atoSooias r,)v ydptv. i rapd roA rarpis r6v $titav f1piv 6e66pt7,ac.iroJoate 6s i6d"f/e\o. v6es. izri?ea?e rjv ix,ii,7 1eapiav,6trrl,s roig voepoit[pitv d$9a],pois i ieiv A.?a9,7e rd itore xpvp.lr,ous puot,jptov. tvi;1ip nt$uotroi ypeia xai pt 6.s Sioeas wr<6a4e tb r6.v. roias roirlc, iB4 Jpivaa46s ),e).ix9at, ht i1 $ioc zlv Sitctv rip.rec rcai,j $vots n)v $i,zr,v qa"l. i,rai ,j $Jcr tiv $icr,v wr6. ttpretat piv ittu tils i6ias oic,1s Sioeas,tpat€irdl 3i t j l df ait i ls Eyovoa ovly$ercv, ttrd. Ei Jrip $,jotv.riv 6iau6rav tlv ivoayttv rils oiroropias iiotrlt1ption pvora,yaliar. 6tat d.60aptovdzroQavatiop ti otopa. iitav rlv tveuparu|eioav pera,t;ot4o77 ,rvptr\.t1ptoo t v.r&e i;;ip $totv €otar, 0aupa(6pevov 6s zrveApa, t6re rpa,t ei td rtvodpevovodpa, t6re rtpttt tits t6tov oirqriprou, t6.re wxd, ,itttptitti,s rattpBateiovdloy df 6lou roAro lu6perou tmip $Jow 0avp.a(ip,evov. ri eira rpits cirepLerttri y,alvqoia,' r is pj 9avpioer, t iu ir ooA itore\oipevov Xpuoo'opa)\_\,oy: ix ooA "1ip ri rew ie\.€o Lovp.fe;jot ltuorlpov. oi rcgtipp1tat p6v4 ri lsrota{tqs rrp yiootv, iv ooi i$,ft\onat 4,iru,to.wxt) aiinl z;eptxttpttovoave$iltq.6po6or.rov $ipec iu ooi riTv roXt)p.op$ov r1s '-\6po6Gt1s eh6vc,oivoy6ou 6i z.d\,r,v SrcrovoAvta, tbv rupil3o\ou ir.gparol3titrlu (tooadttlv oi,vizt$ipouoa riTv rtlXavyiav vvp$trc6s iauriu ieptta,\i1rte', r it tvayvov ti ls${oeas i.raXa,pBt|ets p,ucrt,jprcvt, tei{u t,or,rbu tal toi ooi 4aparctfipos r)1v)tLtptn76dvo. d.p(oyzt rris 1to^,vp6p|ov. irce/vas p1v{etv eixoyas. tore 1ip atrrs roip6e ra1u{.ait<ou Ev$},.o1ov t);v rvpi\l i(avrit;er,. t)7v oilu 1ip 0erap6tvno'l'.i,ygapov $avraoiav, ,i prceiv oit,< eirotoipat tepr,giav airis ti ,<d>.\n.5 cis 1ir,p tepr,\,ciptrav papy'pil1t i.pavpoi pou rpits \ta, tis x6pas. 6 oits!(avrhrrav $e1,7ttls rdoav pov xaranr),fitrer, rlu 6paarv, I ai1 droc.tiXpovoard7).r7 6),4v el$patrec pov rcap\iav,3 $ioc ,'t).106s trip gictv vLEAca, TisbJae*. oi tb r|u I pia $iots. i7 airt1 Bi i1s xai rit r6v l iverat €syov.,t6ptrri) .fip ,ipr9p{' i ol rcXvdroltila rav,coopi,o. tine yl,p yapt(n, iu oi,;

' )I.-ri;ore r':ruplir or,

Translalion and. Cornmc a/y fu, F. Sherwood Taylor 123

a beam from a siagle being upon all, O moon drawing a l.ight lrom the light

of the sun, O single nature itself and no other nature, rejoicing aad rejoiced

over, mastering and mastered, saved and saliour, what have you in common

with the multitude of material things, since one thing is narural and is a single

nature conquering the AII ? Of what kind art thou, tell me, of what kind ?

To you who are of good understaading I dedicate tbis great gift, to !'ou who are

clothed with virtue, who are adomed'i.ith respect to theoretical lrilctiqe and

settledinlxactic4-throry. Of what kind, show us, thou rvho hast indicared

beforehand that we should have such a gift. Of what nature, I shall tell and

will not hide. I confess the grace of the giving of light from above' *hich is

given to us b]' the lights of the father. Hear ye as iotelligences like to the

angels. Put away the material theory so that ):e mav be deemed worthl'

to see with 1'our intellectual eyes the hidden m)'stery For there is need

of a single naturai <thing>3'? and of one nature conquering the all. Of sLrch

a kind, now clearly to be told you, that the nature rejoices in the naturc and

the nature masters the nature and the nature conquers the naturc For it

rejoices on account of the nature being its own, and it masters it bec:ruse it has

kinship with it, and, superior to nature, it conquers the nature $llle! lftecor,poJeal operation of the Plocess shall fullil the initiation into the m-\'sreries

Foi wtren the incorruptible body shall be released from death s, and rvhen

it shall transform the fulfilment which has become spiritual, thcn suPerior

to nature it is as a marvellous spirit ; then it mastcrs the bocll ' moled {bl it),

then it rejoices as over its oivn habitation, then it conquers tlr i |t $lt ici i in

disembodied fashion haunts the whole rvhich is engendered of the rvhole that

is admirable above nature. \\-hich I say to !'ou is !l)c comlrehensrre{as-

nesia u. \\ 'ho wil l not wonder at the corai of golds perfectcd from rhec?

From thee the whole mystery is fully brought to perfection, t l lou rlone shalt

have no fear of the knowledge of the same, on thee rviil be spread the radiant

eastern cloud; thou shalt carn' in thyself as a guest the multiform imaqei

of Aphroditc, the cupbearer again sen'ing the fire-throwing bearer oi cc)als

(then carrying such a brightness from afar, in bridal fashion vou leil the same.

you receive the undeiiled mystery of nature). I will shorv moreover also the

luslre qJ lby nalure, I w'ill begin to indicate thy multiform images For

then he, rvho intelligently intenveaves thee that hast 6re rvithin thee, rekindles

the 6e!y thing. For looking on thy man-v--coloured lisions I shall be porverless

as I circle round its beauties. For thy radiant pearl blinds the sight of mt ele.

Thy phengites 38 rekindling astounds a.ll my vision, thy- shining radiance

gladdens all my heart, O nature truly superior to natrue, conquennq thc

natures. Thou, the rvhole, art the one nature. The same br' ivhich the $hoie

becomes the work. For !.v-g" qd4 number 3i th1'all-cosmos is svstematized.

For then thou shalt understand in what respects thou shalt look ahead. then

thou shalt discover in what things shall be th1'ambit, then thorr shalt sIoP the

struggles of the place 38, then thou shalt disclose the kingry pllple, rvhich also

12+ Alchemical lTorhs of Stephanos ol Alexandria:

rpoa6or6,oal, tire dvara)tJtrn, iv ots r.epttpopetoat, .1f,ru i,rora,,j*s ti,;ctd.oecoc rois d.16vas, t6te p.rydet; Baaiv r<iv d\-oupyi6a, i1v ,<o,i Erj fie ofista$ion1s itrt,cotrillro. r6te oi,r Era1yot ,<iparos, j>,1,a ypvo(tppo$os r\9i\.apos, rdte oi' ro).Jrporos irtrt1ledn19,,ix\,i zrcivoofios iylivoto, tore oiatiprloc ritv ivapit<ov d,vtpdv eipiaxeraq d\Xu ir6^.avos t6tv ,re),eiavdv3p6v d,va\eircwrac. .rocoirot yip alrfis 6 iv repnt<i, d.prLpQ eiporcdpetos6pos. t,i,tas aii1v irtyvtiaovrar, oi tfis d.perfis dvdr\eon, iroicate oi. tisoof[as lpaotai rai etceo?e rd peta\.ia t2 roA ravtorcpriropos leoA. ai,ris y<ipi.otyv 6 rtict\s oo$ias yoprnds, $6s oittdv d,rpitocrov, $6,s,6 Qari(er oivraiv9patov ipT6pevov eis riv r6apov. oiSiv yip iopev, d.r:rp tis ai,rol9eopyiac, orlSiy Slors iori ti (poipevov rolto 66pov rpirs :i, aito|parapulrlra. rpooe.y/,oate it $Aor ipetils rpitt r\v d.i\,ou ireivnv t6eoo.pd9ere tis y)wri 9eoi Q6s, oi'* d€r" rd vAv 0aupa(6peva rpis rilv parap;avireinyv \i1$l, pt6vov oirceuoedprv ai,ni 3i,iyci.nr7r'. *oi XrTgi,pe7a tol ai.,toAfiv i( iBiccou d.Bucaov rq1,i(oucav oo$iav,iva tuvll ioltev iri r is X,iptroctot, &up[,ov ipeov'IqtoA XpcctoA rorapoic d,va;3\-ioat i iaroc l6v.ros,6-,.L,s9aup.,ioas roi Sqptovp"loA r)v rooaitlv ooSiav tpv,1o11s ai,rol i1v eis tip6.speydl,lv $i,av1pariav, ti. eavprileLv 6ei ypvoor6pa\|.ov eitos. Iavpi$u bi8ei r),ioy ti itrepiypattov nril,),os . 6pr,rs rai riv r60ov ip6v r\.r1p6oa,,/varoooirov ipdv d[o9ite pe?' tpvabias ?eo\,oyeiv ri1v irepiya\ov toi leol,''1a0onyta.

o lI.-irrrog.ija.tt \I.-y)v66pogos,

'3 l I . - r revc, \ , /c.

Translalion and. Commenlam 6r; F. Sherwood Taylor 125

thou shalt bring with thee by the help of thy maiden. Then will not be therecent labour but a couch canopied with gold, then not a multiform abilitvbut an all-wise sagacity, then no deprivation of r.irruous men is found, brrta fruition of perfect men is displayed. For such is the measure of it fouadin*1he-gdd nulnber.

Thus those full of virtue will discover thee ; hear ye who are lovers of wisdomand know the mighty deeG 3t of the al-nrting God. For be it is that fumishesall wisdom, unapproachable light of houses, light which illumines each manas he comes into the world. For we are nothing apart from his SupremeDivinity; altogether nothing is the gift which is sought, in respect of hisblessedness. Approach, O lovers of yirtue, to that immaterial desire. Learnhow sweet is the light of God. Unworthy are the things which are nowrvondered at, in respect oI that happy lot. Alone we are made friends withhim by love, and we receive from him the wisdom springing forth as an abyssfrom the abyss, that we may be enabled by the grace of oul I.or4lesus Christto gxsh forth rivers of Iiving water; so that tvondering at such wisdom of thedemiurge we mav praise his great kindness torvalds us. \lhv should rve marveiat the species Chrvsocorallos ? We shouid wonder rather at the infiniteBeaut-v. So also I will ful6l your desire, that ]'ou ma]r be made worrh], toIove such a One (and) rvith hlmnody to discourse of the more than goodsoodress of God.

126 Alchemical ll/orhs ol Slephanos of Alcrutdtid:

Toi a i t tot t 2re$, ivov ovv 0e, i f lpdfrr 6evrtpa.

Ti> fi iv ipfip6v ov1teipet'ov z),,1dos ir pf.s ris dr;pou ra't $votrfispovtiSos i1v {tap(tt t7er, d,retpov ait)1 ovvtei.vovoa tlv dtv i}Jt,j\at atiorv,ri,s df arlr4s tpooe\.1\.u06ta zrep(yec ral ll-epLrpa:ei. povAa y;p ipqtat,6dri plvetv ai,,r)v dtpetrtov tai ipetaxivrTrov. r)1v y'lp rvr'Ltxilv rai o$atpoeL|iltdv itpt9yfov 9eopiav, 6porav iaurfis iva\eixvuotv irorat,T\.4{rv t6v rtvredpdpdu $qpi '<al

reo" E(' ir yd.p ait6v eis tourd riXtv i laxuxtoiyrar.ni r6.oa piv terpa,|avrftiT r),evpit i( i&op,jrcovs ltvoptvl ov.ylber,au tyer,rpis ti 6potov, iva, rdtei,av inrotataotr\att 6vp7t^,ip@oLy. zavlos 3i adpatosrai po2iuvrs i(r1rcovot|v, i( ai,tils riTv liyeqtu Exouia ra) iyarcvr\oirta, rthtl;,eis tauriTv quore ,\Xdp€ra tlv $vorrilv dtrotl,qpoAar, poviSa, rdorTs 6irvr\L,tci1s olal,pas ti oqpeiov xivrpov iorir, dpoios 3e xai rovtis tpt"lavoutcai dlatzriSov ra"i orep€o| oxriy,atos &d,lpappiov tdiwos,ti aitit ouyloeiola.Eai ris povoltcir 3i iotopia,s of re viarot &ai Td,oita,ao., ei 5i ix rootipttv,ei6i iti rpirg Xit1g, t6re rpit ai.no| rpdrelov eiat rai tiv izr' altoAizt6\o1ov, 6i fs rris ao.a,i'rat a6tv ivalruyrjtv avv\toets, rai 3it. raodvr.air6v ovt$avias Er :ri ls tocaJtls uhdt d.vao6(op:v povolrns ;6Topias.'Qp$ta yip $4or. | 'qydvovtcs fv9 pwois ri ivtTpp6o0ar $06yyors, ttote xat t i ls6p.otayoit oitcitv\6 rcrlioeas f7 oupSavia trlyeito,r,rl, taL tjv d,Sovoavipprel,cis e'xze),ei pe\.a6bv. i( iv6s fup r1s toA dpyitou i roitrtov ouyiotatatxataor€vi, 60ev rcai i1v Evap9pov toi o<iparos ra.raaxevr)v oiras 3tarcio?ar,6dttoL; rc &di dp9po.s rca't poptoc rai teipots, raL 6i toi r\-'irctpovi,nbdoptvov itpos 6lrq, itpli lov rtvoAnos t\t $aviu i.,r ott y,re o|ar, ek €v rr:-ils oioias owapy.oc9tvta ro) tavtils pio rcparoipeva Koi 6vy.oi(rp:va ioeohiv 6i7 tp6rov rcaL ti lv roi i.$oc oit yrpaow. \io 1ip d,xpav z:oLoTrtarot ,eis y.eottqs rai 6.atrtrr,r'r?s elpiorcetat,, oa(av airdv ti, tui.rpq6L,i t1v zposairis lenviaow rai roX\lv cvyyiverav. ri),),ri xai r4s aoarpoerdois raiziztravo0s taitr1s ti ls toD r6\,ov r*iaeas. ir< ri1r.:oi lt ip 7i1v i lpo$atpioutapi toA 6pt(ovro; r6v i"lrcrioptov roAtov rai 6r,a$avl rit).ov, rul;oi i1\l,aroi

{r,rris dr r4s r8 :16.ot roltoc irtyopryyoivros ti $ina xatuu^1t$t. i{ uitilsyap oi p6vov oi iatepes ri|v roi $oros p,et(aovor" td(w. b,Xir Ea,L i itsoe\r1v7s int$ivcr,a tiTv ir rcA $aris tzrdrapSirouoa uityriv, $aivet, te rd,oavrlv vvrtcpLvilv )rz,yoioa,v 3a6ovyi,at, rai ifeis rdyro i,tt\,6s eireiv ti rotaAradt ro0 dr,Js airiv roi Tp@rid'tov rlv oictar eh\rtx6:.g,. oa(ovot ti tils

$Jaeas rai dztotr)tqpoAot |capios. ratpis dv eiq \,ott;iu, tiTv iv tti Trpou lovaLrr \I.-Stop

^ttet pbpiur,

rr ]t.-iranriar.rr',r5 ]t.- 'oppoior, . . . . luOp,rrroir.r' M.-rr l21riadcr. For oi'aui, ft. reads iiir;r.r ' l I .- i ,4a1eirar.:r For i{ r i f } t . reads Arrir , and [or tdor, t io 'y.

Trcnslalion and Comtwnlary' &r' F. Sherwood Taylor r27

Secorn ttctunr oF THE sAlrE Srepn.r:los \rrrn TnE RELp oF GoD.

The multitude of numbers compounded together has its eistence from oneatom and natural monad ; this, which itself exerts a mutual condition, compre-hends and nrles over the in.6nite as emanating from itself. For the nnnad ao

is so called lrom its remaining immutable ard unmoved. For it displaysa circular ald spherical contemplation of numbers like to itself, I speak ofa completion of the frr'e numbers and of the six. For from these they comeround again to themselves. And every side of a rectangle generated fromthe same length has kinship to its like that it may restore a perfect fulfilnent,For the sixtieth part of every great quantity and of fractions, taking originfrom it <the monad) and rerurnirg again to it, being contracted together,complete the natural monad. The s]'rnbol of every circular sphere is thecentre, lil<ewise of every triangle and plane and solid figxre set out by lines;let this same be thought of.

^{lso of the musical leaming, both the lowest strings and that ne\t thefirst, whether of four strings or upon the third ratio, that which is before it mustbe the antecedent and that after it the consequent, bv rvhich we presen'e thebinding together of the proportions and of the rvhole scale of harmonv {r asa resu.lt of such musical learning.

For they rvho pluck the strings{2 say that Orpheus made melodv withrhythmical sounds so that the slrnphony should re-echo tbe co-ordinatedmovement of the elements and the sounding melody should be harmoniouslvperfected. For {rom the one instmment the whole composition takes itsorigin, whence also the organization of the articu.late bodv is ordered in thebones and joints and parts and nen-es, and by the plectrum of the air. givenforth in the fashion of a moying instrument, a voice is sent fofth to the Onervhich is joined to its essence and rvhich conquers and organizes it bf its owniife; the very mode and blending of the air. For of trvo extreme qualit ies

there is found one mediator and conciliator *-hich presen'es the qualitiesof both on account of its resemblance and close kinship to them. And aiso themovement of the pole being spherical and stable, the light of the hemispherewhich is above the earth, arising from the line dividing the mundane and thediaphanous pole, also radiates forth the llres of the sunlight (derived) fromthat lvhich supplies it to all things. For from it not only do the stars partake

of the order of the light, but also the appearance of the moon, giling out ra)'sderived from the light, displal's its nightll' allotted torchbearing. And voushall have all such things to speak of singly, as derived from one of them,and as the essence of the verv hrst retumed again; thel'preserle the thingsof the nature and {ulfil the contemplation. But were there time enoughto consider our discourse in the progress of a proem, (I would speak of) that

t2

I28 Alchernical'[Yorhs of Slefhatos oJ Alexaulria:

""!,.{*4ki orl,1,ao9ar, }r,i\e(Lv, *ai ri .fis ce\.4vo,<i1t l.;oppoias rttrov,Trott oe eupacKeTar. taL T@l o,irouoy,eitat. xai ..r-6tt dravotov tyet $ior,v.6 SAaor'a)+ias oo$la tls ronit,4;- ranao,<evis t,oor7y.a,iroroo tit Ep1ot, lt\evyrlpovoio.o oe.)"i1vr1 rs ,i,rooti\-13ouoa.

.\"euror4;a, "1"tid.,;.p,ev th air4 i1

oeX4vr.a.ttl, iv.a. 16 i,toporipevov 1,l tLat idope,. '8";, E, ;{r; i1 t euxoQopos

:(r,;1."1b toxi,barov 6p.pa tf is .),,evraoiac. i1 .uvu$a1,,.1i., ",oii

, i , oLtouopLat.o a9vap"ros Xt,r(Dv, Trls eup,opqaas to voooivqerov ,<ril"l.os. rir rel,errrjaer,rs roievKortttov .rwUeua, 14s ,tzro:ti,lpri.oea.s rb .tr4xritv 7j),a. rrTs 7dvioa6 tb

:!o^?::!r,:, i!:r.,!13v1";" rls .\u6ias. tit i,ax.,*i, ",;1a1.',;,r

'.t1oi;s 6ltuPt'i\s. o .t1io :\ l\Jay.d., to tro\,uu-vvltov rils iYaqoep1iaS, fi )o rd.v

1n1o.tr;kvoa; i t - tb tv u-dv:o gipovoa. i1 ,o doupoori i , {p1[i

- i" :oz.xapouoo .

' f t OE roaLv n iavjnt i toppoo:, o, i ,< . i t totcpJ,!, , , ; . . iU. +0",;s 3:; f . ,o

l,ytor)pevov rci\t os. icttv ii,v a'r.i6 .i1 i,6ppi,a .i' i, '[f,Ii"

*r*puurir..i i:.!p,.,.

6 -o\ir;t1x *ac7a{-ns. g|ioto|iios Q,yyi,,1s.-i ypv,oop,i,,,o,os

4l'!l l:- l j lpli"Slftlu .lseura,..6 ypyao,tooltos atu|,ip. 6 ux4gopos,:!:-t:*: -;:" l:61)tlKou

tep.fSo^d,Lou. fi d),a?wi1 topgipa.i ror,wip.4tovoTePya' To a,nuPpov AaLou, o .e@-K.pLTrlp titv oau,i;av. rc {av|itv o}.ot, ei6oS.o E7tcetcpupF.€uot v\oavpot, o 0a\.apov Eyav .: i1v oetryry, i iu ahfi tff

Z:L1,^!...r-::^".':?:.fe31or;reyosr,..- .i cl .Q cl-,, a1s p cl a!2. 6 \.eurt)s p.<v'^.12,.?.1i.'l': y.'.oo' o,' , ̂ t!'@lt(:P:v:s.- 6 ti1 ,|.ayoio.rt. olr,,,va uvp.grct. ,f i{?u1\: IP,u! !:-aalav, 4 ut, ait, l ,s ivbolos,Lzr6ppota.

' i , i 'a\Ioic,rros ouurr,odl,' :- iy:t" ":,,:,_"1:_:,l l |?(4..

|t 0eo6@pr.rot ipyaora, i1 qauy.aoti1 Xpuoovor|a.

:::- ' :":, :::,nu !ap:d?:uro. ert ro

lporeripe yov ai?s i:;t ivetpi-toA \oyv.

(:1?. l! ,:l-,Xo!*"" ifii2ot.u r2t. iltoyvao* xal lti,tavoti ie, totioov

;r-".::X::.- :o.r. ",::", He para (d.v9,'tots. 3 oo6,as tp7ov t tip qioLr

o,!!(" !o*3r9,, @ aQaouos X.ipts btt*t\ its ixrry<i(ouoa- oi 6,0ouci 6 ooqri.ro..tot.:t i--.:::?.7:. '- i ' ' , ,oo!.t In,- e€,nno.tv., lpeni riy rcA yaxroi t{iuorv xat€ELoXvtDdtv tal l l€\@vory. eis vorcpov |,euraotv. tJte !o:nt-JeBan ir;rq.o.r.-,it l::::: !,!6":E,, re,i rilv,toi ya\.roi ;t;".',. .oZilitzlv: <ire,,-:i:'":

ry:! i,/r.rlt"1:1, ta izro,c.pv6a. p.erd rlv roi ya\roi i(ootr,::: {!-:".:":.i :€t!,oal Xa}\Kou tov idv 6Xou bipovta ; rits t- ilti {,pi, Xe(a

: '"!. "y:r.:1, ::PL,i,:.av. rrv drir ve{etr7s SaSi.louoav '.\6po3itn,. pet,i 17prnv rov XaLtou a€to)otv. .rov.raotrtu ra\. i ts oirovolL.4|eiaav ).ei( ' ,o :y xa\tot

: ! :utpQov€tdav ,Teptorclt tv. .p,eni yap r i lv roA ya)troi JB a,i toA ra,t,r!:l:!^::: ^ ":l-

r_. -t Lv ^c,liroi.pdu

rfr ).eratroearr itiiHeorl", rcai irt rilvalr4koLovdoutav tottoLs ir t6eoouilnv p.\avtav eis io.:e,tou eip4tat \6[aao6rr.

:::,,:1.:.::^!-d:,: (tudaos. 6rav 7,,p-:i1v,i, i:;,i;;;";;;:;iin rxouio,.,::_::::r!:1:,?: F€7a6.peia,-. .xai 6tav eJs \euxoz,r;a tr.,o, pe.ros,p4.ro,.

;: '-:^".: ,"-L:: ' : l ' .9'1ot I oe,)rivn ., ita.uy't(er r, is . irri las. ,6,e ,t",,, ei,;u.ra€pov

^€vKtD6tv, otc itutoy i6,ts t ir.oiv?,ep1. 6te 7jp r\4oiov ae\,1v4;

2:f! -y: :i-i"',':\""' oitis pn'iet t6 6-6,s ...ine' i,pi"i"-i {,i';,o,oc.lrota aurl; eLTe- l0forpovpivl )tcurl. rai z6s rrl leurdy {av\iti izrorct etc:

u After aetri1r.2 U ils€rts d,-u.,o ]r.-ii rd , ?i vn,. . . . .,r For AldaTdl,€, lr lL reads.i , ,err i . /n0.ir .rr See aote8 11. bas rnrt Xolron r irori :nr i 1aA*riv.

Translatiort,tnd Cammerlaty Dy F. Sherwood Tavlor I29

rvhich falls from the moon's u'anilg 13, horv ir is {ound, how it is treated, andhorv it has an unburnt nature. O rvisdom of teach.ilg of such a preparation,displaying the work, O moon clad in rvhite and vehementl.y shiniag abroadwhiteness, let us learn what is the lunar radiance that we mav not miss whatis doubtful. For the same is the whitening snow, the brilliant eye of whiteness,the bridal procession-robe of the management of the process, the stairlesschiton, the mind-constructed beautv of fair form, the whitest composition ofthe perfection, the coagulated miik of fulfilment, rhe Jloon-froth { of the seaof dawn s; the magnesia of Lvdia, the Italiaqgibnlg, the pyrires ro of Achaa,that of Albania, the manl'-named matter of the good rvork, that which lul.lsthe All to sleep, that rvhich bears the One which is the All, that which fulfilsthe wondrous work. What is th.is emaration of the same (moon) ? I will

not conceal it, but wiil display visibly the sought-for beauty. For the emanationof it is the mystery hidden in it, the most worthy pearl, the name-bearingmoonstone, the most gold-besprinkled chiton, the food of the Liquor of gold rr,

the chrysocosmic {8 spark, the victorious rvarrior, the ro}'al covering, the

l:q!llg!,1.e-?qfplq, the most worth! garland, the sulphur rvithour lire, the ruler re

of the bodies, the entire yellow species, rhe hidden treasure, that whicli hasthe moon as couch, that which in the moon is gnostically seen as

;.{.,,.1641;1,.r ';0. For it-!.s__lyhi!9_ as sgen bgt_ l,eLlorv as apprehended,the budcgroom to the ailotted moon, the golden drop (fa-lling) from it, theglorious emanation from it, the unchangeabie embrace, t ite indelible orbir.the god-given work, thc marvellous making of gold, and that I mal'not p:rss

over the sarne, I rvil l return agaiD to the present matter of the discotuse.'After the cleanilg of the copper and its attenuatiqn 4nd !2lackening belorethe latter whitgning, then is the gtatle 1'e!!orl ing ' . O rvork of wisdorn rbove

natu.re wondered at, O unstinted grace amply gushing forth, the \\'isest 5r

is not envious, but clearly displays his e\planation. -{.fter the cieanirg of thecopper and its attenuation and blackening, to the later rvhitening, then isthe solid vellowing. \\ 'hy sa1' you, philosopher, 'after the cleaning ot t lrecopper'? What same (do you mean) ? Speak, tell to us the seqrets of thervork, 'After the cieaning of the copper', and how is one to clean the co14eryet bearing all its ros_? s Horv ? I rvill tell you the accurate meaning ofthe phrase-Apluodite rvaiking through a cloud. 'Alter the cleaning oi thecopp€r', that is a trituration rvell managed, a consideration $cll taughtbeforehand; 'A{ter the attenuation of t ire copper', that is a hner conditionof trituration, he also speaks of the blackness placed upon it and iollorvingupon these for the purpose oI the later whitening : then is the soli<! l,ellos ing.For rvhen it shall sprrrn the blackness of the rvrinkled crust s, it is transformedto whiteness; then the moola.i-rl:tdUg-lrglrt shail send forth the ravs; then(one comes) to the later whitening, when you shail see the $'hite comprlund.For rvhen the full of the moon appears, then the full noon discloses its light.Then solid is the yellorving. \Yhat is this ? Sa1'. The whiteness perceived..{nd horv do vou render the white yellorv ? Ye \sisest of men, ovcr-prss thc

130 Alchemical lVorhs of Stefhatos of Alexandria:

ri ao$riraror.. irepBaiver, )toyopiv, rcito rpitsr,ov iorw ti ipritlpa. pvorucil)ri(ts rci I iri,oretlrr.s, i1,b $pdoa rd p.uor4ptov i d.t6qv$ov raflds )v6';p.,ipiv trpo\,ixer:ar,' pe:li,. r)1v toO ya'lt roi i{i.aotv xai i(ioXvactv rai pi\.avoweis iarepov ),eiraar,v, tdre Eotat peBai,o ltiv\acc. 6re i31s rilv lttop&t7v)teirc<ootv tvSov airi ls, irtYivaoxe tiv zrp.Kena\vpFirnv lt iv1aotv. :6te(ov|lv vier, rjv \,eiraov oi,oav, rote rdi \.evxl oico, (o,v1oi Etd,.tt)v iv airitd,ziorer pv pltivrlv (,iv?ono,|r,i

'it ipBateJetu airfis tti tfit rapbias ptifu 6i

ti ivoapov EXew n)u rfis \2a )teJroow. rai ipp4rros iv ai,tf r)v fiv\aow\nirovoav. te SeBaia 6orat (iv1aots ttoia; i1 ltvoplvl \,eurl. ait4 iotiv\ lov9t1. atq piv 16 7p6paru tevxi gatverar. i1 3i $r)oc lau04 inipyet.,oi6iv izo)'i)..enrtat. oi,|iv iorepei- zr).i1v rils ve$i\1s xai ro0 iiaros i1 d.pots.p),izers rdl d.pyainarov. oiy ip6.s ti d.re6,juato 6 oo$its; otra< a,iu i.rteta t<is tel,erlars. oitas izre$ivato ,Jrc ra0'7y4i7s ti zri,u d,to6eirvvor, ).iyav, oiiiv{nro)'.ll,e rtrat. oi,|tv iorepei, rt rv tfis ve$lLns rai toi tiatos i1 dpoc.|ei(as tv rcwE i1v rcA SXov kdaa6 &euiv t ,i'roEous 3r' i\iyov ti tiv, iva p,)zoIXT U,rp xaraatio1re ir. rvoitp<va, i'vo p,i Kc\,*las tiv t<poxov. xatriraTa).Lr8os Botdu4 rai t i f l6nov ainois 16.. xai.rdv dLt<rv itr6v,7ot"i1srerpat6Sav tcai t<vrrldt,av rvdv. \,iloy re ,cai Perfit)t<ot $|aprr,x6v vorjoont,tit tfis :-e\.eaovpllrcit &ai tvr,rfis nai prar fudeers rd. iv6poo,, iua p.i1r\.avn9ivres dv9parot ittoctiot, rtls d),11ei,ac. iva p)7 i;.L ris fuotrisi'rap(eos ,ivira,pxtov Sui9eoo pe#l|ocu. ri )roct6v; 6 iloy-.raro: rcaitt iorls dpetfis odpBovXos, repuiyav aitois rai brrav rpits ritv -rf is d\,1ietascrcorov, iva pi1 6c dQry eis ri\rrds Kapiyovq rai SLoplanapoit iLe\.6v,ipBiruv,XtotaSray ruiov tcoi nlporari,Satv ,<ni ai?ti\.av. rcai oi e is ri, ,ronAttitaoTo\olpeuor, eis revdv ainots 6 toA rcaptirov rovoc i(a1opetifi. i\X' 6pardr iv rfi $pdoet i zr6,v i.z,et:\tipaoey. oriStr dzo\e),e nrtat. oi.,biv iorepetr)ti1v rfis vebl),1s rai toA iiatos i1 d.pots- rolo, veQ.;)q; ehi. rts I ve$cX4rai t t i i{ ah'1s ircre},oipevov tpyov; 6ei(oy i lpiv $avep6rara, 6zrositrqvacripe9o roA \,it1ov t)1v 8,jvapr,v. rai rpits taAta ri {rldaooos. r,edi},4ioriv, toA 6\,ou ovv9ipato; ip1ov, i1 }ti toi ectov JScros ral,6s iroo-rir.-Bovoa. i1 tp$v6ts rlv \,tito,rtv ztoLtTcap,iv'1, i1 oixovolttx,is $auopev4. ratvotltits rarat apBavoptu 4. *e(l,t1 ioriv i1 rfis ipyaolar i(ti.r)"ao c. i1ithreSos ittbiveo, i1 lpyvptivlros otripav, i1 iepoi$atros rcplz.\,|t4. i1Kdtrt x) vipios, ro '.{r}.oytrrdv ri\.ayos. i Bpertawtil i,lia\tros. i, ore$a-vtircooltog rireavis, fi ip&pryos iipuaoos,,i o$arpitpop$os rcrio6, tit oi.tpirrova'6pa, I t rau r.oltyovoa rat zepi.apB,ivovoa, alti ri eiios "rit d.ti1tt1tov.i1 zto9ovy.ir1 0,apia, ri l,poipetov e&p.a, ti> tv 6).ov xai 6p.ov Ev. rj iepi)eixo'ots roi ,tam6': rtF,iou tpYou. $ 5x1 tcataorcev,1, td ivezrlo.qpot ip16y:-,.ri ovpripncpa iil ovplt\"1lp6oeos, rri \elcodir rai ra),r,rs oixovopn|iv, to

1r II. has ( io place ol ) .

Trauhtion and. Comnenlaryt Dy F. Shenvood Taylor 131

reasoning, this-alLswe,r is a sec!e,t, a mystic speech and consideration' I lvill

tell you the hidden mystery, whence it is proclaimed above you "{fterthe cleaning of the copper and its later attenuation and the blackering for

the later whitening, then is the solid yellowing.' \lhen you see the wilitening

taking place within it, recognize the concealed yeliowirg, then know the

rvhitenlng as being yeltow-;-hen also being white, it becomes yellorv by the

hidden yellowness, by possessing the dePths of its heart, by having the

corporeal possession of the whiteness of the si.lver and, unutterably, the

pen'adiag whiteness in it. 'Then is the solid yellowing.' What is this l

That which has become rvhite, ir is the vellow For the same white aPPears

in the colour, but the yetlow nature overrules it. 'Nothing is leit remaimng,

nothing is left behind except the vapour and the raising of the water'6'

Consider-the mo:t arcient one 56. D,Q you not see what the wise man has

declared ? Thus he speaks in riddles as completela a! possible Thus he

deciaris, as a teacher demo[strates everything, sa]'ing ' nothing is left remaining'

nothing is lacking, except the vapour and the raising of the water' Haring

shown in this the preparation of the whole, rendering all in few words, that

ye may not overwheim the moving things with much matter, that ye may not

think about saffron of Cilicia 5t and the Plant o{ anagallis;8, ard the Pontic

rhubarb 5e for themselves, ard of other juices, gail 60 of quadrupeds and cerlain

beasts. of stones and of destructive minerals, things that are dissimilar to the

perfection-making, single and qng,qature, that men rvandering shail not be

ied aruoy from the truth, in order that in a natural existence they shaLl not

seek for a non-existent tendency. \lihat else ? The most eminent malr and

counsellor of all virtue turns them around and drarvs them to the view ol trutil,

that you may not, as I said (take note of) material furnaces and aPParatus

of glasses, alembics, various 8asks, kerotakides and sublimates' Jn t-l ose

whp a'e occupied-E{h sueb Lhirrgs in vain, the burden of rveariness is declared

by them 6r. But see how the .{l l is fulf i l led in the Phrase. ' \othing is left

remaining, nothing is iacking save the vapour and the raising of the rvater'

\\'hat kind. of vapour ? Sa1'. \\'hat is the lapour and rvhat is the rvork brottght

to p€rfection bl it ? Shorv us most ciearl)' the rvav in rvhich rve mat recoqnizc

the power of the word. And on tllis matter the philosoplter sa|s; ' t-tle laportr

is the work oi the composition of the whoie'6!, that rvhich shines brightl l '

tlrrough the diline rvater 8, that which makes the triruration nilturall!', tL'rt

which appears in the course of the method, and is apprehended intcllectuailr ' 6r

The vapour is the unfolding of the rvork, the lelei tnanifestation the thread

bought with sih'er, the air-displaf ing vo-vage the Celtic nartls, the '{t lanticsea, the Britannic metal 66, tlte ocean garlandilg tite rvorld, the unmeasured

j$yss, the sphere-shaped universe, the heavenlv bodv' that \\'bich encompasses

aa<1 embraces the all, the despised species, the longed-for contcmplation the

sought-for spectacle, the one rvhole and whole one, the holv whitening of

the rvhole worthy worli, the wholc preparation' ths 6nq rvork of rvisdom, tite

conclusion of the fulfilment, that which is triturated and rvell managed the

L32 Alchemical l|/orl-s oJ Stzlhatos of Alexatdria:

rc-Xeiuc .r. l,1pa9iu. oiSiv .1t'tp Ltot iXenrrat. rtr, iv t is ve$Ot4s rai toAt}arcs i,dpor. rdu rris veddl.ls aa66c i6o617n0ivres.q tpthrov- itti rjv toiJ,6atos.doaw perc\tiori yov ,r6v

\,61ov. t i d,pa'eoi toi-.o 16 iralitpevov ; 1;ic1aov vad,ros au74 a)olti eLT6 (tt KaArn1ra r,\np.Ddoy ooA ti ls yupttos :-asSapeds' rar.a,4aoov i1p6v tis ipp)tv6ruvs r6pac, oa$fivoov r,)i ,:oi Xoloutvap9pov oioracLv, ttt. i1 toi Jtatog aitrT ipor,s; 'xai repi roi-rov i irdre al.tir4otv' ebtev.,ti ,ipr1is. ru).).oe ij),4r oiy inroiiye:.at.'i di:l..os oiola.21f t\rl pEv a6.tl KaL ouuae|ot. ao y,upr,tov-v1t.ov.,foi-to,i7a,06v. g6.s ]dp lrapyovo-ioiar, eis tawiv ouotit\,eraq repi ain)u iuan;aietar,22 r)v piav ailr)viositypottor,ovs 6l,ars orir ivri9erat irp<i6as.3, d,t;oBut riv Ei iXnielv iuv i,e ughavtjv ;3lav dro9eita, t6v itbdtav ti.s idoec. t6ts yip ionv aifis' ibiiv tlvrttt lotv. p) oiras.'taAta irooetoapiv|t; oi 6ivatai t is arir4s i ltt;\-1o|fivat,ei.p) tp6tov i l ipn ir ' aitf is ra rtpnroteior:o i jSata. 6;i oiu ,nyos..ynuabr-t7v rois Eaor,, p)1- i,i,v ai.,triu Ennp.ov. ir.,t pj. dm{peva|i, ira pi 6;;! d.6,\ltt"v, rpc, rL TlJ u.lpa oLdLa erv.fp@s atoyelv1l. i\\.,dpapev dr' ait is riv t ituvOal@v li€ptoxt.v, ivd, Aed,o@!t.d& rorl rrjl,lous aii15 rlv to\\,i:v eio,trriav.trits oiu tilv toi iioros dpow zrou\c6ye0a; 16r d,tcioop.ev ir tfis roi tEarc9petovoias: :nros airnv Snotioopev,-|va oira; eiyep6s toi itatos ^livltatdoas', ztavotl, ias ypil raL ivbpala9tos. t,.s irori i trpig roiro; ,r9 Srro.ro"if, ipat. i1.v t.) 'r l l tuvpi.(ovo av 16v J.}itol.v &a3po1:.4v ; t is ottas el.,plo,cerrtrp6s ivrioraou; -rr; lt pos Sldtoviav eirperiletu; eipqtat I ei|,vola nAT p1,l.patos-. iva Sarcpits. i6oy-ev rrli. vc$e't,qr tiTv ritpatotlta. ai,.r1 io)u ,j 6td,toi,leiou Epr etpos,1rapirt.na:;. ttorep f p i 6i tov t|a os it:'t vti iorwpdlrorXuots, c rat& tai dd, 9etov d.rori|apor toi zravrds 1[verat. 'tois :.dp9eiots i,6"ow i.rot),ivovtes uiu rc,,i xa\,its oi,cor opqo avtes, trtixLv 6d rupisrar, 0eiou <iro'cadapiooy,eu. iua ,iztoxa\.u$0i1 ro rris ( o,;p.u, i 'va i iu'uev'1),rriSarpoz

3l ve$e)qv. d oo$ias ?eoi d.ver$paora uuot4paa. ri r\ovoiatbapcai tois rnarl,<ott t itv <iptov. d B,r1os3: zr\oirou ,cai oo6ras xaL.lt rDo€("r pvo.t4prdv. e-i r.d, rapduta totoira |auptaoti rai i(aioLa,' z.otard,td, aiovLa,-E oJS,ets- L'oA; .i(47,joao|at .6,jvarar, ei tb Evu)',ov iplov ,ip'p4tn tui)t o1a totoirou .iyi, $",lverar. totanrd.. rd i,r,jpara dya9i *ii ,)ri(ryr|.oororri\I4, & oriDeis ioX.r.ier 0.edoaa0a4.bpv6 tai rpoorvvit *ai 6o(oXiy,it oe.rpias

-inrepouore tai bt.epilade xai

^iripd.e;, ris t:!<rreir, Birorat ipits' i,pvou

titv.9av4aciav aov. t is ipela\,iv11. ir tpya oov, tciprc, n)vta'iv o'o$iq,effotn6a9.

1r ]L- . . . . r i b i ; r tot ' tyot i t '1o: , . . . .

" \1.- i t t , iwqSa'r . ' . . . .

' t I - i ,ar" t . ' r . . . . .! )!.---ri. pri ic r.

n M.- iz i ,o c.x ]I.-;u?r'.3r lv!.-irtrrr0olor.I t l l . - , i r i0our. . . .

Trauslatiott dtd Comuzr ary Dy F. Sherwood Taylor 133

periectiy fulfilled. 'For nothing is lelt remaining escept the vapour and theraising of the \yater.' Haviag been wisely led on the path rvith respect to thewav oI the r.apour. I rvi1l pursue my speech upon the raising of the rvater.lvhat then is this rvhich has been brought in ? What is this ra.ising of thewater ? Tell us, O guide ; fulfil the gifts of thv grace. Enlighten ourdirn-sighted eyes, make plain the articulate subsrance of your doctrine, whatis this raising of the water ? And he is not si.lent on this matter: he says,the unmixed beauty does not receive into itself matter 6?. The immaterialbeing, it is a single composition, the good thing of a ml,riad lames. Forbeing of a single essence, it is reduced inro itself. .{round it, it extinguishesthe single ray 08. He does not rvholly put in the moistening juices. For hedid not perceive the loss, the life of the liquids. For he rejects the flowingsof the water. For horv is one ro see the motion of thar which does not shakeofI these things ? Nothing is able to be fiIled full of it, uniess fust the ambienrwaters are drained dry from it. It is therefore needful that it should beswimming on the water, if it be nor itself ryater!, ; that ir ma!, not be taught,that it may not be able, (to vanish) from us, that it mav remain morsr ioa moist being. But we remove from it the embrace of the waters that wemay see the great come[ness of its beauty. Horv shall rv_e push Lbgqk fromthe pqlq_icipation wirh the ivaters ? How shall we separate it, that there maveasily be a raising of the rvater ? There is need of panopl1.. and courage.Who is man enough for this ? Who is able to dry up the overllowing srreamof wlters i Who is to be found for the contest ee ? Who is readv for service ?There is {ound a purgation of rhe matter, so that we may clearl!.see the beautyof the cloud. The same is the practical gentle coction bv means of sulphur.For just as the washing with water is in the mind 6r, so also is the purificationof the -\tl by sulphur ?0. For washing with the divine (sulphurous) rvatersnow and managing the process fairly, we prrify it again by hre and sulphur,that the bodv of the moon (or siiver) may be revealed, that they may see thecloud the gift of tire sun 7r. O unspoken mysteries of a wise God, O rich gftsto those who have loved the Lord, O depth of rvealth and wisdorn and gnosisof the mysteries. If the present thilgs are such man'els and exrraordinarv,from what sourcc are everlasting things which no mind is able to explain IIf the material rvork is displayed thus_to us by some unspeakable discourse,from wh4! lgu.rce are tlly undeiled good, and !.ufading beauties, which no oneis capable of gerceiving ? I hymn and adore and glorify thee, triad $rperiort9 being, more than good and more than god. \!ho can speak forth to hvmnthy man'els, that thev mav be glori.fied ? All thy works, O Lord, thou hasrqrade ia wisdom.

134 Alchemicql lVorks of Stephanos of ALenurdria :

BlBLrocR.{pH1..

I V. Berthelot, Ortr,t s dz t -llchir ie,Pais, 1885, xi.ii, 1O0, rtpassln.. H. Kopp, Bcilrcig. itr Geschi.hte d..r Chirni., pp. +37 fr.t KiAd, Pault-ltissoua. Real-Enclcwdd,tr, 3. -{. n, p. 2+04.. BusseEaker, Rctuz da Phtlologic, i, 1845, 415.5 Dietz, Scholia in Hiwoctal.rn.t GoLrrn, i, 1, Preface, xi\.6 I(. Kruobacher, Gas.hichtc dcl Byzantixischcn Liu./atur,2e .\udage, p.621. Illttler,

H ard,buth d,* Klass, A L.- W iss . 9 , i.)1 Use0er, IId. L.cl. Bonn, 1879, D. St.phano.,llezatd.rino, BotrD, lSEo.I v. LippEaD!, Etlrs& hung und, !4t sbrc*uLt dcr .llchinic, i, 201.

' v. Lippmann, op. cit., i, I03 fr.to Il. Berthelot, Collection d.s A ti.ns .Tlchin stts Grers, iii, i7E d. T[il $ork is

relerred to berea{ter as Cotle.lion.It Edifion oI 1371, p. 354.tt The oature oI the supposed hjatus io ttre flSS. of the ointh lecture of StephaDos

is oI importa.ncc for esrablishiDg tbe dliarion of the fISS., aud has beetr the subject ofcoDtroversy. Beftbelot, Collectn , i, p. 179 h. ; Reitz€nstei!, 21$ C.s.htcite det -.ltchenzurtd des fI),stt2isrnLs, ir\ the \aclrichten dc, htl. Gesctlschajt dr, tvisse,tschait.n 2 Gijuikg.x,Phrl.-htst. Kla"sse,.19f9, pp. 1-37; O. Lagercraotz, Cutalolue de flannscr;ts Atchimiques

t3 The text oI ]IS. Jlarcianus Gra,cus 299 (r. p. 116) digers ia a telv niDor respectsIrom that of ldeier.

rr ar{r},ou. Not in the lexicons coDsulted.rt rcyropi1. The rvord has almost invariably the scose ot circunclsion 'r. H. Kopp, op. cil., p..139, Dote 92, gives the title as: C. c. CruEer dissertatrooem

inauguralem viri ci. C. G. Gesqe. . . . . habeadam iDdicit. Jeoa, 1?77.

'? ]I. Berttrelot, Oitin.s .le l .llchir ie, p- 105.13 I am glad to be able to express my tbaoks to Pro{essor J. R. partiogton for his

courtesy in allowitrg nrc to consuit his cop)'.It TIre loUo\eiDg rrorks cootain Pizzimeoti s translation oithout tlrc \!ork of Stephlnos:(1) .\ntonii ]lizaldi lloniuciani Calli, Uedici, tlemorabilivD, sivc -\.canor\m omnis

generis, p€r .{pho.ismos Dig€storum. Centuria l\. Et Dcmolntus Abderita, Dc rcbusNaturalibus & llysticis. Cum SlDesii, et Pelagii Commentanis. IDterprete de crnLaliDgua, Domidco Pizimentio \:iboaensi, Italo. . . . Colonie, -\pud JoanDem Ilirckmaunum.{trso D.} l .LXXII.

(2) Joh. Joach. Becberi D. . . . Opuscula Ch).mica llanora .{ddita nova prefationeac Itrdice locupletissiDo rDultisque Iiiguris .eneis illustrata, a Friderico lioth-scboltzio. siles.This work coDtains nea! tbe end :-

Democritus -\bden'ta Gr&cus De Rebus Sacris \aturaiibus et llvsticis. Cum \otisS].aesij et I'elagii. \orioberga -\pud Haredes Joh. DaD. Tauberi. lI.DCC.\\'IL

(3) Fabricius Bibliotbece Grac:c volumed Octavum, Hamburg. llDccli\lt, coDtaiDsSvaesius de -{rtc }[agna in Creek lvith the Latin traoslation oI pizimcDti.

30 see oote .1r J. Ruska, . .1ld)tsche . l lchcmister, (Heidetberg, 192+1, i , J2 n.13 Berthelot, Orignrcs dc Ll lchirnie, p. 205.

Translalion ard Commen)ary @ F. Sherwood Taylor -tJJ

rr dtiorr, traasiated herei^ as natr., is the chiet scieotifc coDceptiod ot Greel -{lcb€rDy.Tbe gi,ors of a body is in the philosoPtic sensP- that cornbinotiotr of lh. jour el.rnc ts uhich.hara.his.s it and gi|,.s ris. to ils PtoPcTti.s.

The notion of ttre datures of the metais and tbeir irterplav is fouod in the earliestalcbemical *.orks. Hermes is said to have \Tittea a book oB Th. \a!Lr.s, ard i.o the lvorkattributed to Isis ve 6o.l allusion to tbis concepoon In tle plysrra .l ,Vysli.a ofDemokritos these ideas ale developed and rve liod the phrase, so much quoted by late!autbots, I l giors rf i gioer t ipnttur, xai i t gi t t ts r i lv q,"r,

- .4. xai I giots r lv 6iau'

ripurei-'The Nature rejoices iD tbe oature, tbe nature coDquels tbe Dature aDd tbeDature dodioates the !ature'. The phrase is probably later tbaD the practicel part oI Itie work of Demokritos (Sbenvood Tallor, -lmbit, i, 1937,38, 39) but is of considerableadtiquity. S''oesios,attnbutes it to Otlegeg the leputed,oater ol Deookritos. Tbeiotroductioa to the *or\ of Isis also contairs the phras€. DedolTitos is also quoted assayiug that ' The nature takiDg otr the proper opposite quality becooes soiid aud 6xed,dominating and domirated' ; be also speaks of the oature of a substaoce beir]g tutlldout\tard' or ' tumed i!\r'ard . Io tbe alchemical rvorks the $ord seeErs to deaote veryoearlt.that

"" trouid ioday call tbe properoes of a substance- In the uD.iou o{ t\vo Eetals,

lvhea alloyed, there digbt b€ a strife bet\leen the sets of properties of the t\eo i-o whichone was conquered. Thus *ben silver and copper \rere alloved, the shite 'Datute' of tbesilver overcame the red ' nature' ot the copper. Tbe tratures miSht a.lso bleDd &s iq themaking of a Solden-bro\rn alloy from coppe. aod ti-o: here the nature of coppe. mightbe thought to blend yr!! o.L:lgigfqcf4 ' that ot tbe aUo].rng substance (., J. R- Pattin$o4 |'The Discovelv of Bronze', Scimria,Oct. 1936. 198). The word giarr $as widel-v applied\in tbgclog.tr qt tle time of StepbaBos, rvhen cont.oversy as to tI9_I9b!94_91 lhq !!!SeS Iald divioe 4a!rr"s of Chrisl was a bumiog question in Byzatrtiudr. This applicatioo ofthe \\'ord sas probably preseDt to the Erind ol Stepbados ill s'Trtiog these passages.

i 'ti, rdy: ' The -\ll . This phrase occurs cootinur.lly in Creek .\lcberDv andpb.rlosophy ard appears to apply to the totality of things. Tbe assertion, Ev ri ra-v, fouodiB the Chllsop@ia of Kleopatra aDd impl!'ing a siDgle Udtv underlviig a.ll oature, is acentral doctnoc of .\lchemy.

n' ! t ;d iporot oapo.. . . t 'O disembodied bod] ' ' . Thc h. t2 l . $e'e sa' id n Greek ]-{lcherlry to possess a bggf_ggllgl, though it is hald to say holv {ar this sas believed'to be auegorical, aDd bow Iar a matte! ot tact. The !e.e!4jge!!_y35$9_Uy4A body aad,soul Its appareDt destructioa bJ cbeloical leage_ng;lvislhg jepalatiqD of t!: soul-themetallic proterties-from the bodv, \vhicb $a-s said to die. The metals \rere 'diselrbodied'io a chemrcal reaclion and their destruction, tritb its accompalyi"og blacLeoiDg aad dis-iotcgration, sas considered to be the death ol the metal. The dead ltetal (ilq realitysome comPouDd) could be revivided (reduced once more to metal), *heoce tbe olt-rePeatedaphorism'Unlcss lou disembody the bodies aod embo<Iy tbe dis€EMied, that Nhich tse-\pected \a'r]l oot takc place . The psychological iDterpretatioo oI thjs is obvious ard$as lro doubt prescnt to the miqd of StephaDos. (\ote sr).

!' I'!' or, eiios : ' geDus, species . Thes€ terms ald their applicatioo i! Greek .{lcbemyhave beeD dbcussed at leDgth by It. Stephaaides ('La Naissatrce de la Chi$ie', s.i?rria,]tar. 1922, )r'od, t89). T\e gcnera appear to hal e b€en metals rvhictr had a proper lature(9idu), the sPr.irs were subsbDces such as stooes, salts, etc.: the,v $ere oot Mies(a!pcro) aud had oo prop€r nature. The system is Norked out iD soEe detail by' Philosophus AnoD]'mus' (\'lII ceDt.), but lris explaoatioo of the te.DiDology seeEsaot altogetber to tally rvith the usage of earliest alchemists.

t7 Ociov ittvpput. This term (usua.lll. ,inr'p", )is used b!'Dioskurides aod Plilli, andmeans 'na@@]g'. lt is mucb used itr the alchemical texts ald chemical papy'riaDd its Eeaning is usually as above, tbough its nreDtioB b]'Zosimos as a \\'hitening a8etrtIoay iodicate orpimeat.

136 Alchcmical ll'orks of Stcbhauos of Alerandtio..

" lkcuti(ouoa. ]{ot in the le..dcoos coosulted.,, Eiup'.ap,l.. Not io lexicons consulted. Piz. translates as arrr,rdir.10 Id. \pw6ppogot: \1., Xpuoopt4ot. The irord app€ars to have thc meaniog gol./dr-

rool.d. Piz. traoslates tbe passage, O auri luets cal.stis fons. The \\.ord occurs agaE(p. 124), Nhich s€€ms to render improbable the cotclusion that it is a copvist s error forXttuoi^ogov or ytu,ogt;!tut ,

t\ Piz., auraam garans casai.m.r! The dispute as to whetber it lvas bv means oI several species (eii1) or b-,- ooe atone

tbat the mystery lvas accomplished is obscurely argued iB several alchemical texts, nota.bl],'O! !h9-.1s:9m!!IJ!l!9.lEie!g!!gE pertberot Ca cctiott, ii 35, 18) ard . Ttat tbe Speciesis Compound and not Siagle and lr'bat is its ManagemeBt' \ibid.,272-273). The former,a fraglreot, atEibutes to The Philosophet-Desrokritos--the vielv that a single spc,ciesis employed: the latter iDdicates that s€veral ingredients are required. In rms passagc,as itr the dialogues of Kleopatla,Jhg5rlgle gaqld<Lhilg> lrould seem rattrer to De somcsupra-r!aterial universal entit_v.

t lt"0{t u;irotl. \ot in leKicons consulted. Piz., ... ubi , o alc corp(s i,mrrortale/.ddidzrit.

tr \ltyt4ait. Jio conccpt iD .llchemy is more complex tbaD tbat of _ltagrrsid. The$ord is used more than a hundrcd times in Creek alchemical texts, and its lature redainswholly obscure. Pl3)| (H..\:., ncxvi, 25) distinguishcs livc kinds of na{,r?r (quotingSotacus). They are ol t\r'o kinds, 'male'and ' female '. Those of llagnesia in ]lacedoniaare red aDd black, the B@otian stones are of a reddish tint_ That of the Troad is blackand' sine viribus ' (destitute oI attractive po*er). That of ltagnesia in -.lsia is rvhite, doesDot attract iron ard resembles pumice. The best kinds nere somenhat bluish. ThcEthiopian sas the b€st oI a.ll. These substances, rvith the exceptiotr of the Droriucts of thcT.oad and ft4goesia in.\sia, alt @g1gqc-oi-,ie ofF;-o: ff. c. uait.-,-,TIG Eldcr Pl . l t r 's Chapt.r t o1t Chcntral Srbtc t rLondon. 19j . l r , -pp. . ]+U-jsr l t

The alchemical llagDesia seems to have no rcsemblaBce to plin), s ,,agnrj. Thesubstance refe[ed to could be reduced to a nretal $hich resembled ,molvtxloch.lkor'

(probably a lead- or antimony-{opper auoy). flagncsia rvas to some c.xtent volati.lizedby heat, tor $e hear o( ' mercury from magnesia'. The ' body oI magDesia , the metal{note t5) obtained by its reductioq, was said to be equivalent to tbe . tetra"soEia ' or allovof the four base mctals.

.\ll the paisages referriDg to magnesia are e\ceedinglv arcanc and obs:urc: se neednot suppose tbat all the commentatoni had any llear notion ol its nature. Stephanos

\

here seems to ideltify it with the unive.sal nature underlying the \lhoie univcN_rr Xpuaorogillor lXf'voo.op.1\X@ ,. The mcauDg of this Nord is doubtful. .\ recipe

of Demokritos (B€rthelot, Coll.clior, ii, ++,.t) prcpares 'chrvsocorallos reduccd to metal ,

..1, red gold may b€ intended, for its composirion includes coppcr. Chr\.socorallos itselfis prepared iD a verv complex recipe (B€rthelot, Cotleetrc,t, ii,56, 16r. It docs nor appearto be a metal, but a pigment or coral-like omamental matcrial. 'Ihc jense aDDears toiadicate a material superior to gold.

t. Oey7rr4r. The word does Dot occur elselrbere iD the Greek alchernrcar re\rs.lo cLassicel [terature (Plioy, Suetonius) a hatd stonc, possibly onvx marble. seems to beitrtauded (K. C. Bailey, o2. cit., p. 268J. :io doubt Stephaoos uses the \vord as equivaleotto ' EooDstoDe '.

rt The odd oumber, oDe, the oatural modad, was tbe source of all in the p\thaqoreao

philosopby oI Stephatros. See begilrnirg oI Lecture tI, p- 127, aad else\.he.e.t Piz,, lan s.dilion* .tiornino s.ilLs.

Trarskdiort. a,td Cornmanlar),0_v F. Shenvood Tavlor l3Z

rf The reading A€ya),io (geTnlei<r) is supported bv piz. rvho translates uagtaua..o Th'loughout the somewhat obscure passage rvhjch follorvs Stepbanos rs making the

Foint that everlthing, ho*eve. complex. is derived from a sirrp,la source. -\11 numbersale derived from the monad t ; all ligures from rhe eenrre; all music lrom the srngleinstrument; all light lrom a single light, presumablv the sun. The plav on porqr, rnemonad, and p6y€.y, to reoain, is emphasized by italics.

- rr 6it raauv as printed by [deler appeaE to give better sense than trdrqrirl as grsen

b]' lI. The passage appea8 to be corlupr... Xayauirtes. Not in lexicons consulted, and here taken as vcrb from \rXrrJr.f! zosimos quotes this phrase as cmanating from Hermes (Beftherot, cottectiorr,

125, r0) :-'For what does Hermes interd lrhen he agair presc.ibes that $hich falls from the

wanirg of the moon, rvhcre it is found and \rhere it is tleated and holv it has an unbumtnatlre I '

The passage contirues with a discusson of the analogy of maglesia to the moon anda cornparisoo ot its volatilization or liqueiaction to the \vaniDg of the moon.

'. ,\epod.r,1rct. -{phroselenon is mentroDed solr|e tn?nty times in thc alchemicalcorPus. It appears to bea. three senses. Fi6t is tbat of a soft $hite mrnerai such asselenite or mica. In this sense the $ord is used by Dioskuddes (\.. l5E). Secondlv it isused for a substaoce capable of \r,hiteninq metals. perhaps arsenic trio\ide obtarne.l br.subl imat ion (Berthelot , Cot lect ion, r i , 166.7: 3Oi, l+) . Finau], Zosimos rcqards i t rsberng a compouDd of , \phrodi te l |enus, copper) and Selene ( tbe l loon, s i l \ .er or mercunl .

rn this passage stephanos is probablv usr.g the term on account of its connection sith themoon and \rhiteness.

$ It is uncertain $hether;d(r is to be takeo reith the preceding lvords, as is indicatedby Idele!'s punctuation, or uith those \lhich follo$ it accor(ling to the punctuttion ofu.

r' flqir4s. Pi.rites is frequently mentioned in alchemicai recipes, though it is hardto reconcile properties of tbe moderr minerals knorvn bv that name \!ith these. Zosimos,quoting -Lgathodairnon, states that 'pv.ites is a generar term for \r'hite and blood-corouredstones . The .{chean ald -{lbanian varieties a.re oot mentiooed by earlier alchemical

t7 Xptto{,Lprot, 'Liquor of Gold ,, is mentioned abolrt a dozen t imes i ! the aichemicaltexts. In the \vork ol Demokritos lBerthetot, Cottectiok, ii, p.45, U. 10, t7l r. maJ_ repre_sent ii) a r..ello\lr varnish, (iil a liquict coDtaining sutphides and capable of givrng a gotdeDtint to silve! or other auoys (Shenvood Tallor. .-\ Suney of Gieek -{lcb-emv,, /orrr,alol Hcttentc Shdics, l (1930), l3o).

rt \pvoutooyos. \ot in lexicoDs consuited... 'I\orpcilp. Not in lexicons consuited.50 The fo.mula. contains t$o letters or symbols \,hich do not appear to be a part of the

ordinary Creek alphabet. These svmbols are not included in tfre tist given in ll. andrepnnted by Be.thelot lcouectio,t, i, l0.f ff.) or bv Zuretti (Alctlemistica Signa, Caraloglade ]lanus.rits -ltchimiqucs Grecs, viii, 19321_ These are reproduced by, Idelr lv meansoI the Coptic letter C{, but the idertifcahoD is doubtft'Il.

Pizimenti omits the formula and translates , qui irr lrna lid.ndi scnsu perclrttur ,_.t This is artributed to-{gathodaimor in the te:(t ll.ni :,i irt rai.(t "coi p|ils iio4s

ri ;6Xr4 le,\ . i141er., I tdoes notseemtooccurinthe te \ ts ol or quotations Irom Denrokriros.ID tlre above text ei;a,\eurriary is in ptace of io' i,rreoo, ,\r,!r-ou giren bv Stephaoos.The possible chemicar sitnitrcance oI this procedure is discussed bv the rvriter erservnere(Sher\\ood Ta)'lor, of. cit., t33, 133).

138 Alclrcmical lVoths of Slelhatos of Alexatdria:

tt 1. r., DerDokritos-6'li": Ios. The conception of ios is important iD Greek.\lchemy. In noo-chemical

$orks it bears the s€nse oI rust otneron. Ir the chemical papvri thc meaning seems to besifiply 'rerdigns or other incrustadon on a corroded metal. This is also rts most usualsense in alchemical texts. The removal oI ios or cieaoiDg of metal was termed i:lirrrr.JIaria and Zosimos used the term ios almost in the sense oI ri?rriral ertpourld. The notiooof the potency of the metal being present in the ios in the same $?y as that of the snakeis in its venom seems to occur and is affirmed by the use of the rvord itr the s,'rnbols ofthe Chrysopceia of Kleopat.a. (Berthelot, Co .ction, i, 132, 133; Shenvood Taytor,Arnbir, i, 43 i J. R. Partington, ' The Discover]- of Bronze', Sci.ntia, Oct. 1936, 198.)

..'Pr,'.ri,r. 'Puris, ttrinhle, may conceiYably be an elror tor ftcrs, tiquirl. p.tz.translates as sordis- Tle papyrus Ebers speaks of the u,ri1*led mtsl (of siag o! oxide)lvhich torms on melted copper (J. R. PartingtoD, Ortgtrs anri De|:elotne t ol .4pftiedCh.mistr!, p. 191).

t: Demokritos, Ph|sics et )Ijslica, !29 (Berthelot, Callcclion, i, p. 53, l. 12). Thequotation is no! exact. Demokr:it6 has i,;rlrirerar ; Stephanos, iroltler;r;rlr.

5t /. r., DcEokritos,67 Krlrrics ritv rpiror. The r';ord rnriro., sat'ftun, \r^s used in tbe alchemical texts

in such a rvay as to make it plobable that in manl' iostances safiron was empio-vcd asa yellow dye liquo! which was used to stain a metal, altersards to be lacquered. Thepmctice sunived to the seveDteenth century; 4 John Donne. Elegia l'III, TheCorllpalisoD,

'Ard Like vile lying stoies in saffroned tinde.'

Safiron ol Cilicia is meDtioDed b_\, Pliny (H. N., xxi, 17, 6) as the best variety.In some passages rpriras may represent a mineral lcf. r/oar.s ,rcrlis:felric oxidel.

Demokritos irl oBe passage savs 'SaffroD has the same action as the vapour'..r Arc7o,\Li8os 13otitn. "f}le lvord is usuall-v trauslated 'pimpemel' (Dioskurides, ii,

209). It is mentioned, apparentll,' as a ,vello\.r' dye-plaot, b!' Demokritos i! passages frorEhis lost $orks quoted by Si'Desios (Berthelot, Collection, i, 66, 9) and Zosimos (ibid., L60,7).Its cbaracter as a d_lre-plant is cond-rmed in its meation with maDy such plants in a listin the work of ]Ios€s (ibid., 3cE,2+). Synesios quotes Dedokritos as spea'[ing of ' the noNerot the aDagallis irhich has a blue flo$er'. Svdesios had little understanding of the earlvtechnical processes o{ Demokr:itos. and explains tbe latter's use of thc \vord as signif}.rogthat the vater should be drifen og (or distilled) (ti in^ynTeit zo Jdop). ln tbe Pap|r1tsHoh,ti. sis 'The juice of the aDagallis *hich has a blue lio\i'er ' is used for tiDting pe3ris.

tt 'P.i, rhubarb. is rnentioned by Demokritos as a material for the prepantion ot adveliquor, aDd in fact the root bas a deep :"eilov coiou. orviDg to the chry-sarobin containedin it. The us€ of the material \r'holll- puzzled Svnesios, $ho supposed that Demokritosby the use of the phrase ri a;rlor d?r iltended to draN a fanciful analogv behreen theriver Rha fio\1ing into the Black Sea (ftrir;o') and the liquefaction of a solid.

do \o).4^r ;ernnr<idarl toi n.r,rdril,ory rrr.air,. The gall oI vaious creatures is frequentl\,plescribed &s a rello*' colouri!8 matter in the chemical Pap].ri (P. LeJd.,39,6i,7+, t'3.P. Hohn, i2t €20; (32; { , 11, 16, 20, 38; , r31 ; l2 l t &41. rc i17) and isemployed i! the same fashion by Demokritos (Berthelot, Colleclion, i, +5. 3), \vboin tbis passage mentions only calves -biie. The $ork oI lamblichus. {hich the authorhas elsewhere conjectured to be a part of a h!?othetical Demokritan treatise, mentioosthe bile of the jchneumon. fox, black-footed cock aDd camel. II iD the time of StephaEosthis \rork was atfributed to Demokritos, the phi-ase 'oI quadrupeds and certaia beasts'(ould be explained. Olvmpiodoros (trtd., 78, l8) says tbat Demokritos \Tote on the qalloI fisbes.

Translation autl Cotnmenlary 61, F. Sherwood Tavlor i396t To tbe author,s kro\ledge this is the earliest pas€age wherein it $ roplied thatAlchem)' is not a quest to be carned on in the laboiatory. tn ii," tu"rrr" St"pU.no.indicates clearlv that he vieNs tlcheloI co.,rse.appea' r,.", ,h"-p,.;;;-,Ti",ilT,:'ij !i!iil'"j.l';i."'ill',:i .'i.'rlT:,.::lvhethe. he is putting fo*ard an eartier tmdition. il* r""".

".ria ,p;";,to ;,;"mo.e likely as Stephanos sho$.s little evidence ot original tiroueht.

cr Ttris phrase does not seem to t

., 6 €elouiraror.

".,",,a,,;;;:":];:;:T:::lT.::.,Hii::::,::, ",drt,! has both meanings. This substance s.as the chief reagent oi t.u"* ul"t"*i."tpractice. It is mentioDed atso in tbe Levdeu paplTus, SS, ,"h"r"j, "pp;,o

be a solutionot calcium poty.sutphicte. This sas piobabilr th" "urc"'*"lrirg.

iiill.., .n" o.rn" *,".apptied to alt liquids useful in tbe _\rt, much as the -.d.*;";i.;;;

extended themea.ing of the terrn sait from the sigDilicaoce of . .o.omon ;;';;;;;.. ",

ali simitarcombinations of metals and acids.brackeninsmetarsaod;;;;;si;"',jr,.,ffi ::,li:.ir..._'iH.#:."*.frT;:il1:to a potysutphide solution. On th€_ other hand tha tcrrn deio.r. ;i., ,,.. .rt"n .ppfi"ato a distillate of some kiad. The *hole question is __pl;;;d-;;r;; the scope of acollt meDtary.

d. see lote .r.

-- .s Ke).rrrri rripDor, Celtic nard, is mentioned by pliny and Dioskurides, and mav beValeriara c.ltica-

" Bperurnrl piral,.tror. presumabiv rin (partiD$on, Oigi s atul ])euiopmcnt o.fAp?li.d Chenistn, pp. 80, +a9)..7 This phrase js not found in the existins N,orks of Dernokritos. Ttre pnras€ hasa Platonic ring.

. ll,lt **". a stop after uiyilr. piz., Ipso uno nttore corqtiescit. Hto,tor,s a|tcnlhumklark m.tl.iarn rc.Lilcntes ,1on adhiber. Tl\e notion may a".,* f-. the neo,Platonicnotion of the ray ol iight desaending from the (livine and

"rai"g t, _"i"r.

'

" The *hole passage is obs€ure. \-ierred from the practical standpoitrr the ,raising ofthe rr-aters,' appears to be tbe evaporatioo oI the corrosive liquid usej to <tisinte5,rate themetal, so leaiing a dlv metaliic compound. But tbis sense is p.oUaUty oot rntenOeaby Stephanos, for the whole passase it..rir,"_" *,r," 1,".i;ffii;:;".:;:HHL:l i:fr:#J:: ;l'J:i:::: " tbe mvstica,

ro -\ ' burning ot copper rvith sulDhur ' is se\.erai times described, r. g. bl,ltarn (Berthclot,Col lect ion, i , lE2, 6), but i t does not st

,';l_l'l:1r::: is si.vea in ".,

,i^,;:],:: li,-"il:,:';;"';:::'.:fi is ,ot i,, thc: : t-": l i l* '

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l r6 :llchendcal ll orhs of Sttl>huuos ,-,J ;llcrun.lria'.. . . . . . l ; i . i

0n

THE ALCHE]IICAL WORKS OF STEPHA\OS OF .{LE\.{.\DRIA.

TRA)isL.\TroN Ax-D ColrltE\rARy bv F. Sne nrvooo T-r.vlon, Ph.D., M..{., B.Sc.

PART I.

The long and important alchemical treatise of Stephanos of .{lexandria r

has hitherto been inaccessible to the generai reader, since it is not includedin Berthelot's Collection des Atciens Alchimisles Grecs. The whole Greek textis printed onl-v- in the rarc Phlsici et l[edici Creci ]Iinorcs of Ideler; portionsare contained in other ]let rarer u'orks @. itrfta, p. 118). The present snrdy'of the alchemical rvork of Stephanos rviil include (1) Introduction, (2) theGreek texts from Ideler with variants from lIS. l{arcianus Gracus 299,(3) an English translation, (4) commentary, (5) bibliographl'.

I irRoDUcTlo\,

Aullealicily ard Date of Texl.

The authorship of the alchemical texts which are attributed to Stcphanosof .{lexandria has raised several problems. Earlier scholars ! identifiedStephanos o{ Athens, a medical rvriter, rvith Srephanos of .{.lexandria: thiscannot be regarded as a settled question. lledical works attributed to boththese authors exist 3.{. Bussemaker I considers that the exclamatory andmystical stlle of the alchemical ,,vork is so diffcrent from the logical style ofthe medical rvorks as to be regarded as emanating from a different hand.Dietz 5 is of the same opinion.

\ -lEph4rrgq oI .{le-\andria was an historical p€rsonage and flourished under\ t*-4).

. lthe Emperor Herakleios 1i610lQll!_3g). He is described 6 as a philosopherI | --:-| iand public professor. He lectured on Plato and Aristotle and on the subjects' of Geomerrv. .{rithmetic. .q,stronomv and lfusic. He left a commenrarv on

.{ristotle and an astronomical r*ork. In addirion to these. the rstrologrcal:F;te-rt ( ' . ' \aoze le oF.rrLK, lrpolFaiera) ard the alchemical $orks now in

qucstion have been ascribed to Stephanos oI -{lexandria, but hate been heldto E J}ie!dggi.S3p!&al, and of later date bv Iirumbacher 6 and also b1' Usener i

r and Kind 3. The evidence for this view, as far as the alchemical rvorks are4 con.erned, is but slender. It is true tha! the stlLe of the aurhentic works

of Stephanos differs much from that of thc alchemical treatise, but adeclamator\' and rhetorical st] le mav ha i e been thought app.opriate to lecturesupon a subject of arcane character; in anv event such a st11e does not indicatea late date, for it is lound tboughout the Greek alchemical corpus. Kind 3

Trarsluli<tn i,td Co,,t,ne, dr! 6y F. Shenvood Ta1lor 117

regards the alchemical rvork as of the ninth century, but giles no new efidence

for his contention 3. Usener; regards the test as PseudePigraPhical on the

ground that a public professor teaching in the palace of Constantinople rrould

not have dared to teach Alchem,u-, the practice of rvhich had been forbidden

by the edict of Diocletian. The Proscription of Alciremy' bv Diocletian is

supported by the rather slender positive evidence of Suidas and other authors

writing at least 300 years after the event. It would seem incredible that the

authors of the Greek alchemical texts should be ignorant of this edict, yet it is

mentioned by none of them. Negative evidence must give way to Positive,but a suspicion must remain as to the historicity of the ilcident. In an!'event,

as Lippmann e has indicated, the edict of Diocietian, some three hundred years

before the time of StePhanos, would have car.ied little or no wei8ht ivith the

learned Emperor Herakleios. The freedom of the alchemical treatise from terms

oI barbarous origin, such as are found in the latest Greek alchemical te\ts

(e. g. that of Kosmas) and the neo-Platonic character of the mlstical matter,

favour a date before c. 700.1.o. The attribution to the well-kno1l'n Stephanos

is to some ertent supported by the numerous ailusions to mathematical,

astronomical and musical matters with which he rvould be familiar. The

alchemical works of Stephanos are cited r0 by the Anonyrnous Philosopher

in a mamer which implies that the work of the former author considerabl]'

antedates that of the latter, and though there is little elidence for the date

of the.{non}'rnous Phiiosopher we shouid certainlv hesitate to place him as

late as the ninth centurv.In the absence of anv positi le esidence to the contrarv there seems litt le

reason to refuse to attribute the alchemical texts to the Stephanos of Alexandria

rvho was public professor at the time of Herakleios, but none the less we must

contemplate the possibility of the te\ts being as late as the beginning of the

ninth century; they cannot be later, for the mention of the alchemical text

by the Kitab-.tt-Filrrisl rr malies the date of the latter work (probabl-"" c .{.D. 850)

the lermirus ad quem.

The Alchcmical lVorhs of Slephanos-

The alchemical rvorks of Stephanos consist of (1) a long treatise rvhich is

subdivided into nine zrpcifers or lectures, the last of u'hich has been said to be

incomplete r2, aad (2) a Letter to Theodore which is interPolated betlveen the

second and third leciures.The titles of these as given in ldeler's edition 13 may be translated as

follows :-

(1) Stephanos of Alexandria Universal philosopher and teacher of the great

and sacred art. On the making of gold, Lecturc I, with the heip of God.

(2) The same Stephanos, Lectur€ II, rvith the help of God. (Letter of the

same Stephanos to Theodore.)

118 ,llchenical ll'o"hs of Sleplunos ol Alexan"d,ria;

(3) The same Stephanos, on the entire r4 world, Lecrure III, with the helpof God.

(4) The same Stephanos on that which is in actuality, Lecture IV, with thehelp of God.

(5) The same philosopher Stephanos upon that part of the divine art whichis in actuality, Lecture V, with the help of God.

(6) The same philosopher Stephanos, Lecture VI, \yith the help of God.(7) The same philosopher Stephanos. Lecture VII, with the help of God.(8) The same universal philosopher Stephanos, Lecture VIII, on the division 15

of the sacred art.(9) Teaching of the same phi.losopher Stephanos addressed to the Emperor

Herakleios, Lecture IX, with the help of God.

II anuscli?t, Editions and Trenslations.

The Greek tcxt appears in almost all the Greek alchemical IISS. TheteJrt of the trearise has been printed by Ideler in his Piysici et Medici GreciMinores (Beroltr.i, 1841), vol. ii, pp. 199-253. This text was edited by Dietzfrom the llSS. of llunich, which are copies of Marcianus Gracus 299, the oldestalchemical manuscript, hereafter referred to as lf. The text is not an accuratecopy of )L ; I hale accordingly, through the courtes]., of the Director of theLibrary of St. ]Iark, obtained photographs of ]I. and have noted the variants.Berthelot does not print the work of Stephanos rn his Collcction d,es AncietsAlchimistes Grecs. C. G. Gruner published in Ii77 only the first lecture ofStephanos. in Creek and Lat in16.

The work of Stephanos, together with those of Demokritos, Synesios, pelagiosand Psellos, was translated into Latin bv Pizimenti. Parts of the translationIrave been several t imes reprinted (t. i t lra), but only in the padua edition(1572-15 t'3\ does the portion of the work dealing with Stephanos appear.

The tir le of Pizimenti 's rvork is: Democritvs Abderita De Arte l lasnaSitc de rcbus naluralibus. )iec non Svnesii, & Peiagii, & Stephani .{texandrini,& l l ichaeiis Psell i in eundem commentaria. Dominico Pizinentio l ' ibonensiI t frt lt. Patavii apLrd Simonem Gaiignanum IIDL\\III. (Actually hrstDUOlls l leo ln lJ /Z. l

This translation rvas madc from the l lS. Parisinus G.;ecus 2i49, \ i.hichis a copv of 11. Pizimenti reproduces tire sense of the text prettv closelv, andthe statement of Berthelot that the work is a paraphrase u .ather than :!translation is not fullv justined. The obscuriry of much of the Greek te\tmade a free rendering necessarv. The book is of extreme rarirv, for onlythirteen copies are knorvn r8. The translation of the rvorks of Demokritos,Synesios and Pelagios, but not of thr.rse of Stephanos, has lteen reprinted severaltimes re. Iiopp: states that a fetv maauscript Latin translations of thelatter are in eliistence.

Translaliott ard. Commettary by F. Shenvood Tavlor 119

Cl&lacler ol lhe .llchernical lltorhs of Stephanos.

The work of Stephanos has been decried as rhetorical, as a patcb\york etc.,aad the impression is convet'ed that he has merely reproduced the rvork ofolder authors. Stepha-nos n'as celtainlv not a pracrical laboratory workerand his treatise embodies no new experimental results, but if we vierv it asa document in the history of AJchemy we must accord it high imponance.In the first place the treatises of Stephanos and Ollmpiodoros ale the onlylong and complete, or nearlv complete, tvorks on Greek Alchemy rvhich havecome down to us. Stephanos gives us a full exposition of the theory of -{Jchemyas it was understood in the seventh century A.D. He may not be aa originalwriter, but comparatively little of his work is taken from extant alchemicaltexts. He is the first to avow that the art iocludes mental operations !0.

The work of Stephanos seems to have been familiar to the Arabs, towhom he was knowa as Istafal, and as AdIar r ; he is aiso mentioned in theKileb-al-Fihrist. Berthelot states s rhat his language differs little from thatof Geber, but although his style approaches that o{ the Arabs more nearlythan does that of any other Greek author this is too strong a statement. It isnot improbable, then, that this treatise ma_!- prove to be an important linkbetween the Greek and Arab schools of alchemical thought.

The numerous mentions of Stephanos in later alchemical literature wiLlbe tal<en up in the bibliography rvhich will follow the translation.

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