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Reading text on two alchemical frontispieces

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adammclean
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Posted: Sun Sep 21st, 2014 08:17 pm

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A colleague has asked me to read the text on the frontispieces from the Artis Auriferae and the Rosarium Philosophorum which are obviously related though not identical. I wonder if anyone can assist with this.

First we have the Artis Auriferae, 1572. Frontispiece to 'Turba Philosophorum', showing eight philosophers disputing.

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adammclean
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Posted: Sun Sep 21st, 2014 08:19 pm

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The frontispiece to the Rosarium Philosophorum from De Alchimia opuscula complura veterum philosophorum 1550.

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Paul Ferguson
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Posted: Sun Sep 21st, 2014 08:37 pm

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Seem to be the same texts with different spellings. Here are some suggestions.

Solve [et] coagula.

Solvite corp[or]a in aquas = Dissolve the bodies in the waters.

Wer onseren maisterlichen steÿn wil bauwen/
Der sol der naturen anfanck schauwen
= He who wants to construct our masterly stone/
He should consider the beginning of nature.

Lapis noster habet spem corpore, aiant.
= They say our Stone has hope in the body.

Coagulate nostram [?] quamvis invenies =
Coagulate our [?] however much you may find.

Last edited on Sun Sep 21st, 2014 09:00 pm by Paul Ferguson

Paul Ferguson
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Posted: Fri Sep 26th, 2014 12:12 am

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Warm thanks to Bernard Fortin who has drawn my attention to Etienne Perrot's 1973 translation of the Rosarium which transcribes the legends as follows:

Solve [et] coagula

Solvite corpora in aquas

Lapis noster habet spiritum, corpus et animam = Our stone has a spirit, a body and a soul

Coquite et quod quaeris invenies = Cook and you shall find what you are seeking

Wer unseren maysterlichen Steyn will bauwen/
Der soll der naehren Anfang schauwen =
He who wishes to construct our masterly Stone/
He should consider the nearest beginning (principle?)

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