Latin — 1533, repaired
[XXXII]
Similis est per omnia ratio de figuris stellarum fixarum habenda: sic Arieti caelesti volunt subiici arietem terrestrem, et Tauro caelesti taurum atque bovem terrestrem; sic Cancro cancros, Leoni leones, Virgini virgines, et Scorpionem praesidere scorpionibus, et Capricorno capricornas, et Sagittario equos, et signo Piscium subesse pisces. Similiter Ursa caelestis praesidet ursis, Hydra serpentibus, et cani subsunt canes: et sic de singulis.
Ipse vero Apuleius signis atque planetis praecipuas veluti proprias quasdam herbas distribuit, videlicet Arieti elisphacon [†elisphacon], Tauro peristereon anorthion, Geminis peristereon anhyption, Cancro symphyton, Leoni cyclaminum, Virgini calamintham, Librae scorpiuron, Scorpioni artemisiam, Sagittario anagallidem, Capricorno lapathum, Aquario dracontean, Piscibus aristolochiam. Planetis vero: Saturno sempervivum, Iovi eupatorium, Marti peucedanum, Soli heliotropium, Veneri panacem sive callitrichum, Mercurio phlomon, Lunae aglaophotim.
Verum Hermes, quem sequitur Albertus, Planetis dat: Saturno asphodelum, Iovi hyoscyamum, Marti arnoglossam, Soli polygoniam, Veneri verbenam, Mercurio pentaphyllon, Lunae chenostacen [†chenostacen].
Iamque etiam experientia cognoscimus asparagos subesse Arieti, et basilicon Scorpioni. Nam seminata in tara cornu arietis nascuntur asparagi, et basilicon contritum inter duos lapides nonnisi gignit scorpiones.
Praeterea ex stellis fixis inferioribus, iuxta Hermetis et [†...] doctrinam, hic aliquot enumerabo, quarum prima dicitur caput Algol, praeest ex lapidibus adamanti, ex plantis elleboro nigro et artemisia.
Sequuntur Pleiades, praesidentes ex lapidibus crystallo et diadocho [†diadocho], ex plantis fenugreco [†], et thure, et sceniculo [†sceniculo]; praeterea subesse sibi volunt ex metallis argentum vivum.
Tertia Aldeboran habet sub se ex lapidibus carbunculum et rubinum, ex plantis tithymallum et matrisilvam.
Quarta dicitur Hircus, hic tenet ex lapidibus sapphirum, ex plantis marrubium sive prassium, mentam, artemisiam, et mandragoram.
Quinta Canis maior, hic habet ex lapidibus sub se berillum, ex plantis savinam, artemisiam et dracontean, ex animalibus linguam colubri.
Sexta Canis minor, habet ex lapidibus achatem, ex plantis florem heliotropii et pulegii.
Septima Cor Leonis habet ex lapidibus granatum, ex plantis chelidoniam cum artemisia et mastyche.
Octava Cauda Ursae maioris habet ex lapidibus magnetem, ex plantis cichorium (cuius folia et flores volvuntur ad septentrionem) et artemisiam cum flore pervincae, ex animalibus dentem lupi.
Nona dicitur Ala Corvi, huic subest ex lapidibus onychinus niger, ex plantis lappacium quadrigenum [†], hyoscyamum et consolidam, ex animalibus vero linguam ranae.
Decima Spica, habet sub se ex lapidibus smaragdum, ex plantis salviam, trifolium, pervincam sive promarullam [†], artemisiam et mandragoram.
Undecima dicitur Alchameth [†Alchameth], praeest ex lapidibus iaspidi, ex plantis plantaginem.
Duodecima Elpheia [†Elpheia], huic subest ex lapidibus topazius, ex plantis praeest rosmarino, trifolio et hederae.
Decimatertia dicitur Cor Scorpionis, huic subest ex lapidibus sardonius et amethystus, ex plantis aristolochia longa et crocus.
Decimaquarta Vultur cadens, huic subest ex lapidibus chrysolithus, ex plantis satureia et fumus terrae.
Decimaquinta, Cauda Capricorni dicitur, haec tenet ex lapidibus chalcedonium, ex plantis maioranam, artemisiam, nepetam, et quam calaminthan dicunt, pulegio similem, et radicem mandragorae.
Illud praeterea sciendum est, non quamlibet aut lapidem, aut plantam, aut animal ab uno solo sidere regi, sed multa etiam a pluribus recipere influxum, et non tam separatum quam coniunctum: sic inter lapides chalcedonius subest Saturno et Mercurio, cum cauda Scorpionis et Capricorni; sapphirus autem Iovi et Saturno, et stellae Alhaioth [†Alhaioth]; tutia [†tutia] Iovi et luminaribus; smaragdus Iovi, Veneri et Mercurio, ac Spicae; amethystus autem, Hermete teste, subest Marti cum Iove et corde Scorpionis; iaspis multigenus Marti et Iovi, ac stellae Alchameth; chrysolithus Soli, Veneri et Mercurio, et stellae quae dicitur Vultur cadens; topazius Soli et Elpheiae; adamas Marti et capiti Algol.
Simili modo ex vegetabilibus herba serpentaria subest Saturno et serpentario caelesti; mastyche et menta Iovi atque Soli, sed mastyche etiam cordi Leonis, et menta hirco adhaerent; sic elleborus Marti et capiti Algol; muscus et sandali Soli cum Venere; coriandrum Veneri cum Saturno dicata sunt.
Ex animalibus etiam vitulus marinus subest Soli ac Iovi; vulpes et simiae Saturni sunt et Mercurii, et canes domestici Mercurii sunt et Lunae. Et iam plura ex istis in superioribus docuimus.
De signaculis et characteribus rerum naturalium.
Close translation
The same reasoning holds in every respect for the figures of the fixed stars: thus they hold that the earthly ram is subject to the celestial Ram, and the earthly bull and ox to the celestial Bull; thus crabs to Cancer, lions to Leo, virgins to Virgo, and that Scorpio presides over scorpions, Capricorn over goats, Sagittarius over horses, and that fish are subject to the sign of Pisces. Likewise the celestial Bear presides over bears, Hydra over serpents, and dogs are subject to the Dog: and so for each one.
Apuleius himself assigned to the signs and planets certain herbs as, so to speak, their own special properties — namely to Aries elisphacon [†elisphacon], to Taurus peristereon anorthion, to Gemini peristereon anhyption, to Cancer symphyton, to Leo cyclamen, to Virgo calamint, to Libra scorpiuron, to Scorpio artemisia, to Sagittarius pimpernel, to Capricorn dock, to Aquarius dragonwort, to Pisces aristolochia. And to the planets: to Saturn houseleek, to Jupiter eupatorium, to Mars hog's fennel, to the Sun heliotrope, to Venus panaces or maidenhair, to Mercury mullein, to the Moon aglaophotis.
But Hermes, whom Albertus follows, gives to the planets: to Saturn asphodel, to Jupiter henbane, to Mars plantain, to the Sun knotgrass, to Venus vervain, to Mercury cinquefoil, to the Moon chenostacen [†chenostacen].
And now we also know by experience that asparagus is subject to Aries, and basil to Scorpio. For when sown in a ram's horn, asparagus grows from it; and basil, crushed between two stones, breeds nothing but scorpions.
Moreover, following the teaching of Hermes and [†...] concerning the fixed stars beneath [the planets], I will here enumerate a few, the first of which is called the Head of Algol, which presides, among stones, over the diamond; among plants, over black hellebore and mugwort.
Next come the Pleiades, presiding, among stones, over crystal and diadochus [†diadochus]; among plants, over fenugreek [†], frankincense, and fennel [†fennel]; moreover, among metals they are held to have quicksilver under them.
Third, Aldebaran holds under it, among stones, the carbuncle and the ruby; among plants, spurge and honeysuckle.
The fourth is called the Kid [Hircus], and it holds, among stones, the sapphire; among plants, horehound or hoarhound, mint, mugwort, and mandrake.
The fifth, the Greater Dog, has, among stones under it, beryl; among plants, savin, mugwort, and dragonwort; among animals, the tongue of the snake.
The sixth, the Lesser Dog, has, among stones, agate; among plants, the flower of heliotrope and pennyroyal.
The seventh, the Heart of the Lion, has, among stones, garnet; among plants, celandine with mugwort and mastic.
The eighth, the Tail of the Greater Bear, has, among stones, the magnet; among plants, chicory (whose leaves and flowers turn toward the north) and mugwort with the flower of periwinkle; among animals, the tooth of the wolf.
The ninth is called the Wing of the Crow; under this are, among stones, black onyx; among plants, quadrigenous [†] burdock, henbane, and comfrey; among animals, the tongue of the frog.
The tenth, Spica, holds under it, among stones, emerald; among plants, sage, trefoil, periwinkle or promarulla [†], mugwort, and mandrake.
The eleventh is called Alchameth [†Alchameth]; it presides, among stones, over jasper; among plants, over plantain.
The twelfth, Elpheia [†Elpheia]; under this are, among stones, topaz; among plants it presides over rosemary, trefoil, and ivy.
The thirteenth is called the Heart of the Scorpion; under it are, among stones, sardonyx and amethyst; among plants, long aristolochia and crocus.
The fourteenth, the Falling Vulture; under it are, among stones, chrysolite; among plants, savory and fumitory.
The fifteenth is called the Tail of Capricorn; this holds, among stones, chalcedony; among plants, marjoram, mugwort, catmint, and what they call calamint (like pennyroyal), and mandrake root.
It should further be known that it is not the case that any given stone, plant, or animal is ruled by one single star alone, but that many receive influence from several, and not so much separately as jointly: thus among stones chalcedony is subject to Saturn and Mercury, together with the Tail of Scorpio and of Capricorn; sapphire, however, to Jupiter and Saturn, and to the star Alhaioth [†Alhaioth]; tutia [†tutia] to Jupiter and the luminaries; emerald to Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury, and to Spica; amethyst, on Hermes's testimony, is subject to Mars together with Jupiter and the Heart of Scorpio; jasper of many kinds to Mars and Jupiter, and to the star Alchameth; chrysolite to the Sun, Venus, and Mercury, and to the star called the Falling Vulture; topaz to the Sun and to Elpheia; the diamond to Mars and the Head of Algol.
In the same way, among plants, the herb serpentaria is subject to Saturn and the celestial Serpent-bearer; mastic and mint to Jupiter and the Sun, but mastic also cleaves to the Heart of the Lion, and mint to the Kid; thus hellebore to Mars and the Head of Algol; musk and sandalwood to the Sun with Venus; coriander is given over to Venus with Saturn.
Among animals, too, the seal is subject to the Sun and Jupiter; foxes and apes belong to Saturn and Mercury, and domestic dogs belong to Mercury and the Moon. And we have already taught more of these things above.
On the signs and characters of natural things.
Modern rendering
The same logic applies to the fixed stars: the tradition holds that the earthly ram answers to the constellation Aries, the earthly bull and ox to Taurus, crabs to Cancer, lions to Leo, virgins to Virgo; Scorpio governs scorpions, Capricorn governs goats, Sagittarius governs horses, and Pisces governs fish. Likewise the constellation of the Bear governs bears, Hydra governs serpents, and the Dog-star governs dogs — and so on for each.
Apuleius assigned particular herbs to the zodiac signs and planets as their special properties. To Aries: [a sage-type herb, elisphacon — uncertain, flagged]. To Taurus: peristereon anorthion (a verbena/vervain type). To Gemini: peristereon anhyption (another vervain variant). To Cancer: comfrey. To Leo: cyclamen. To Virgo: calamint. To Libra: scorpiuron. To Scorpio: mugwort. To Sagittarius: pimpernel. To Capricorn: dock. To Aquarius: dragonwort. To Pisces: birthwort. And to the planets: to Saturn, houseleek; to Jupiter, hemp agrimony; to Mars, hog's fennel; to the Sun, heliotrope; to Venus, wild parsnip or maidenhair; to Mercury, mullein; to the Moon, an herb called aglaophotis.
Hermes gives a different list, which Albertus follows: Saturn gets asphodel, Jupiter gets henbane, Mars gets plantain, the Sun gets knotgrass, Venus gets vervain, Mercury gets cinquefoil, and the Moon gets an herb called chenostacen (unclear in the source).
We also know from experience that asparagus belongs to Aries and basil to Scorpio: sow seed in a ram's horn and asparagus comes up from it; crush basil between two stones and it breeds nothing but scorpions.
Following Hermes's teaching on the fixed stars, here are several of them with their correspondences. The first is the Head of Algol: among stones, the diamond; among plants, black hellebore and mugwort.
Next, the Pleiades: among stones, crystal and a stone called diadochus; among plants, fenugreek, frankincense, and fennel; among metals, quicksilver.
Third, Aldebaran: among stones, carbuncle and ruby; among plants, spurge and honeysuckle.
Fourth, the Kid (Capella): among stones, sapphire; among plants, horehound, mint, mugwort, and mandrake.
Fifth, Sirius (the Greater Dog): among stones, beryl; among plants, savin, mugwort, and dragonwort; among animals, snake's tongue.
Sixth, the Lesser Dog (Procyon): among stones, agate; among plants, heliotrope flower and pennyroyal.
Seventh, the Heart of the Lion (Regulus): among stones, garnet; among plants, celandine with mugwort and mastic.
Eighth, the Tail of the Greater Bear: among stones, lodestone; among plants, chicory (whose leaves and flowers turn to face north) and mugwort with periwinkle flower; among animals, wolf's tooth.
Ninth, the Wing of the Crow: among stones, black onyx; among plants, a fourfold burdock, henbane, and comfrey; among animals, frog's tongue.
Tenth, Spica: among stones, emerald; among plants, sage, trefoil, periwinkle (or a plant called promarulla), mugwort, and mandrake.
Eleventh, Alchameth: among stones, jasper; among plants, plantain.
Twelfth, Elpheia: among stones, topaz; among plants, rosemary, trefoil, and ivy.
Thirteenth, the Heart of Scorpio: among stones, sardonyx and amethyst; among plants, long birthwort and crocus.
Fourteenth, the Falling Vulture (Vega): among stones, chrysolite; among plants, savory and fumitory.
Fifteenth, the Tail of Capricorn: among stones, chalcedony; among plants, marjoram, mugwort, catmint, a pennyroyal-like herb called calamint, and mandrake root.
One more thing to know: no stone, plant, or animal is ruled by just one star. Many take influence from several at once, jointly rather than separately. For instance, chalcedony answers to Saturn and Mercury together with the Tail of Scorpio and of Capricorn. Sapphire answers to Jupiter and Saturn, and to the star Alhaioth. A substance called tutia answers to Jupiter and the two luminaries (Sun and Moon). Emerald answers to Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and Spica. Amethyst, on Hermes's authority, answers to Mars together with Jupiter and the Heart of Scorpio. The many kinds of jasper answer to Mars and Jupiter and to the star Alchameth. Chrysolite answers to the Sun, Venus, and Mercury, and to the Falling Vulture. Topaz answers to the Sun and to Elpheia. The diamond answers to Mars and the Head of Algol.
The same holds for plants: the herb called serpentaria answers to Saturn and to the constellation Ophiuchus (the Serpent-bearer). Mastic and mint answer to Jupiter and the Sun, but mastic also belongs to the Heart of the Lion, and mint to the Kid. Hellebore answers to Mars and the Head of Algol. Musk and sandalwood answer to the Sun together with Venus. Coriander is given over to Venus together with Saturn.
Among animals, the seal answers to the Sun and Jupiter. Foxes and apes belong to Saturn and Mercury. Domestic dogs belong to Mercury and the Moon. We have already covered more of this material above.
On the signs and characters of natural things.
Editorial flags — draft status
- table: Entire chapter is a correspondence table (fixed stars/lunar-mansion-style list of 15 stars with stone/plant/metal/animal attributions, plus the Apuleius and Hermes/Albertus planet-herb lists). Every attribution should be checked against page images before use — a wrong stone/plant/planet pairing is exactly the failure mode the spec warns against.
- uncertain: 'elisphacon' (herb for Aries, Apuleius list) — OCR form kept, no confident classical identification made.
- uncertain: 'chenostacen' (herb for the Moon, Hermes/Albertus list) — OCR form kept, unresolved.
- uncertain: Passage on asparagus/basil breeding scorpions/asparagus from a ram's horn ('Aj drdW' cornu arietis') is very badly damaged; 'tara' reconstruction is a low-confidence guess at a preposition+noun, not a firm reading.
- uncertain: Pleiades plant list: one plant name rendered 'diacedon' in the OCR is not confidently identified; tentatively rendered as fenugreco in modern/close but should be treated as uncertain, not settled.
- uncertain: 'diadocho' (second stone for the Pleiades) and 'promarullam' (synonym for periwinkle, Spica entry) and 'quadrigenum' (epithet for burdock, Crow's Wing entry) are all kept close to the OCR skeleton without confident classical identification.
- list: The final joint-rulership paragraph (chalcedony under Saturn+Mercury+Tail of Scorpio/Capricorn; sapphire under Jupiter+Saturn+Alhaioth; etc.) is a compressed list of multi-planet/multi-star attributions — flagged in full for re-keying against page images, since several of the star names (Alhaioth, Alchameth, Elpheia) are Arabic-derived and prone to corruption.