Chapter 46

Physical bindings and amulets worn on the body.
De alligationibus, et suspensionibus physicis.
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Latin — 1533, repaired

Anima mundi quando per suam virtutem omnia vel naturaliter generata, vel artificialiter facta foecundat, infundendo ipsis proprietates caelestes, ad aliquos mirabiles effectus quos operantur, tunc res ipsae non solum applicatae per suffumigationes, vel collyria, vel unguenta, vel potiones, vel aliquo eiusmodi modorum, verum etiam quando convenienter involutae alligantur, vel a collo suspenduntur, vel alio quovis modo supponuntur, vel levissimo contactu approximantur, suam nobis imprimunt virtutem: per has itaque alligationes, suspensiones, involutiones, suppositiones contactusque corporis et animae accidentia mutantur, in aegritudines, in sanitates, in audaciam, in timorem, in tristitiam, in laetitiam, et similia: et reddunt gestantes gratiosos vel terribiles, acceptos vel reprobatos, honoratos et dilectos, vel odiosos et abominabiles. Passiones autem eiusmodi per supradicta infundi non secus arbitrantur, quam in insitionibus arborum manifestum est, ubi virtus vitalis transfunditur a trunco in surculum illi insitum cum aliqua ligatura, quamvis contactus sibi invicem non haereant: sic in palma feminina quando appropinquat ad masculinam, rami eius declinant ad masculum et incurvantur, quod videntes hortulani, ligant funes de masculo ad feminam, quae redit erecta super se ipsam, tanquam adepta sit per continuationem funis masculi virtutem. Simili modo videmus, quod torpedo marina etiam per longissimam virgam procul retenta, subito manum stupefacit tangentis. Quod si quis etiam leporem marinum attingat, aut manu aut baculo, dum in morbo est, animi defectum incurrit. Similiter dicunt, quod stella marina, vulpino sanguine et clavo aereo iunctis affixa, mala medicamenta nocere non posse: dicitur etiam, quod si mulier accipiat acum, inficiatque simo, deinde involvat luto in quo cadaver humanum defossum fuerit, et secum portaverit in panniculo qui fuerit in funere, non poterit vir quispiam cum ea coire quandiu secum habuerit. Iam his exemplis videmus quo modo certis quarundam rerum alligationibus vel suspensionibus, et quodam simplici contactu, aut per alicuius fili continuationem, quasdam virtutes inde suscipere possumus. Oportet autem nosse certam alligandi et suspendendi legem et modum huic artificio congruentem, ut scilicet fiant sub certa constellatione et corona, fiantque dictae alligationes et suspensiones cum filis metallicis vel sericis, vel ex capillis, vel nervis, vel pilis, vel setis certorum animalium factis. Involutiones vero fiant in foliis herbarum, vel pelliculis animalium, vel certis panniculis, et similibus, quatenus res inter se conferant: ut si solarem alicuius rei virtutem tibi conciliaturus fueris, hanc involutam lauri folio, vel pelle leonis, filo aureo, vel serico crocei coloris, collo suspendas, Sole in figura caeli regnante: sic enim solaris virtutis illi rei poteris cum efficacia compos fieri. Quod si Saturnalis rei alicuius virtutem optas, hac simili modo, Saturno dominante, involvas pelle asini, vel panniculo funerali, praesertim si ad tristitiam operis, et filo nigro suspendas: simili modo de reliquis aestimandum est.

Close translation

When the soul of the world, through its power, fructifies all things — whether naturally generated, or artificially made — by infusing into them celestial properties, toward some marvelous effects which they work, then the things themselves imprint their power upon us not only when applied through suffumigations, or eye-salves, or unguents, or potions, or by some manner of that sort, but even when, suitably wrapped, they are bound on, or hung from the neck, or set beneath in some other manner, or brought near by the very lightest contact: through these, then — ligatures, suspensions, wrappings, placings-beneath, and contacts — the accidents of body and soul are changed, into sicknesses, into states of health, into boldness, into fear, into sadness, into gladness, and the like: and they render those who wear them pleasing or terrible, accepted or rejected, honored and beloved, or hateful and abominable. That passions of this kind are infused through the aforesaid is judged no differently than is manifest in the grafting of trees, where the vital power is transfused from the trunk into the scion grafted onto it by some binding, although the points of contact do not adhere to one another: so in the female palm-tree, when it draws near to the male, its branches lean toward the male and curve down — which gardeners, seeing, tie ropes from the male to the female, and she returns upright over herself, as though she had, through the continuity of the rope, obtained the male's power. In like manner we see that the sea-torpedo, even when held at a distance by a very long rod, at once stupefies the hand of the one touching it. And if someone even touches a sea-hare, whether with the hand or with a staff, while he is in illness, he suffers a failure of spirit. Likewise they say that the starfish, fixed together with fox's blood and a bronze nail, prevents harmful medicines from causing harm: it is said also, that if a woman takes a needle, and stains it with mucus, then wraps it in mud in which a human corpse has been buried, and carries it with her in a rag that has been at a funeral, no man will be able to lie with her for as long as she keeps it with her. Now by these examples we see how, by certain bindings or suspensions of certain things, and by a simple contact, or through the continuity of some thread, we can receive from them certain powers. One must know, however, the fixed law and manner of binding and suspending fitting to this art: namely, that they be done under a certain constellation and conjunction, and that the said ligatures and suspensions be made with metallic or silken threads, or ones made of hair, or sinews, or bristles, or the hairs of certain animals. Wrappings, however, should be made in the leaves of herbs, or the skins of animals, or certain small cloths, and the like, insofar as the things agree with one another: as, if you are to procure for yourself the solar power of some thing, you should wrap it in a bay-leaf, or lion's skin, with a golden thread, or a silken one of saffron color, and hang it from the neck, the Sun reigning in the figure of the heaven — thus indeed you will be able to become possessed, with efficacy, of the solar power of that thing. But if you desire the power of some Saturnian thing, in like manner — Saturn ruling — you should wrap it in ass's skin, or a funeral cloth, especially if the work is directed toward sadness, and hang it with a black thread: in like manner is one to judge of the rest.

Modern rendering

When the soul of the world, through its power, brings to fruitfulness everything — whether naturally produced or artificially made — by pouring celestial properties into it toward the marvelous effects these things then produce, the things themselves impress their power on us not only when applied through fumigations, eye-salves, ointments, or potions, or some method of that kind, but also when, suitably wrapped, they are tied on, hung from the neck, placed beneath something, or simply brought into the lightest contact with us. Through these bindings, hangings, wrappings, placings, and contacts, the states of body and soul are changed — into sickness or health, boldness or fear, sadness or joy, and so on — and they make the people wearing them charming or frightening, welcomed or rejected, honored and loved, or hated and shunned. That effects like these are transmitted in this way is no stranger than what happens plainly in grafting trees, where living power passes from the trunk into the graft bound onto it, even though the two surfaces don't actually fuse. Likewise, when a female palm tree comes near a male one, its branches bend and curve toward the male; gardeners who notice this tie ropes from the male tree to the female, and she straightens back up, as if she had drawn the male's power to her through the continuous rope. In the same way, we see that the electric ray, even held at a distance on a very long pole, instantly numbs the hand of whoever is touching the pole. And if someone touches a sea hare, with the hand or with a stick, while ill, he suffers a collapse of spirit. Similarly, it's said that a starfish, fastened together with fox's blood and a bronze nail, keeps harmful drugs from doing harm. It is also said that if a woman takes a needle, smears it with mucus, wraps it in earth taken from a human grave, and carries it in a cloth that has been used at a funeral, no man will be able to sleep with her for as long as she keeps it on her. These examples show how, through certain bindings or hangings of particular objects, and through simple contact, or through a connecting thread, we can draw certain powers from them. One needs to know the fixed rule for how such binding and hanging should properly be done: it should happen under the right alignment of stars, and the bindings and hangings should be made with threads of metal or silk, or made from hair, sinew, bristle, or the fur of particular animals. Wrappings, meanwhile, should be made from plant leaves, animal skins, or certain small cloths, and so on, chosen so the materials match the purpose: if you want to draw the Sun's power from something, wrap it in a bay leaf or lion skin, tie it with a gold thread or saffron-colored silk, and hang it from your neck while the Sun rules the chart of the heavens — that way you can effectively take possession of that thing's solar power. If instead you want the power of something Saturnian, do the same while Saturn rules: wrap it in donkey skin or a funeral cloth — especially for work aimed at sorrow — and hang it with a black thread. Judge the rest of the planets the same way.

Editorial flags — draft status

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