Folio 101r - Of stones and what they can do, continued.
having the colour of polished iron, but it cannot be destroyed by iron, fire or any other means, unless it is placed in the hot blood of a goat; with sharp pieces of diamond other stones are engraved and polished. It is no greater than a small nut. There are six kinds, however Adamant attracts metal; it expels venom; it produces amber [and is efficacious against empty fears and for those resisting spells]. It is found in India, in Greece and in Cyprus, where magicians make use of it. It gives you courage; it averts apparitions; it removes anger and quarrels; it heals the mad; it defends you from your enemies. It should be set in gold or silver and worn on the left arm. It is likewise found in Arabia. Acates is a stone so called from the name of a river flowing through the middle of Sicily. It is a black stone with white lines, having several images, sometimes of a king, sometimes of beasts, placed there by nature. Another kind is found in Crete, similar to coral, having veins like gold. This stone is used against poison. Another kind is found in India; it is marked with veins like the branches of a tree, and in the form of men. This stone removes thirst and strengthens the sight. There is another kind which has the scent of myrrh when it is placed in fire. Another kind has marks the colour of blood. Another has the colour of wax. But because there are so many kinds, it is of less value. It defends a man, however; it gives him strength; puts colour in his face; it endows him with good counsel; and it makes him persuasive. Electorius grows in the stomach of a fowl after it is three years old and grows until the bird is seven. It is no bigger than a nut or a bean; it is clear like crystal or water; it gives victory to the man who wears it; it takes away thirst if it is placed in the mouth of the thirsty; it summons back those who are scattered; it acquires friends for him; it makes him eloquent and loved. It bestows love between a man and a woman. It has all these virtues if it is carried in the mouth. Sernatites is a black stone of such a nature that if it is placed in the mouth and held under the tongue, a man can perceive what people think of him, and no woman can withstand his will. You can test its nature by smearing someone with honey and milk and placing him in the midst of a swarm of flies; if he has the stone
Commentary

Commentary

Text

The properties of various stones.

Comment

Quire 'P' begins here. This is marked by a more economical page layout, with narrower margins and more words per line.

Folio Attributes

Transcription and Translation

Transcription

colorem habens ut ferrum politum, set ferro vel igne vel alio modo\ frangi non potest nisi sanguine hyrcino calido apposito, et ex frag\mentis acutis sculpantur et poliuntur gemme alie. Hic maior nuce\ parva non est, sed adamantis sex sunt species, ferrum attrahit, vene\num expellit, parit electum [electrum], metus varios [vanos] et maleficiis resistentibus.\ Hic in India invenitur, quedam in Grecia, quedam in Cypra, et hac utuntur\ incantatores. Item virtutem prebet, prohibet fantasmata, tollit\ iram et rixam, sanat freneticos, defendit ab inimicis includi\ debet auro vel argento, et brachio sinistro deferri. Invenitur similiter in Arabia.\ Acates lapis sic dictus a nomine aque per mediam Ciciliam curren\tis, lapis niger, radios habens albos, pluras [plures] habens figuras, aliquando re\gis, aliquando bestiarum quas natura apposuit. Alterius modi invenitur\ in Creta similis corallo, venas habens similes auro. Hic utilis contra\ venenum, alius invenitur in India in quo sunt rami ut arboris et for\ma hominis. Hic aufert sitim, et confortat visum. Alius est qui odorem\ habet mirre quando ponitur in igne. Alius sanguineas habens maculas. Alius\ cere colorem, sed quia tot sunt, minoris precii sunt, defendit tamen hominem\ et prebet vim, confert colorem, et bonum consilium et quod credi de\beat.\ Electorius crescit in ventre altilis postquam est trium annorum,\ et crescit usque sit septem, nec maior est quam nux, vel faba, cla\rus ut cristallus et aqua, confert homini qui portat eum victoriam, au\fert sitim, si ponatur in ore sicientis, revocat dispersos, adquerit\ amicos, efficit eloquentem et amatum. Confert dilectionem inter\ virum et mulierem, et has habet virtutes si in ore feratur. Sernatites est lapis niger talis nature quod si in ore loco sub lingua\ teneatur statim percipiet quid cogitat de ipso, nec femina\ valet eius voluntati resistere, et eius virtus sit probatur, si unguatur\ quis melle et lacte inter quotquot muscas positus sit si habeat lapidem\

Translation

having the colour of polished iron, but it cannot be destroyed by iron, fire or any other means, unless it is placed in the hot blood of a goat; with sharp pieces of diamond other stones are engraved and polished. It is no greater than a small nut. There are six kinds, however Adamant attracts metal; it expels venom; it produces amber [and is efficacious against empty fears and for those resisting spells]. It is found in India, in Greece and in Cyprus, where magicians make use of it. It gives you courage; it averts apparitions; it removes anger and quarrels; it heals the mad; it defends you from your enemies. It should be set in gold or silver and worn on the left arm. It is likewise found in Arabia. Acates is a stone so called from the name of a river flowing through the middle of Sicily. It is a black stone with white lines, having several images, sometimes of a king, sometimes of beasts, placed there by nature. Another kind is found in Crete, similar to coral, having veins like gold. This stone is used against poison. Another kind is found in India; it is marked with veins like the branches of a tree, and in the form of men. This stone removes thirst and strengthens the sight. There is another kind which has the scent of myrrh when it is placed in fire. Another kind has marks the colour of blood. Another has the colour of wax. But because there are so many kinds, it is of less value. It defends a man, however; it gives him strength; puts colour in his face; it endows him with good counsel; and it makes him persuasive. Electorius grows in the stomach of a fowl after it is three years old and grows until the bird is seven. It is no bigger than a nut or a bean; it is clear like crystal or water; it gives victory to the man who wears it; it takes away thirst if it is placed in the mouth of the thirsty; it summons back those who are scattered; it acquires friends for him; it makes him eloquent and loved. It bestows love between a man and a woman. It has all these virtues if it is carried in the mouth. Sernatites is a black stone of such a nature that if it is placed in the mouth and held under the tongue, a man can perceive what people think of him, and no woman can withstand his will. You can test its nature by smearing someone with honey and milk and placing him in the midst of a swarm of flies; if he has the stone
Folio 101r - Of stones and what they can do, continued. | The Aberdeen Bestiary | The University of Aberdeen