Things under the power of the Sun are,
amongst Elements, the lucid flame;
in the humours, the purer blood, and spirit of life; amongst tasts, that which is
quick, mixed with sweetness.
Amongst Metals,
Gold by reason of its splendor, and its receiving that from the Sun which
makes it cordiall. And amongst stones, they which resemble the rayes of the
Sun by their golden sparklings, as doth the glittering stone Aetites which
hath power against the Falling-sickness, and poisons:
So also the stone,
which is called the eye of the Sun, being of a figure like to the Apple of
the eye, from the middle whereof shines forth a ray, it comforts the brain,
and strengthens the sight; So the Carbuncle which shines by night, hath a
vertue against all aiery, and vaporous poison:
So the Chrysolite stone is
of a light green colour, in which, when it is held against the Sun, there
shines forth a golden Star; and this comforts those parts that serve for
breathing, & helps those that be Asthmaticall, and if it be bored through,
and the hole filled with the Mane of an Asse, and bound to the left arme,
it drives away idle imaginations, and melancholy fears, and puts away
foolishness:
So the stone called Iris, which is like Crystall in colour,
being often found with six corners, when under some roof part of it is
held against the rayes of the Sun, and the other part is held in the shadow,
it gathers the rayes of the Sun into it self, which, whilest it sends them
forth, by way of reflection, makes a Rain-bow appear on the opposite wall.
Also the Stone Heliotropion green like the Jasper,
or Emrald, beset with red specks, makes a man constant, renowned, and famous,
also it conduceth to long life: And the vertue of it indeed is most wonderfull upon
the beams of the Sun, which it is said to turn into blood, to appear of the
colour of blood, as if the Sun were eclypsed, viz. When it is joyned
to the juice of a Hearb of the same name, and be put into a vessell of
Water:
There is also another
vertue of it more wonderfull, and that is upon
the eyes of men, whose sight it doth so dim, and dazel, that
it doth not suffer him that carries it to see it, & this it doth not
do without the help of the Hearb of the same name,
which also is called Heliotropium,
following the Sun. These vertues doth Albertus Magnus,
and William of Paris confirm in their writings.
The Hyacinth also
hath a vertue from the Sun against poisons,
and pestiferous vapours; it makes him that carries it to be safe,
and acceptable; it conduceth also to riches, and wit, it strengthens
the heart; being held in the mouth, it doth wonderfully cheer up the mind.
Also there is
the stone Pyrophylus, of a red mixture, which Albertus Magnus
saith Aesculapius, makes mention of in one of his Epistles unto Octavius Augustus,
saying, that there is a certain poison so wonderfull cold, which preserves the
heart of man being taken out from burning, so that if for any time it be put
into the Fire, it is turned into a stone, and this is that stone which is called
Pyrophylus, from the fire. It hath a wonderfull vertue against poison, and it
makes him that carries it, to be renowned and dreadfull to his enemies.
But above all, that stone is most Solary,
which Apollonius is reported
to have found, and which is called Pantaura, which draws other stones to
it, as the Loadstone doth Iron, most powerfull against all poisons; it is
called by some Pantherus, because it is spotted like the beast called the
Panther. It is therefore also called Pantochras, because it contains all
colours. Aaron cals it Evanthum. There are also other Solary stones, as the
Topazius, Chrysopassus, the Rubine, and Balagius. So also is Auripigmentum,
and things of a golden colour, and very lucid.
Amongst
Plants and Trees, those are Solary, which turn towards the
Sun, as the Marygold, and those which fold in their leaves when the
Sun is neer upon setting, but when it riseth unfold their leaves by
little and little. The Lote-tree also is Solary, as is manifest
by the figure of the fruit & leaves.
So also Piony, Sallendine, Balme,
Ginger, Gentian, Dittany, & Vervin, which is of use in prophecying, and expiations,
as also driving away evill spirits. The Bay-tree also is consecrated to Phoebus,
so is the Cedar, the Palm tree, the ash, the Ivie, and Vine, and whatsoever repell
poisons, and lightnings, and those things which never fear the extremities
of the Winter.
Solary also are
Mint, Mastick, Zedoary, Saffron, Balsome, Amber, Musk, Yellow honey,
Lignum aloes, Cloves, Cinnamon, Calamus, Aromaticus, Pepper, Frankincense,
sweet Marjoram, also Libanotis, which Orpheus cals the sweet perfume of the Sun.
Amongst
Animals, those are Solary which are magnanimous, couragious,
ambitious of victory, and renown: as the Lyon, King of beasts,
the Crocodile, the spotted Wolf, the Ram, the Boar, the Bull,
King of the herd, which was by the Egyptians at Heliopolis dedicated to the Sun,
which they called Verites; and an Ox was consecrated to Apis in Memphi, and
in Herminthus a Bull by the name of Pathis.
The Wolf also was consecrated to
Apollo, and Latona. Also the beast called Baboon is Solary, which twelve times
in a day, viz. every hour barks, and in time of Equinoctium pisseth
twelve times every hour: the same also it doth in the night,
whence the Egyptians did Engrave him upon their Fountains.
Also amongst birds,
these are Solary, The Phoenix, being but one of that kind,
and the Eagle, the Queen of birds, also the Vulture, the Swan, and those
which sing at the rising Sun, and as it were call upon it to rise, as
the Cock, Crow, also the Hawk, which because it in the Divinity
of the Egyptians is an emblem of the spirit, and light, is by Porphyrius
reckoned amongst the Solary birds.
Moreover, all such things as have
some resemblance of the works of the Sun, as Worms shining in the night,
and the Betle, which is a creature that lies under Cow-dung,
also according to Appious interpretation, such whose eyes are
changed according to the course of the Sun, are accounted Solary,
and those things which come of them.
And amongst fish,
the Sea Calf is chiefly Solary, who doth resist lightning,
also shell fish, and the fish called Pulmo, both which shine
in the night, and the fish called Stella
for his parching heat, and the fish called Strombi,
that follow their King, and Margari, which also have a King, and
being dryed, are hardened into a stone of a golden colour.
We make a suffumigation for the Sun in this manner,
viz. of saffron, ambergris, musk, lignum-aloes, lignum-balsam, the fruit of the
laurel, cloves, myrrh, and frankincense, all of them being bruised, and mixed in
such a proportion as may make a sweet odor, must be incorporated with the brain
of an eagle, or the blood of a white cock, after the manner of pills or trochists...
To the Sun, all gums, frankincense, mastic, benjamin,
storax, laudanum, ambergris and musk...
