alchemical herbals

[MarcoP]

The so-called “alchemical herbals” are only loosely related with alchemy. Yet, a number of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. contain a short poem about Lunaria, possibly the most puzzling and magical of the "alchemical" plants (see above 56, 69, 79, 86). The poem also appears in the 1652 edition of Ashmole's “You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. - containing severall poeticall pieces of our famous English philosophers, who have written the hermetique mysteries in their owne ancient language".

Segre Rutz writes that, according to some texts (Capitulum Hermetis sapientissimi, Liber Alexandri de septem herbis, Giovanni Cadamosto's herbal) the plant was believed to have 15 leaves on full moon: it lost a leaf on each day of waning moon, and grew a new leaf on each day of waxing moon.

Here is my attempt to render in modern English the poem published by Ashmole.

There is an Herb men call Lunayrie, 
blessed much its maker be. 
Asterion it is called also, 
And other names many and more; 
It is an Herb of great might, 
Of Sol the Sun it takes its light, 
It is the Father, to Crop and Root; 
With fragrant Flowers that are said, 
Flowers to bear in this way, 
Some are White, and some are Red: 
Its Leaves grow, both day and night, 
Like the Ferment that is so bright: 
I shall declare, this Herb so light, 
To many a man it is a fair sight; 
First at the Root I will begin, 
That causes all things forth to spring; 
It grows upon a Mountain brim, 
Where Febis [Phoebus] has great domination: 
The Sun by day, the Moon by night, 
That makes it both fair and bright, 
The Root grows on stones clear, 
White and Red, that is so pure: 
The Root is black, the Stalk is red; 
It will never be dead, 
The Leaves are round, as a Noble Sun, 
And wax and wane as the Moon: 
In the middle a mark the size of a penny, 
Lo it is like our sweet Lunayre: 
Its Flowers shine, fair and clear, 
In all the World they have no peer, 
It is not found in no manner wise, 
But by a shepherd in God's service: 
The good shepherd that I here mean, 
Is he who keeps his soul clean: 
Its Flowers are great and some are small, 
Like to them that grow in Dale; 
With many a virtue both fair and clear, 
As there are days in all the year, 
From falling evil and all sicknesses, 
From Sorrow it brings man to Bliss; 
Unto that bliss that we may come, 
By the help of Mary's Son: 
And of His Mother that is so free, 
Amen good Lord for charity.