A Comparison of Lapidary of Marbode With a Spanish Fifteen Century Adaptation j. Horace Nunemaker 1938

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Medieval Academy of America

A Comparison of the Lapidary of Marbode with a Spanish Fifteenth-Century AdaptationAuthor(s): J. Horace NunemakerSource: Speculum, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Jan., 1938), pp. 62-67Published by: Medieval Academy of AmericaStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2848829

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A COMPARISON OF THE LAPIDARY OF MARBODE

WITH A SPANISH FIFTEENTH-CENTURY

ADAPTATION

BY J. HORACE NUNEMAKER

THE Lapidary of Marbode, Bishop of Rennes, is probably the best known of

the many mediaeval lapidaries. It dates from the twelfth century and is found in

numerous manuscripts.' It contains descriptions of sixty stones, a prologue, and

a closing chapter, 'De anulo et gemma.' Its wide popularity was due to its

authoritative source (it was written by a Bishop of the Church) and to its

account of the medicinal and magical properties of precious stones. That a

Bishop should aid in the spread of magical knowledge seems strange now, but

it must be remembered that it was accepted as a scientific fact in the middle

ages that precious stones had magical and curative properties.2 Obviously, the

magnet is responsible for much of this superstition. The attraction of iron was

simply one of its many attributed properties. In Aristotle3 and the Alfonsine

Lapidaries,4magnets are described that attract milk, wine, honey, salt, silver,

lead, gold, finger nails, hair, flesh, straw, etc. Although Marbode attributes

magical properties to the magnet, he lists only one such stone.

Marbode wrote his lapidary in Latin, but it was soon translated into the

vernacular. The translators always altered the original Latin text, and shortened

or lengthened it. Modern editions of the translations are now available, the besttreatment of the Anglo-Norman lapidaries having been prepared and published

by Studer and Evans.5 The Latin version was printed by Migne.6It is our purpose to compare the First French Version (verse) of Marbode's

lapidary as established in the text of Studer and Evans7 with a Spanish fifteenth-

century adaptation or translation.8 Other French translations of Marbode's

lapidary might have been chosen for the comparison or the Latin version as

printed by Migne might have been used, but it has seemed more to our purposeto compare the two translations in different but related languages, and further-

1 P. Studer and Joan Evans, Anglo-Norman Lapidaries (Paris, 1924), p. xiii:' . . . there are nearly

forty in English public collections alone and more than a hundred are known in continental li-

braries... .'

2 This belief has not entirely disappeared. Cf. the belief in amber as a cure for hay fever in I. Koz-

minsky, TheMagic and Science of Jewels and Stones (New York, 1922).'De Lapidibus,' ed. V. Rose, Zeitschrift fur deutsches Alterthum und deutscheLiteratur, xvIII

(1875), 321 et seq.4These may be consulted in a facsimile edition by J. Fernandez Montafia, El Lapidario (Madrid,

1881).6 Op. cit. Other noteworthy editions of the same or similar material are: L. Pannier, Les Lapidaires

Frangaisdu Moyen Age desXIIe, XIIIe, et XIVe Siecles (Paris, 1882) and P. Meyer, 'Les Plus AnciensLapidaires Frangais,' Romania, xxxvIII (1909), 44 et seq. Cf. also H. B. Bittermann's review of Leon

Baisier, The Lapidaire Chretien etc. (Washington: Catholic University of America, 1936), in SPECU-

LUM, XII (1937), 111-114. 6Patrologia Latina, v. 171. 7 Op. cit., pp. 28-69.

8 Karl Volmoller, ed. Ein spanisches Steinbuch (Heilbronn, 1880). This Spanish lapidary is cited

also by Gallardo, Ensayo deuna bibliotecaespanola (Madrid, 1863), I, 891.

62



The Lapidary of Marbode 63

more, the First French Version contains more of the stones found in the Spanish

adaptation than any other of the French translations. The comparison with this

version is consequently more complete than any other would be. The only devia-

tion from this plan is in the comparison of the two prologues. For this com-parison I have used the text of the First Anglo-Norman Prose Lapidary as estab-

lished by Studer and Evans,' because of the greater similarity between these two

prologues than between that of the First French Version and the Spanish.The Spanish text describes only forty-two stones as compared with sixty in

the French version. Of these forty-two eight are not found in Marbode. Vol-

moller has given Isidor2 as the source of these eight stones. The Spanish text

is in prose while the First French Version is in verse. The prose allows greater

freedom of treatment and thus the Spanish text invariably enlarges and de-

velops the material found in more compact form in the French version. It isinteresting to note the consistent omission of magic, witchcraft, etc. from

Marbode and the prominence of this material in the Spanish text.3 The order

of the stones is almost identical in the two lapidaries. I have noted any differ-

ences in order and treated the stones in the order of the French version. Differ-

ences in form or content are also noted, with quotations or citations of passagesfound in one lapidary and not in the other. Stones that appear in the Spanish

text and not in the French version and vice versa are likewise noted in the places

in which such omissions or insertions occur. I have made the comparison of

theprologues

inparallel

columns. Thismight

have been done for the two texts

throughout, but since both are readily available in published editions, it seems

unnecessary. Indication is made where any differences of importance occur.

COMPARISON OF THE FRENCH AND SPANISH VERSIONS

Marbode(prologue)

Hom trovet lisant que Evax, li reis de

Arabie, enveiat ad Neron, le emperur de

Rume, un livre que il li escrist des naturesdes pieres, de lur manieres et de lur nuns et

de lur culurs et en quele tere eles sunt et

quele puissance eles unt. Mult hi sunt lesvertuz cuvertes, mais les aies en veit hombien apertes. Li mirie i trovent granz aies

a lur medecines, et plusurs aises en vient aeels ki sevent; ne nuls sages hom ne deit

duter que Deus n'i ait mise grant vertut en

pieres, altresi cume il at en herbes.

Spanish (prologue)Leesse Euax, rey de los Arabes, auer

escripto a Neron, el qual segundo reynoenla gibdad de Roma, ... quantas speciesde piedras, quantos nombres, quantos col-

ores, en que region estouiessen, e quanto

poderio fuesse a qualquier dellas... Cael que los secretos manifiesta, amenguala magestad, e non queda secreto aquellode que el uulgo es fecho sabidor... E los

auctores, a quien estas cosas son mani-

festadas, dan testimonio muchos prouechosno menos dellas ser dados, que delas cosas

giertas e ya esperimentadas. E no deue serdubda a ninguno esto, que su uirtud seadada diuinalmente alas piedras pregiosas.Ca uirtud grande es dada a las yeruas e

muy mas grande a las piedras.1 Op.cit., p. 97.2Isidori Etymologiarum libri XX. This work may be conveniently consulted in the edition of

W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911). The lapidary is Lib. XVI.3 Cf. my article, 'An Additional Chapter on Magic in Mediaeval Spanish Literature,' SPECULUM,

vII (1932), 556-564.



64 The Lapidary of Marbode

In the list of stone names given below, that given first is the name of the stone in the

lapidary of Marbode; any other names are those given in the Spanish text.

adamas - diamanteMarbode treats this stone in one

article,while the

Spanish Adaptation1devotes three

separate articles to the same material with the titles: 'De Diamante, Otra Manera de

Diamante, Del Tergero Diamante.' The first of these titles corresponds to Marbode 1.47-

63, the second to 1.64-68, and the third to 1.69-88.

achates - achatesThe descriptions for this stone are alike, except for the addition of two classical referencesin the SA, viz. to Apollo and the son of Anchises.

alectorias - eletria, alectorioHere as elsewhere, the fact that the SA is in prose allows a more complete statement ofthe virtues of the stone. All the material in Marbode is used in the SA with the additionof one virtue: 'Este faze alos llorantes alegres.'

jaspis - jaspeThe descriptions of this stone contain exactly the same material, both showing seventeen

species of the stone and the same virtues.

sapphirus - gafirAll the virtues of this stone listed by Marbode are found in the SA. It is accorded the

magical property of aiding in escape from prison.chalcedonius - calcedon

This stone is not found in the French versions of Marbode, except the first Anglo-Normanverse version where it is treated very briefly. The SA follows the French version exactly,except that Marbode includes (1.215): 'De Sithie est enveiee,' which is not found in the SA.

smaragdus - esmeraldaMarbode states that this stone has six species while the SA gives twenty-two. The de-

scriptions show less similarity here than for the preceding stones. Each lapidary includesstatements concerning this stone not found in the other, e.g. the SA states that it is foundin copper, that it drives away demons, and Marbode states that in some places it is valuedmore than gold and silver. The following comparison will illustrate the difference in treat-ment:

Marbode SA

E s'il la volt encre vert faire, E lauada en uino e alimpiadaTres bien la let el vin e moille, con oliuo, aprouecha en color

Apres si l'uinge de vert uile. uerde e mas sin manzilla.

sardonyx - sardonigeThe treatment here is the same. The SA, however, adds to Marbode's 'Humle e chiastela deit aveir' (1. 279), 'e de cara uenusto o uergoncoso.'

onyx - onizThe SA contains all but these two final verses of Marbode:

E si li sardes est present,Onix ne vus nuira nient.

sardius - sardaThe number of species of this stone is given in the SA but not in Marbode: ... e la

studiosa antiguedad da ginco species de aquesta.'chrysolithus - crisolito

The SA contains three statements not found in Marbode: (1) that this stone is found inIndia (Marbode gives only Ethiopia), (2) that 'engastado en oro, es mucho amoroso,'and (3) that it is 'fuerte contra los temores nocturnos.'

1Hereafter eferred o as SA.



The Lapidary of Marbode 65

beryllus - uerilIn addition to the statements made by Marbode, the SA states that the most beautiful

examples of this stone resemble 'claro azeyte o al agua marina' and that it adds love to

marriage and 'magniffica al que lo trahe.'

topazium - topazaMarbode allows that this stone will cause boiling water to stop boiling: 'Desboillir fait

l'eue boillant,' but the SA extends this virtue to the 'boiling' waves of the sea: 'Assimismo

refrena las ondas del mar feruientes.' The following passage in Marbode is not found in

the SA:Si bot veez en une place,Faites li cerne del topace,Ja ne purra del cerne issir,Iloc li cunvendra murir;...

The order of the next two stones is reversed in the SA.

hyacinthus

-

jagintoOne passage in the SA is not found in Marbode: ' .. e metido en la flor, dicho jagintose escuresce e lo faze muy pequeno ... '

chrysoprasus - crisopassoOnly the summafor this stone is given in the SA. This summa contains, however, the same

brief description as given in Marbode.

amethystus - matistaThe descriptions of this stone are essentially the same throughout.

chelidonius - gelidoniaThe SA repeats the description of Marbode and includes: 'Esta piedra no se cuenta enel

numero delas resplandegientes piedras, ca es pequefia e diforme, pero no menos es po-

derosa en fortaleza e uirtud que qualquier delas otras, ca esta precede en uirtud a muchasotras resplandegientes piedras.'

gagates - gagio

Seeming to avoid the idea of witchcraft, Marbode has a slightly different rendering for

one passage in the description of this stone, as the following parallel passages show:

Marbode SA

Si l'um la gette en un fou, E engendida, el olor del

Ki chiet del mal, s'il est el lou, fumo demuestra alos caducos

Tant tost cum il en sent l'odur, o endemuniados, e afuyentaSi chiet ke il n'en sent dulur. alos soberuios.

magnes - magneteThe SA contains the following in addition to Marbode's description: (1) 'Ca el sabidor en

aquella arte dize ninguna piedra ser mas poderosa que aquesta.' (2) 'E despues desto,

como gerca de los Medos esta arte fuesse en uso trahida, la sabia experiencia descubrio

mas las fuercas o uirtudes de aquesta.' (3) Both state-that it reconciles husbands and wives

and the SA adds: 'e, por el contrario reuocar las casadas delos maridos.' (4) 'Dase as-

simismo por aquesta gracia de suadir o proponer, e, con fermosura e facultad de sermon,distraher o atraher, e, mucho ablandada o allanada, . . . ' This characteristic of repellingas well as attracting is attributed to the magnet in most lapidaries and is especially note-

worthy in the many magnets cited by Aristotle,1 but it is not found in Marbode.

coralium-

coralMarbode again avoids the magic and witchcraft included in the SA. The latter quotes'Zorastes' and 'Methodoro' in connection with the magical properties of this stone. The

SA recommends it against devils: 'Alanca las sombras delos demonios e assimismo todos

los monstruos o uisiones malas.'

1 Cf. J. Ruska, Untersuchungen iberdas Steinbuchdes Aristoteles (Heidelberg, 1911), p. 16, note.



66 The Lapidary of Marbode

alabandica - alabandina

Marbode devotes only four verses to this stone. The same statements are found in the SA.corneolus - cornerina

The descriptions are alike, but the SA is more personal, beginning: 'No me pesara rec-

ordarme etc.' carbunculus - carbunculoThe SA gives the fuller description for this stone, stating that it comes from 'Libia,' addingthat 'en lengua griega se dize esta piedra antrax,' and including this additional virtue

'Ningunas tiniebras pueden en tal manera extinguir o amatar la fulgente luz de aquesta,que ella, resplandesciente, no ponga llamas ardientes enlos ojos delos que la miran.'The next stone in the SA, 'scandasiro,' is not found in Marbode.

lyncurium-

ligirioThe description of the SA is more complete and contains this peculiar error: 'Este es

semejable al helecho, e ha color dela piedra dicha Theoprastro.' Marbode reads:

Theofrastus, ke bien le sot,

Dit k'a electre resemblot; ...aetites - echiteThe additions of the SA are again characteristic. Two classical references are not foundin Marbode: (1) the eagle as the messenger of Jupiter and (2) the twins Castor and Polluxcarried this stone. The SA recommends this stone for those possessed with devils, but

Marbode is more cautious.The next stone in the SA, 'lignite,' is not found in Marbode.

selenitis - sileniteThe SA seems to criticize Marbode by beginning the description of this stone with: 'Desilenite de todo en todo no es ligito callar su uirtud.' Marbode does not mention the mar-vellous properties, as: ' . . . e recobra assimesmo los flacos e tisicos, trayendola en todo

el crescimiento dela luna.'The next two stones of the SA, 'enites' and 'astrion,' are not in Marbode's lapidary.gagatromaeus - gagatromeo

Both lapidaries recommend that this stone be carried in battle, but the SA recommendsit more especially for dukes and captains.

ceraunius - geraunio, rayoMarbode's description is very brief compared with that of the SA, which explains in de-tail at the beginning that 'ceraunio' is the Greek for 'rayo,' hence the marvellous proper-ties of the stone, such as warding off lightning under all circumstances. Marbode's de-

scription begins after this section. Both specify Spain as a source for this stone, the SA

indicating:' . . . e el Yspano, morante en la region Lusitana, .. '

The next stone in the SA, 'hismari,' is not in Marbode.hieracitis - gerachiteThe SA begins, 'La experiencia antigua alaba al Gerachite.' Otherwise, the descriptionsare the same.

The next two stones in the SA, 'dracontide' and 'asterite,' are not in Marbode.

hephaestitis - episticeThe SA adds to Marbode's description that this stone comes from Corinth, is more beauti-ful than copper from Brittany (Bretafa), and that it is good for the eyes.1

haematitis - ematiteThe stone is recommended almost exclusively for medicinal purposes. The recipes are

given more fully in the SA than in Marbode, and the SA includes one for the eyes, not

given in Marbode. The color is given only in the SA: 'E dizese aquesta tener color defierro o ruffo,' which states also that the name of the stone is Greek.asbestos - abeston

The extension of the source by the SA is well illustrated here:

1F. de M6lyhas madea study of these stones that arerecommendedor the eyes: 'Lescachetsd'oculistes t les lapidairesde l'antiquit6 t du hautmoyenAge,'RevuedePhilologie eLitteraturetd'Histoire Anciennes, Nouvelle s6rie, xvi (1892).



The Lapidary of Marbode

Marbode

S'ele est esprise d'une part,N'iert mais esteinte, tuz jurz art.

SA

... ca, despues que es una uez agendido,siempre guarda e detiene los congeptos e

regebidos fuegos, e la su flama reluziente eperdurable nunca se puede amatar.

paeanitis-

peaniteThe four verses of Marbode are extended and the source of the stone is given in the SA:

'La piedra peanite es engendrada en la region delos Macedos, ... .'The next and last stone in the SA, 'enfite,' is not found in Marbode. The lapidary of

Marbode continues with the following stones:

sagdameduschalazias

hexacontalithoschelonitismolochitistecolithos

pyriteshyaenia

prasiuscrystallusgalactites

oritisandrodamas

lipareaenhygrosirisdiadochos

de anulo et gemma

opalusmargaritapantheros

apsyctoschalcophonosdionysiaschryselectrumchrysoprasus

STATE COLLEGE OF WASHINGTON.

67

Documents

A Comparison of Lapidary of Marbode With a Spanish Fifteen Century Adaptation j. Horace Nunemaker 1938