The Book of Secrets

mixed and combined with houseleek original: "semperviva," a succulent plant often associated with protection and vitality, it induces love between a husband and wife if used in their food. And if a composition of these things with a little sulfur is placed in a pond where there are fish, they will all die. And if it is placed at the mouth of a buffalo, it will immediately burst in two; and this is an experiment verified by modern practitioners. Furthermore, if the said mixture is placed in the fire, it will immediately turn a livid color.

¶ The sixth herb is called Bieith by the Chaldeans likely referring to Neo-Babylonian or Syriac traditions, Retusia by the Greeks, and Nepta Catnip or Catmint by the Latins. Take this herb and mix it with the stone found in the nest of the hoopoe bird original: "vppupe"; the hoopoe was often associated with magical properties in medieval lapidaries; rub the belly of any animal with it, and it will become pregnant and bear offspring of the darkest black of its kind. And if this is placed at their nostrils, they will immediately fall to the ground as if dead, but after a short space of time, they will be recovered. And if the aforementioned mixture is placed in a beehive, the bees will never flee, but will gather there. And if bees are submerged in water and appear to die, and are then placed in the aforementioned preparation, after a short time—about the space of an hour—they will recover their life. For that substance is proportioned to the quality that was lost. A sign of this is that if drowned flies are placed in warm ashes, they will recover their life after a short space.

¶ The seventh herb is called Algeil by the Chaldeans, Oroz by the Greeks, and lingua canis Hound's Tongue by the Latins. Place this herb with the heart of a small frog and its womb wherever you wish, and after a short time, all the dogs of the village will gather there. And if you have the aforementioned mixture under your big toe...