The Book of Secrets

is so named. This herb, however, when decayed under dung in a glass vessel, procreates a certain worm or bird having a tail in the manner of a blackbird. If anyone is touched on the chest with its blood, they will lose their senses for fifteen days or more. And if the aforementioned serpent The text uses "serpens" (serpent/snake) here, likely referring to the worm-like creature generated from the herb. is burned and the ash is placed in a fire, there will immediately be a horrible iris of thunder original: "yfiris tonitrui"; likely referring to a visual or auditory phenomenon resembling a storm.. And if the aforementioned powder is placed in a lamp and lit, it will seem as though the entire house is filled with serpents. And this has been tested by modern men.

¶ The thirteenth herb is called Olphauas by the Chaldeans, Myliorion by the Greeks, and Verbena Vervain by the Latins. This herb, as the Magi report, if gathered while the sun is in the sign of Aries and mixed with a grain of one-year-old peony, cures those falling from the "evil disease" Epilepsy, often called the falling sickness.. And if it is placed in rich earth, after eight weeks worms will be generated; if these touch anyone, they will die immediately. And if the aforementioned worms are placed in a dovecote, all the doves will gather there. And if their powder is placed in the sun, it will appear as though the sun is livid Pale or leaden-colored.. If, however, the powder is placed in a place where men live, or laid between two lovers, immediately strife or malice arises between them.

¶ The fourteenth herb is called Lelayos by the Chaldeans, Larasini by the Greeks, and Melisophilos Balm or Lemon Balm; literally "bee-leaf". by the Latins, of which Macer Aemilius Macer, a Roman poet whose name was used as a pseudonym for a popular medieval herbal, "Macer Floridus". makes mention. This herb, moreover, if gathered green and mixed with the juice of a one-year-old cypress and placed in a pottage A thick soup or stew., makes the pottage look