Middle High German · AI translation
Arzneibuch, Züricher
English for the 2 passages of this work that the Atlas of Ancient Myth, Magic in the Ancient Texts and a study of demons and angels quote or cite, and which the library holds in no published English. The numbers are the edition's own references.
44v.a.1–44v.a.26
liber de naturali facultate incipit.
Here begins the book on the natural faculty.
hier beginnet daz arzenbuoch Ypocratis· daz
Here begins the medicine book of Hippocrates, which
er hæte geschriben wider allen den sühten die
he wrote against all the diseases that
dâr mügen erwahsen· in allen demmennischlîchem
can arise in the whole human
lîbe. at capitis dolorem·
body. For headache:
nim wermuoten· rutam· ephöuwe. daz an der
take wormwood, rue, ivy that grows on the
erde wehset· unde niuwez mit honige. unde
ground, and pound it with honey, and
mischeiz mit dem wîzen des eies. legeez an
mix it with the white of an egg; lay it on
ein tuoch· unde· verbint daz houbet dâr mite.
a cloth and bind the head with it.
nim des pfersiches kernen· unde· niuwe sie mit
Take peach kernels and pound them with
oleo rosato· alde mitdeme einvaltigen öle·
rose oil, or with plain oil;
tuo daz halpteil des sarpfen ezziches dâr zuo.
add half as much sharp vinegar to it.
salbe daz houbet allez dâr mite. unz andie nât·
Anoint the whole head with it, up to the suture.
obe dich dunke daz sich daz houbet spalten welle.
If it seems to you that your head is about to split
vondeme swere. sô niuwe daz ephöuwe. unde
from the pain, then pound the ivy and
mische öle dâr zuo. unde· drückeez durch ein
mix oil with it, and press it through a
tuoch· unde· salbe daz vürehoubet· mit dem daz dârûz
cloth, and anoint the forehead with what runs out
rinnet. ezhilfet dich vile wole· nimrosam.
of it. It will help you very well. Take rose
.unde· schellewurz· unde· niuw sie mit dem ezziche.
and celandine, and pound them with vinegar,
.unde· salbe daz houbet mite. nim den sâmen
and anoint the head with it. Take the seed
der nezzelen. niuw in mit dem ezziche. unde
of the nettle, pound it with vinegar, and
salbe daz houbet dâ mite. mit disen allen
anoint the head with it. With all these
sô wirdet vertriben diu houbetsuht·
the headache is driven away.
at capillos cadentes·
For falling hair:
brenne den lînsâmen· unde· mische in
burn linseed and mix it
mit öle· unde· salbe daz hâr. brenne des widers
with oil, and anoint the hair. Burn a ram's
Translator's note. Ivy 'that grows on the ground' (44v.a.6-7) may be ground ivy. 'nât' (44v.a.13), 'seam', taken as the suture of the skull. 'daz halpteil' (44v.a.12) could also mean 'a half part'.
45v.b.25–45v.b.31
havene· unz ez versiede zezwein bechærn
pot, until it boils down to two beakers
vollen· unde gip im zetrinkenne drîtage·
full, and give it to him to drink for three days;
sô bristet der stein· item. nim daz ei daz
then the stone breaks. Likewise: take the egg that
an dem donerstage geleget würde· unde gip
was laid on a Thursday, and give
ez im mitdem wîne zetrinkenne· at dissinteriam
it to him to drink with wine. For dysentery
quae sanguinem emittit· nim des wegerîches
that discharges blood: take plantain
wurzen· unde lübestecken· unde der kervelen·
roots, and lovage, and chervil
The whole original: ReM 2.1 at Zenodo (open M017).