The ''Secretum philosophorum'' was a popular

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

text originating in England c.1300–1350. Ostensibly a treatise on the Seven

Liberal Arts Liberal arts education (from Latin "free" and "art or principled practice") is the traditional academic course in Western higher education. ''Liberal arts'' takes the term '' art'' in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically th ...

, it merely uses them as a framework in which to describe and demystify practical tricks, ‘tricks of the trade’ and applied science.

Sections

Prologue (''Iste liber quem per manibus habemus vocatur Secretum Philosophorum.'') Book I is nominally on ‘

Grammar In linguistics, the grammar of a natural language is its set of structural constraints on speakers' or writers' composition of clauses, phrases, and words. The term can also refer to the study of such constraints, a field that includes domain ...

’ which ‘teaches us to write correctly’ (''Grammatica docet recte scribere et recte loqui''). Explaining that no-one can write correctly without the proper instruments, the subsequent text consists of technical recipes for the materials required ‘for correct writing’, plus some recipes for concealing meanings by the use of

invisible ink Invisible ink, also known as security ink or sympathetic ink, is a substance used for writing, which is invisible either on application or soon thereafter, and can later be made visible by some means, such as heat or ultraviolet light. Invisible ...

and ciphers. Book I is thus in fact an artists' recipe book. Book I thus includes recipes for

pigment A pigment is a colored material that is completely or nearly insoluble in water. In contrast, dyes are typically soluble, at least at some stage in their use. Generally dyes are often organic compounds whereas pigments are often inorganic compou ...

s, tempering, adhesives, varnish, writing tablets, artificial

pumice Pumice (), called pumicite in its powdered or dust form, is a volcanic rock that consists of highly vesicular rough-textured volcanic glass, which may or may not contain crystals. It is typically light-colored. Scoria is another vesicular v ...

and

, and for writing on metal by

etching Etching is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (incised) in the metal. In modern manufacturing, other chemicals may be used on other types ...

; many of these technical recipes are unique, rare, variant or unusually early witnesses to practices, or clarify obscure recipes in other treatises; the instructions appear to be for amateur use. Book I then ends with homilies on ‘correct speaking’ (discretion and the dangers of lying), taken from the pseudo-Aristotle ''

Secretum secretorum The or (from Latin: "The Secret of Secrets"), also known as the ( ar, كتاب سر الأسرار, lit=The Secret Book of Secrets), is a pseudo-Aristotelian treatise which purports to be a letter from Aristotle to his student Alexander the ...

'', with a note on ‘

weasel words A weasel word, or anonymous authority, is an informal term for words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated. Examples ...

’ for concealing meaning. Book II, ‘ Rhetoric’ ‘teaches ornate speech’ (''Rethorica docet ornate loqui''). It collects

riddle A riddle is a statement, question or phrase having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved. Riddles are of two types: ''enigmas'', which are problems generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that requ ...

s. Book III, ‘ Dialectic’ ‘teaches to discern between true and false’ (''Dialetica docet discernere verum a falso et ab apparenti vero''). It collects various tricks for deceiving the five

senses A sense is a biological system used by an organism for sensation, the process of gathering information about the world through the detection of stimuli. (For example, in the human body, the brain which is part of the central nervous system rec ...

, with mirrors and conjuring tricks. Book IV, ‘ Arithmetic’ ‘teaches numbers per se’ (''Arismetrica docet de numero per se''). It rejoices in the multiplication of chains of immense numbers. Part V, ‘

Music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

’ ‘teaches the numbers of sound’ (''Musica docet de numero sonoro''). It describes the

monochord A monochord, also known as sonometer (see below), is an ancient musical and scientific laboratory instrument, involving one (mono-) string ( chord). The term ''monochord'' is sometimes used as the class-name for any musical stringed instrument h ...

, and a recipe for gut strings. Book VI, ‘

Geometry Geometry (; ) is, with arithmetic, one of the oldest branches of mathematics. It is concerned with properties of space such as the distance, shape, size, and relative position of figures. A mathematician who works in the field of geometry is ...

’ ‘teaches magnitudes, i.e. to measure’ (''Geometria docet de magnitudinibus id est de mensuris quantitatum''). It gives practical tricks for measuring, especially buildings. Book VII, ‘

Astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, g ...

’ ‘teaches movements of the heavens and their effects on men’ (''Astronomia docet de magnitudine mobili hoc est de motibus firmamenti et planetarum et eorum effectibus''). It is principally astrology, but includes a very early illustrated treatise on

hydraulics Hydraulics (from Greek: Υδραυλική) is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counte ...

Manuscripts, editions and translations

Nearly 30

manuscript A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand – or, once practical typewriters became available, typewritten – as opposed to mechanically printed or reproduced in ...

s of the ''Secretum philosophorum'' survive, making it something of a medieval 'bestseller', and

Lynn Thorndike Lynn Thorndike (24 July 1882, in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA – 28 December 1965, Columbia University Club, New York City) was an American historian of medieval science and alchemy. He was the son of a clergyman, Edward R. Thorndike, and the young ...

considered the ''Secretum philosophorum'' to have formed part of the general intellectual furniture of most even partially well-read individuals, and urged its publication. Nevertheless, as yet no complete edition or translation has been published. Book I: An edition and translation of the recipes for scribes and illuminators, together with a technical commentary, has been published by Clarke (2009), which see for a list of surviving manuscripts. Book II: Some of the riddles are edited (with suggested solutions) by Galloway (1995). Book III: An edition, English translation, and commentary has been published by Goulding (2006). Book V: The recipe for

gut strings Catgut (also known as gut) is a type of cord that is prepared from the natural fiber found in the walls of animal Gut (anatomy), intestines. Catgut makers usually use sheep or goat intestines, but occasionally use the intestines of cattle, Domest ...

has been published by (1944-5).{{cite book , last=Handschin , first=Jacques , authorlink=Jacques Handschin , title=Aus der alten Musiktheorie. V. Zur Instrumentenkunde" , work=Acta Musicologica , volume= 16 , date=1944–45 , page= 1-10

References

14th-century books in Latin Art technological sources