LIBER XII · CAPUT 23
SPHAGNOS
Latine · Mayhoff 1906
Discessimus a terris oceanum spectantibus ad convexas in nostra maria. ergo Aethiopiae subiecta Africa hammoniaci lacrima stillat in harenis suis; inde nomen etiam Hammonis oraculo, iuxta quod gignitur arbore quam metopon appellant, resinae modo aut cummium. genera eius duo: thrauston masculi turis similitudine, quod maxime probatur, alterum pingue et resinosum, quod phyrama appellant. adulteratur harenis velut nascendo adprehensis; igitur quam minimis glaebis probatur et quam purissimis. pretium optimo in libras asses XXXX.
Sphagnos infra eos situs in Cyrenaica provincia maxime probatur; alii bryon vocant. secundum locum optinet Cyprius, tertium Phoenicius. fertur et in Aegypto nasci, quin et in Gallia; nec dubitaverim: sunt enim hoc nomine cani arborum villi, quales in quercu maxime videmus, sed odore praestantes. laus prima candidissimis atque latissimis, secunda rutilis, nulla nigris. et in insulis petrisque nati improbantur omnesque quibus palmarum atque non suus odor sit.
English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57
Africa, which lies below Æthiopia, distils a tear-like gum in its sands, called hammoniacum, the name of which has passed to the oracle of Hammon, situate near the tree which produces it. This substance, which is also called metopion, bears a strong resemblance to a resin or a gum. There are two kinds of ammoniacum; that to which the name is given of thrauston, and which bears a resemblance to male frankincense, being the kind that is the most esteemed, and that which is known as phyrama, being of an unctuous and resinous nature. This substance is adulterated by means of sand, which has all the appearance of having adhered to it during its growth: hence it is greatly preferred when the pieces are extremely small, and in the purest state possible. The price of hammoniacum of the best quality is forty asses per pound.
Below these countries, and in the province of Cyrenaica, the perfume called sphagnos is found in the highest state of perfection: there are some who call it by the name of bryon. The sphagnos of Cyprus holds the second rank, and that of Phœnicia the third. It is said that this plant is produced in Egypt also, and in Gaul as well, and I see no reason to doubt that such is the fact, for this name is given to certain white shaggy tufts upon trees, such as we often see upon the quercus: those, however, of which we are speaking, emit a most exquisite odour. The most esteemed of all are the whitest, and those situate at the greatest height upon the tree. Those of second quality are red, while those which are black are not of the slightest value. The sphagnos, too, that is produced on islands and among rocks, is held in no esteem, as well as all those varieties which have the odour of the palm-tree, and not that which is so peculiarly their own.