MOLY: THREE REMEDIES

Latine · Mayhoff 1906

Clarissima herbarum est Homero teste quam vocari a dis putat moly, et inventionem eius Mercurio adsignat contraque summa veneficia demonstrationem. nasci eam hodie circa Pheneum et in Cyllene Arcadiae tradunt specie illa Homerica, radice rotunda nigraque, magnitudine cepae, folio scillae, effodi autem non difficulter. Graeci auctores florem eius luteum pinxere, cum Homerus candidum scripserit. inveni e peritis herbarum medicis qui et in Italia nasci eam diceret adferriquee Campania autumni aliquot diebus, effossam inter difficultates saxeas, radicis xxx pedes longae ac ne sic quidem solidae, sed abruptae.

Ab ea maxima auctoritas herbae est, quam dodecatheon vocant omnium deorum maiestate commendantes. in aqua potam omnibus morbis mederi tradunt. folia eius septem, lactucis simillima, exeunt a lutea radice.

Vetustissima inventu Paeonia est nomenque auctoris retinet, quam quidam pentorobon appellant, alii glycysiden. nam haec quoque difficultas est, quod eadem aliter alibi nuncupatur. nascitur opacis montibus, caule inter folia digitorum IIII, ferente in cacumine veluti Graecas nuces II aut v. inest his semen copiosum, rubrum nigrum - que. haec medetur et Faunorum in quiete ludibriis. praecipiunt eruere noctu, quoniam, si picus Martius videat, tuendo in oculos impetum faciat.

Panaces ipso nomine omnium morborum remedia promittit, numerosum et dis inventoribus adscrlptum. unum quippe Asclepion cognominatur, a quo is filiam Panaciam appellavit. sucus est coactus ferulae qualem diximus, radice multi corticis et salsi. hac evolsa scrobem repleri vario genere frugum religio est ac terrae piamentum. ubi et quonam fieret modo aut quale maxime probaretur, inter peregrina docuimus. id, quod e Macedonia adfertur, bucolicon vocant armentariis sponte erumpentem sucum excipientibus; hoc celerrime evanescit. et in aliis autem generibus inprobatur maxime nigrum ac molle; id enim argumento est cera adulterati. — Alterum genus Heracleon vocant et ab Hercule inventum tradunt, alii origanum Heracleoticum aut silvestre, quoniam est origano simile, radice inutili, de quo origano diximus.— Tertium panaces Chironium cognominatur ab inventore. folium eius simile lapatho, maius tamen et hirsutius, flos aureus, radix parva. nascitur pinguibus locis. huius flos efficacissimus, eoque amplius quam supra dicta prodest. — Quartum [genus] palaces, ab eodem Chirone repertum, centaurion cognominatur, sed et Pharnaceon, in controversia inventionis a Pharnace rege deductum. seritur hoc, longioribus quam cetera follis et serratis. radix odorata in umbra siccatur vinoque gra???m adicit. alia eius genera duo fecere aliqui, levis folii, alterum tenuius.

Heracleon siderion et ipsum ab Hercule inventum est, caule tenui, digitorum IIII altitudine, flore puniceo, foliis coriandri. iuxta lacus et amnes invenitur omniaque vulnera ferro inlata efficacissime sanat.

Est Chironis inventum ampelos, quae vocatur Chironia, de qua diximus inter vites, sicuti de herba, cuius inventio adsignatur Minervae.

Herculi eam quoque adscribunt, quae Apollinaris aut a rabiealiis altercum, apud Graecos vero hyoscyamos appellatur. plura eius genera: unum nigro semine, floribus paene purpureis, spinosum calice, nascitur in Galatia; vulgare autem candidius est et fruticosius, altius papavere; tertii semen irionis semini simile est, omnia insaniam gignentia capitisque vertigines. quartum genus molle, lanuginosum, pinguius ceteris, candidi seminis, in maritimis nascens. hoc recepere medici, item rufi seminis; nonnumquam autem candidum rufescit, si non ematuruit, inprobaturque. et alioqui nulla nisi cum inaruit legitur. natura vini, ideo mentem caputque infestans. usus seminis et per se et suco expresso. exprimitur separatim et caulibus foliisque. utuntur et radice, temeraria in totum, ut arbitror, medicina. quippe etiam foliis constat mentem corrumpi, si plura quam IIII bibant;.... etiam antiqui in vino, febrim depelli arbitrantes. oleum fit ex semine, ut diximus, quod ipsum auribus infusum temptat mentem, mireque, ut contra venenum, remedia prodidere iis, qui id bibissent, et ipsum pro remediis, adeo nullo omnia experiendi fine, ut cogant etiam venena prodesse.

English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57

According to Homer, the most celebrated of all plants is that, which, according to him, is known as moly among the gods. The discovery of it he attributes to Mercury, who was also the first to point out its uses as neutralizing the most potent spells of sorcery. At the present day, it is said, it grows in the vicinity of Lake Pheneus, and in Cyllene; a district of Arcadia. It answers the description given of it by Homer, having a round black root, about as large as an onion, and a leaf like that of the squill: there is no difficulty experienced in taking it up. The Greek writers have delineated it as having a yellow flower, while Homer, on the other hand, has spoken of it as white. I once met with a physician, a person extremely well acquainted with plants, who assured me that it is found growing in Italy as well, and that he would send me in a few days a specimen which had been dug up in Campania, with the greatest difficulty, from a rocky soil. The root of it was thirty feet in length, and even then it was not entire, having been broken in the getting up.

The plant next in esteem to moly, is that called dodecatheos, it being looked upon as under the especial tutelage of all the superior gods. Taken in water, it is a cure, they say, for maladies of every kind. The leaves of it, seven in number, and very similar to those of the lettuce, spring from a yellow root.

The plant known as “pæonia” is the most ancient of them all. It still retains the name of him who was the first to discover it, being known also as the “pentorobus” by some, and the “glycyside” by others; indeed, this is one of the great difficulties attendant on forming an accurate knowledge of plants, that the same object has different names in different districts. It grows in umbrageous mountain localities, and puts forth a stem amid the leaves, some four fingers in height, at the summit of which are four or five heads resembling Greek nuts in appearance; enclosed in which, there is a considerable quantity of seed of a red or black colour. This plant is a preservative against the illusions practised by the Fauni in sleep. It is generally recommended to take it up at night; for if the wood-pecker of Mars should perceive a person doing so, it will immediately attack his eyes in defence of the plant.

The panaces, by its very name, gives assurance of a remedy for all diseases: there are numerous kinds of it, and the discovery of its properties has been attributed to the gods. One of these kinds is known by the additional name of “asclepion,” in commemoration of the circumstance that Æsculapius gave the name of Panacia to his daughter. The juice of it, as we have had occasion to remark already, coagulates like that of fennel-giant; the root is covered with a thick rind of a salt flavour.

After this plant has been taken up, it is a point religiously observed to fill the hole with various kinds of grain, a sort of expiation, as it were, to the earth. We have already stated, when speaking of the exotic productions, where and in what manner this juice is prepared, and what kind is the most esteemed. That which is imported from Macedonia is known as “bucolicon,” from the fact that the neatherds there are in the habit of collecting it as it spontaneously exudes: it evaporates, however, with the greatest rapidity. As to the other kinds, that more particularly is held in disesteem which is black and soft, such being a proof, in fact, that it has been adulterated with wax.

A second kind of panaces is known by the name of “heracleon,” from the fact that it was first discovered by Hercules. Some persons, however, call it “Heracleotic origanum,” or wild origanum, from its strong resemblance to the origanum of which we have already spoken: the root of it is good for nothing.

A third kind of panaces is surnamed “chironion,” from him who first discovered it. The leaf is similar to that of lapathum, except that it is larger and more hairy; the flower is of a golden colour, and the root diminutive. It grows in rich, unctuous soils. The flower of this plant is extremely efficacious; hence it is that it is more generally used than the kinds previously mentioned.

A fourth kind of panaces, discovered also by Chiron, is known by the additional name of “centaurion:” it is also called “pharnacion,” from King Pharnaces, it being a matter in dispute whether it was really discovered by Chiron or by that prince. It is grown from seed, and the leaves of it are longer than those of the other kinds, and serrated at the edge. The root, which is odoriferous, is dried in the shade, and is used for imparting an aroma to wine. Some writers distinguish two varieties of this plant—the one with a smooth leaf, the other of a more delicate form.

The heracleon siderion is also another discovery of Hercules. The stem is thin, about four fingers in length, the flower red, and the leaves like those of coriander. It is found growing in the vicinity of lakes and rivers, and is extremely efficacious for the cure of all wounds made by iron.

The ampelos Chironia also, which we have already mentioned when speaking of the vines, is a discovery due to Chiron. We have spoken too, on a previous occasion, of a plant, the discovery of which is attributed to Minerva.

To Hercules also is attributed the discovery of the plant known as the “apollinaris,” and, among the Arabians, as the “altercum” or “altercangenum:” by the Greeks it is called “hyoscyamos.” There are several varieties of it; one of them, with a black seed, flowers bordering on purple, and a prickly stem, growing in Galatia. The common kind again, is whiter, more shrublike, and taller than the poppy. The seed of a third variety is similar to that of irio in appearance; but they have, all of them, the effect of producing vertigo and insanity. A fourth kind again is soft, lanuginous, and more unctuous than the others; the seed of it is white, and it grows in maritime localities. It is this kind that medical men employ, as also that with a red seed. Sometimes, however, the white seed turns of a reddish colour, if not sufficiently ripe when gathered; in which case it is rejected as unfit for use: indeed, none of these plants are gathered until they are perfectly dry. Hyoscyamos, like wine, has the property of flying to the head, and consequently of acting injuriously upon the mental faculties.

The seed is either used in its natural state, or else the juice of it is extracted: the juice also of the stem and leaves is sometimes extracted, separately from the seed. The root is sometimes made use of; but the employment of this plant in any way for medical purposes is, in my opinion, highly dangerous. For it is a fact well ascertained, that the leaves even will exercise a deleterious effect upon the mind, if more than four are taken at a time; though the ancients were of opinion that the leaves act as a febrifuge, taken in wine. From the seed, as already stated, an oil is extracted, which, injected into the ears, deranges the intellect. It is a singular thing, but we find remedies mentioned for those who have taken this juice, as though for a poison, while at the same time we find it prescribed as a potion among the various remedies. In this way it is that experiments are multiplied without end, even to forcing the very poisons themselves to act as antidotes.