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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Attributed to Abraham the Jew

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures

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The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume IMultiplication and the Eucharist · Manuscript 131v · Scan 298

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Multiplication and the Eucharist · Manuscript 131v · Scan 298

French

Ms. 131v

pénètre les parties les plus intérieures du métal ; la fixité qui lui est opposée lui donne une si grande incorruptibilité qu’elle rejette toutes sortes de feux et surmonte même sa force et sa violence. C’est pourquoi ce sont véritablement et certainement les qualités de l’élixir arabique, la fusibilité, la subtilité, la pénétrabilité, la fixité, la fulgidité ou la teinture qu’on compare à la subtilité, agilité, incorruptibilité et lumière des corps glorieux. Qu’est-ce, je vous prie, que la fusibilité sans subtilité, la subtilité sans permanence et la permanence sans teinture ? Ce n’est certainement rien. La fusibilité étant de plusieurs métaux fait qu’ils ne se peuvent pas tous pénétrer ; c’est pourquoi la pénétrabilité et la subtilité sont requises et absolument nécessaires pour pénétrer par les plus petites parties. La première fusibilité est l’ouvrage de la nature qui mêle tellement les éléments dans le mercure ; suivant les règles de l’art, a besoin d’un artiste très subtil et ingénieux pour parfaire notre matière plus que la nature même, et elle la surpasse en ce qu’elle pénètre comme les esprits et passe au travers des corps

Ms. 131v

The Manly Hall Manuscript Collection, Volume I: Multiplication and the Eucharist

Ms. 131v

penetrates the metal’s innermost parts. Fixity, its opposite, gives it such incorruptibility that it rejects every kind of fire and even overcomes fire’s strength and violence. Thus these truly and certainly are the qualities of the Arabian elixir: fusibility, subtlety, penetrability, fixity, and brilliance or tincture, which are compared with the subtlety, agility, incorruptibility, and light of glorified bodies. What, I ask you, is fusibility without subtlety, subtlety without permanence, or permanence without tincture? Certainly nothing. Since fusibility belongs to several metals, they cannot all penetrate one another; penetrability and subtlety are therefore required and absolutely necessary to penetrate the smallest parts. The first fusibility is nature’s work, so mingling the elements in mercury; according to art’s rules, an exceedingly subtle, ingenious artist is needed to perfect our matter beyond nature itself. It surpasses nature by penetrating like spirits and passing through bodies

Ms. 131v

About This Reading Edition

The first manuscript in the Manly Palmer Hall collection at the Getty Research Institute: the Book of Hieroglyphic Figures, presented in French and English with 463 explanatory notes, 13 manuscript plates, 25 source details, an introduction, chapter outline, glossary, bibliography, and register of readings.

Historical Text and Translation

Book of Hieroglyphic Figures (Livre des figures hiéroglyphiques), attributed in the witness to Abraham the Jew. Getty Research Institute, Manly Palmer Hall collection of alchemical manuscripts, accession 950053, Box 1, Hogart manuscript 3; French witness catalogued circa 1800. Manly Palmer Hall is the collector, not the author.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The circa 1800 source manuscript is public domain. The supplied 2026 French reading transcription, English translation, introduction, notes, outline, glossary, register, and editorial arrangement are published with the site owner’s authorization. Source photographs are credited to the Getty Research Institute and Internet Archive in the supplied edition.