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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 July 2016
Examination of the De universitate mundi by Bernard Silvester and the Hermetic La tin Asclepius proves that Bernard had studied the Hermeticist's work. It is the intent of this paper to report not only that proof, but as well to explain to what extent Bernard applied to his own composition what he had learned from his study.
1 Clerval, , Les écoles de Chartres (Paris 1895) 158–163, first makes the distinction. For a general discussion, cf. Thorndike, L., History of Magic and Experimental Science (New York 1929) II, 99ff.Google Scholar
2 De univ. mundi (hereafter DUM), ed. Wrobel, and Barach, (Bibl. Philos. mediae aetatis, Innsbruck 1876) 5.Google Scholar
3 Hauréau, B., Le Mathematicus de Bernardus Silvestris (Paris 1895) 11.Google Scholar
4 Thorndike, , op. cit. 100; and cf. Poole (English Historical Review 35 [1920] 331) who dates it 1145 or 1147–1148.Google Scholar
5 Clerval, , op. cit. and Gilson, E., ‘La cosmogonie de Bernardus Silvestris,’ Archives d’histoire doctrinale et litteraire du moyen-âge 3 (1928) 1ff.Google Scholar
6 Thorndike, , op. cit. Google Scholar
7 Poole, , Illustrations of Medieval Thought (1884) 117–118.Google Scholar
8 Latin Timaeus, Martianus Capella, Adelard of Bath; also cf. Manitius, , Gesch. der lat. Lit. des Mittelalters III (Munich 1931) 205.Google Scholar
9 Thorndike, , op. cit. 219.Google Scholar
10 Hauréau, B., Notices et extraits de quelques manuscrits latins de la Bibliothèque Nationale 1 (Paris 1890) 61. The quote is Latin Asclepius II, 14b (p. 310.26–27) and III, 16b (p. 314.29ff). All references to the Latin Asclepius are taken from Mr. Walter Scott’s Hermetica (Oxford 1924) vol. I. Roman numerals refer to his division of the dialogue into three parts.Google Scholar
11 Poole, , Illus. of Med. Thought 119.Google Scholar
12 DUM I, 4, 123–124.Google Scholar
13 III, 19b (p. 324.14–15).Google Scholar
14 III, 39, 40a (the general doctrine of destiny, that is Imarmene). Google Scholar
15 III, 39, 40a (p. 362.19–20).Google Scholar
16 DUM I, 4, 124–128.Google Scholar
17 Ibid. II, 3, 97–100.Google Scholar
18 III, 19b (p. 324.10–12).Google Scholar
19 DUM II, 3, 95–97.Google Scholar
20 III, 35 (p. 328.26–29).Google Scholar
21 DUM II, 3, 97.Google Scholar
22 Ibid. II, 5, 46.Google Scholar
23 Op. cit. 76.Google Scholar
24 1 did at first think that the term could be explained by a corruption of some Arabic philosophical term. However, I can find no basis for this assumption. Stonecipher, A.H.M., Graeco-Persian Names (New York and Cincinnati 1918), lists óάρσης and cites Plutarch’s ‘Life of Artaxerxes’ as its source. He believes it may be from the ancient Persian ∗uvarsân (of good virility, strength). I consider it untenable to claim any knowledge by Bernard of Plutarch. And, too, the meaning of οάρσης as applied to Artaxerxes (accepting Stonecipher’s derivation) does not aptly fit what I feel is Bernard’s interpretation of the term.Google Scholar
25 Cf. vol. III, 107ff. for Mr. Scott’s complete analysis of the Hermetic thought.Google Scholar
26 DUM II, 5, 131–137.Google Scholar
27 Ibid. II, 3, 91–92.Google Scholar
28 DUM II, 10, 19–22.Google Scholar
29 Op. cit. 15–16.Google Scholar
30 I, 8 (p. 300.15–20) and cp. 6a (p. 294.19–20), ‘suspicit caelum: colit terram.’ Mr. Scott (introduction, p. 53) states that with this theme the Latin Asclepius I shows its greatest independence of thought, although he suspects that its ultimate source may be Posidonius.Google Scholar
31 DUM II, 10, 35–46.Google Scholar
32 DUM II, 10, 47–50.Google Scholar
33 I, 8 (p. 300.20ff.) and cp. I, 6a (p. 294.23ff.) Google Scholar
34 DUM II, 10, 38; I, 6a (p. 294.23).Google Scholar