De philomela
Printing History, Manuscripts. Not printed. Three manuscripts.
Editions. Not edited by Huser or Sudhoff.
Relationship between different versions. There are two versions of the text with almost no differences; version 2, however, directly addresses “e. khw. mt.” (“ewer khuniglich mayestat”, your royal majesty) and is not directly associated with Paracelsus. The Vienna manuscript has both versions, the Leiden manuscript only version 2.
Structure, genre/form, perspective, style. An instruction to transport a nightingale for one mile on a twig so that it sings all the way before it falls down dead.
Relationship to other texts.
Authenticity, authorship. The Vienna manuscript is associated with a “D[octor] Koplerus” who may or may not be identical with Dr. Wolfgang Kappler (see § 10.3). The text of the Wolfenbüttel manuscript is associated with the name of Georg Phaedro, according to CP 2: 544. – A “foolish stunt” according to Sudhoff. – Mentioned in the catalogues of Jonas Adelwert’s library.
Time of writing. The Wolfenbüttel manuscript is dated 1567.
Manuscripts:
- Leiden, Universiteitsbibliotheek: Voss. Chym. F.16, f. 10v [anonymous]
- Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek: Cod. 11259, f. 238v–240r
- Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibliothek: Cod. Guelf. 33.6 Aug. 4°, f. 444–446
First printed: not printed
Historical Manuscript Catalogues: Catalogus (Stuttgart), I, f. 4v n° [151]; Catalogus Adelwert (Leiden), n° [108]
Essential bibliography: Sudhoff, Paracelsus-Handschriften, 111, 197, 797 n° IV/4; CP 2: 544.
Further bibliographical references:
Boeren, Codices Vossiani Chymici (1975), 52.
