Ticapsi

From Simon Online
Jump to: navigation, search

Ticapsi Plinius est duum generum unum angustis foliis digitali longitudine et latitudine in terram versis in cacumine divisis cauliculo semipedali non sine ramis peltarum speciem semine incluso lenticule effigie nisi quod infringitur unde nomen, flos albicat, nascitur in semitis et sepibus semen asperi gustus. alterum ticapsim aliqui persico nomine vocant latis foliis radicibus magnis.


Apparatus:

Ticapsi ABC efj | Thicapsi p | Thlaspi Pliny
duorum | duum AC
angustis | agrestis ms. e
{longitudine} et et j
in terram | interra j
versis | uerssis B
divisis | diuissis B
peltarum AC Pliny | peltrarum B j | pelptarum f | speltarum ms. e | plantarum p
effigie | efigie B
infringitur | instrĩgit~ B
unde nomen (accepit add. j) flos ABC ejp | u. f. n. ms. f
albicat | albificat ms. e
in semitis BAC ej | in foliis semitis f | in semitibus p
semen (om. p) asperi gustus ABC ejp | a. g. est s. ms. f
ticapsim (-iʒ AC fp) ABC fjp | tipcasim ms. e | thlaspi Pliny
aliqui | aliqo f
nomine ABC efjp | napy Pliny
radicibus | indicibus j
{magnis} etc. add. B fp


Translation:

There are two kinds of Ticapsi {"cress"}, the first with narrow leaves and a finger’s breadth and length and turning towards the ground, divided at the top, with a small stem half a foot long and not without branches. Its seed is inclosed in {pods} resembling shields shaped like lenticula {"lentil"} except that it is jagged, from where it gets its name {< θλάω /thláō/ “to crush, bruise”}. Its flower is white. It grows on paths and by hedges. The seed is of a sharpish taste. And it purges gall and slime by vomiting or evacuation. It is applied in doses of an acetabulum.
Infused {as an enema} it is good for sciatica, It also draws down the menses. However it kills the foetus.

The second kind of ticapsi some people also call by a Persian name {Pliny: 'Persian napy' = "mustard"}, it has broad leaves and big roots.


Commentary:

Simon entry is taken from Pliny, Natural History, 22, 103, 139/140, ed. W.H.S. Jones (1938-63: vol. VI, 474,476), § 140 beginning with: “alterum thlaspi aliqui Persicon napy/napi vocant”.

Simon’s text shows some corruption. First and foremost
T(h)icapsi/ ticapsim:
From original Greek θλάσπις /thláspis/, also θλάσπι /thláspi/ “a sort of large cress, the seed of which was bruised and used like mustard, perhaps our shepherd's purse” (LSJ). Somehow *T(h)laspi was misread as T(h)icapsi and ticapsim, the latter imitating the Greek accusative θλάσπιν /thláspin/ > *t(h)laspin > ticapsim. For further etymological information see Tlapsium and Talipsos.

persico nomine:
All witnesses have persico nomine, i.e. {sc. the plant is called} “by a Persian name”, but it reads in the original: alterum thlaspi aliqui Persicon napy/napi vocant” – “the other thlaspi some people call “Persian napy {'mustard'}”.


Pliny’s text is essentially identical with a monograph on θλάσπι /thláspi/ in Dioscorides, the text of which is found in Simon’s entry Tlapsium, the entry to be consulted for further information see. Obviously both authors must have excerpted the same source.


WilfGunther (talk) 18:24, 6 September 2016 (BST)


See also Tlapsium


Next entry