De Papauere.

They say the force of the poppy is cold and dry.

They assign three species to it: the flower of one is white,

of another, red: and the flower of the smaller one is pale rosy;

this one they commonly call the wild poppy.

Nobler than all is the one on which a white flower grows;

from its tender heads they make opium:

the outermost skin being lightly cut, the milk which flows

from there they catch in receptacles and save the juice,

suitable for many antidotes and various complaints.

There are those who pound its little heads along with their milk,

and the liquor pressed out from them they dry in the sun.

After the first juice, this juice has secondary virtues.

But from the species which I said produces rosy flowers:

they make an oil from the crushed seed,

not a little pleasant to the taste and sleep-inducing.

The third, whose flower is red and provides a blackish seed:

offers sleep, if it is drunk, in the manner of the others.

A warm decoction of any of these,

if a sick person foments his face with it or drinks it,

he will catch the desired sleep, unless death is very near.

The seed of the black poppy drunk with wine is said to bind the belly;

and in this way, it is said, it restrains women's fluxes.

Drunk, it gives sleep, it checks a severe cough.

These seeds ought to be taken in the weight of a denarius,

for a larger amount more often brings lethargy or death.

A poultice made from its pounded leaves

They say it excellently cures swollen throats,

And it is said to extinguish the fires which they call sacred.

By cold or merely by drink or food or morsel

If the vocal cord has been rendered harsh,

By applying such a medicine it will become smooth.

The white kind of meconium: for so

They say every poppy is called in the language of the Greeks,

Is far more noble and useful than the two.

Then, when the little heads of this poppy flow with milk,

Let water be boiled with the milk: to which let a third part of honey

Be added; boil them all until the decoction is thick

Like honey: thus let it be preserved for various uses.

When taken, it causes sleep, drives away a cough, and binds the bowels.

It well dries rheums of the vocal cord.

Opium made from the tender little heads of the same,

Just as I have already taught, you will mix with rose oil.

Anoint the head: with these mixed, all pain will be calmed,

And this ointment is accustomed to provide quiet sleep.

Mix the fragrant threads of saffron with the aforesaid things;

You will cure pain of the ear by pouring this in.

Also, with this worked together with woman's milk and saffron,

By anointing, you will be able to calm hot gout.

Placed as a suppository in the anus, this is accustomed to bring on sleep.

That same thing is thought to provide it by its odor alone.