Apologia Poetica Translation

[Stewart]

Hi John

I'm not convinced of the treasure map idea either, but in an earlier post you said:

I'm sure [Michael's] idea of the treasure map is right and although I didn't think of that concept I guess I've been treating Apologia like that for quite a while.

...so I'm a bit confused!

If such a map exists I think it's more likely to be a map of Karlshafen, where he lived or Furstenberg where he began his windmill project. I say this because he left Karl's castle at Kassel around 1729 and went to live a house in Karlshafen provided by Karl.

I thought that at the time of publication of Apologia Bessler was living in Kassel? I would have thought that any map references in Apologia would refer to Kassel, or maybe places he had lived in the past. Why would he refer to places in Apologia that he didn't live in until 13 years later?

It's a real shame the tomb is no longer there - there could have been clues all over it! I doubt papers would have been buried in the tomb as that would surely be the first place anyone would look. Do you have any information on the tomb? Was it definately in his back garden? It seems unlikely anyone would have removed the tomb/bodies until recent times. Is there any record of it having been removed when the car park was built? Surely if it was removed recently someone would have recorded it and maybe photographed it?

You're right, there are so many possible ways Bessler could have coded info into Apologia - it's very daunting. I think Bessler's main plan for Apologia was to use it as a proof of priority over his wheel design should anyone else develop a wheel that worked in the same way. Bessler could then provided the method of decoding the information in Apologia to a judge, who would then be able to confirm that Bessler was first. This means that Bessler might not have intended anyone to be able to decode Apologia on their own and so the decode method could be very complex. Maybe it was the decode method for Apologia that Bessler left on or in his tomb.

I should also point out that the numbering of some verses varies from bible to bible so that your quote above might be the same verse as refered to in AP.

Thats's very interesting, I didn't know that! Cracking the Bible references code does seem impossible without knowing what Bible Bessler used!

All the best
Stewart

[Stewart]

Hi John

With regards to the Bible references...
In your book you say that just before the Bible references Bessler misquotes a line from the Bible. (I won't quote the text here without your permission). Is this the misquoted line from the Bible you are talking about:

1 Corinthians 1:12
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:12 is the fifth Bible reference in Bessler's list.

All the best
Stewart

[Stewart]

Maybe Bessler's Bible references come from more than one Bible version. This would explain the differences in the book titles between references (i.e. Job and Hiob etc), among other things. His misquote from 1.Cor.1.v.12 could be saying "I'm from all these Bibles, not just one".

Stewart

[Stewart]

Having studied Bessler's bible references a bit more, I'm now convinced they come from more than one version of The Bible. Here are some examples:

• He quotes a book as 2.Reg - this is an abbreviation of Regum II (Kings 2) from the Latin Vulgate version of The Bible.
  
  He quotes a book as Sap - this is an abbreviation of Sapientia (Wisdom) from the Latin Vulgate version of The Bible.
  
  He quotes a book as Thren - this is an abbreviation of Threnoi Hieremiou (Lamentations) from the Septuagint (Greek) version of The Bible.
  
  He quotes a book as Hiob - this is the book of Job and probably from the German Luther version of The Bible.

There is also a reference to B:Weisch - I think this must be a German reference to the Books of Wisdom. There is also a reference to Apoc which must be the Apocrypha.

These are the most unusual references and I'm now trying to work out where the standard references might come from. There are differences such as Heb and Hebr, Psal and Psalm - which might indicate different versions.

Stewart

[John Collins]

OK Stewart, first the treasure map idea - I meant that I thought of the Apologia as a treasure map in that JB seems to provide a number of clues to the solution and the solution it points to is also in Apologia. Initially I didn't mean that it literally pointed to a physical locatation somewhere near to where he lived - although later I accepted that it might do.

A more likely idea is that somewhere among the documentation might be such a hidden map that might point to a location such as Karlshafen or Furstenberg - more likely than one in Apologia that is. As you correctly point out an Apologia map could not point to a physical location that he did not know he was going to live near in 1716.

No there is no documentation on the tomb other than comments about its existence. I forget exactly but I think it says something along the lines of "he requested permission from karl to build his own tomb in his back garden at the house in Karlshafen."

The town of Karlshafen looks very much as it must have done when he lived there. It was purpose-built by Karl to house the Huguenots fleeing from France. The car park looks as it if had been there for years. A local member of the Municipal board wrote to me many times over the years and looked into the location of the tomb and sent me photographs of the car park, and I saw it for myself when I visited the place. As far as I know there is no record of the uncovering of a tomb there.

Yes I agree the Apologia must have been written to provide a priori proof of the invention and it might have been the tomb that provided the means to decode it. I'm sure that that explains why he wanted a homemade tomb in his own garden, what other reason could there be?

Stewart you and anyone else on this board are welcome to quote text from any of my writings as long as you acknowledge where it came from at the time. I didn't specifically mean that (1 Corinthians 1:12) reference, although it does differ, Imeant most the quotes vary slightly, not so much in meaning as just in word order and occasional use. Good work on digging up the meanings of the Biblical Book names, I have always puzzled over the B.Weisch reference, why would he not continue to refer the books of wisdom as he had previously done - i.e. Sap for wisdom unless of course he tok the reference from another version of the Bible that called the book of wisdon Weisch?

I didn't know that Thren stood for Lamentations I always assumed it was a shortened form of Thracians - excellent work.

John Collins

[Stewart]

Hi John

Thanks for clearing up the treasure map thing - I understand now.
What a shame the tomb has gone - there must have been clues on it somewhere.
Thanks for giving us permission to quote from your book.
Sorry, I think you misunderstood me over the 1 Corinthians 1:12 reference. All I was asking is whether the following line from your book (the one Bessler put just before the Bible references) was a misquote of 1 Corinthians 1:12 :

I am neither of Paul, nor of Apollo, nor a Papist, nor of Cephas, nor of Luther! What then? I am of Christ.

This is the line from The Bible that I think it must be (1 Corinthians 1:12):

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

I'd like to see the original German text of that line from Apologia, just to see if there is any other way of interpreting it. Don't worry about posting it here - I can wait for your new book :-)

All the best
Stewart

[Rufus Gartz]

The following is a very literal translation of the wheel description from AP which I have been working on since I bought John Collins' first book a while back.

It was translated using the "Dictionary of the English and German Languages, 1901 edition, published by Thieme-Preusser in Hamburg, Germany". Where a word has two meanings then both are shown separated by a /. Where a word translates to a phrase then it is shown in ' ' quotation marks e.g laufer lauffet = 'one is let go/escape'.

I took the liberty of defining the X marks as a new paragraph.

Those who are keen to ask questions
should ask them of this little book.
My deeds will not be revealed prematurely.
Should anyone wish to speculate about the truth,
let him ponder the rich pageant of words
which I now cause to shower down upon him!

The mean/greed is the root evil/negative
An anvil gets many impacts.
A carrier carries, 'one is let go/escape'
The Seer sees, the buyer/purchaser bought,
The rain 'begins to flow', the snow that falls;
The box/gun shoots, the curve quickens;
Here wanders/strays one/a large herd/flock
Very fat, column, depth horses;
This flail wants generally/commonly
'to be' threshed, not with the doctor be
The 'childish playing' over then columns
with only weight/gravity edge-'to make rough'
Airtight-jumper feather/'light spring'-fencer/fighter be
Swift and quick like the wind.
This cunning cat glides quietly,
And catches his fat mouse.
The hound/dog also out the iron creeped,
but only 'about' this chain reaches.
This beauty cloaked/shaded and mechanism
white/blank it is very friendly to work/operate
'it is' shaken well with its toil
Creeped out that middle/internals through/across the tear/crack/opening
'For it'/that them almost this aridity/dryness trick/prank
Also nearly over this scrawled thread/weaving;

I see a wheel, and 'not any'/'not just a' wheel,
Because 'to provide a wheel' and also 'not any'/'not just a' had/'done what was needed'.
Turns without inner and outer wheels,
without 'Cymbala hoisted weights', winch/winder and watch-spring,

Here seen half, there seen whole;
It boasts like a peacock tail.

It turns 'to the' 'right hand' and 'to the' 'left hand';
I 'be allowed' it just/only with fingers beckon.
It widens/broadens itself this long and diagonal,
Here is it full, there is it empty;
A thing stood out then three 'to reach'/'to extend';
It had/have hand-grabbed proof/sign/drawing,
Without brimstone/sulphur, salt, quicksilver/mercury
Also soon a thing away obliged/compelled.

The elemental qualities
Also/'as well' every thing be needing.
Saturn, Mars, Jupiter be
to every 'to get' willing be.

That thing also, ('from which' I myself fed)
Through internals/intestines and border/marrow and leg/trip driven/driving;
One crabs forward and backward crawling
And it sound (well prepared/designed)
The ghostly-crashing freely "walks leisurely/'at a slow pace' "
For/as frequently through closed doors;

Indeed stillness, stillness and enough,
Enough, otherwise become the enemy only wise;
The enemy, as/when the myself will drool/slander,
Drool/slander, I alone myself 'to grow angry'
'To grow angry' and over fresh/lively action/fact
Then mantle/casing throw from that wheel;

But this wish becomes to failure;
Be muzzled myself 'to not prevail upon';
This be on his 'place stand'/placard/(grave marker?):
I will 'on the contrary' the valued/worthy world/people
'Large favourable' in that book more/yet 'to yield'
Subsequent strange/particular 'to ask'/'to question';
As which 'to me' find sent
Only 'of late' with/from done/finished higher hand/direction;

I found that referring to the picture of the three spoke wheel as shown at the end of AP helps to visualise some of the above.

Regards,

Rufus Gartz

[Ralf]

Okay, here is my translation... I am a native speaker (though no expert for 18th century German). I have no idea what a Schniebe-käulgen could be (maybe a spelling error?). [Schniebe could mean something like a beak/bill, käulgen could perhaps mean a club or something club-shaped. But this is a wild guess.]


The stinginess/miserliness/love of money is an evil root/radix
An anvil gets a lot of blows/hits/shocks.
A wagoner/carter/driver rides/drives, a runner/rotor/grinder runs/works;
the seer/beholder sees/beholds/looks/spots/views/checks, the buyer/vendee buys/purchases,

(89)
The rain flows, the snow falls;
The gun/can/bushing shoots, the bow/arc/crescent-shaped-object accelerates/moves quickly;
here moves a large herd/group/flock
[of] very fat, lazy, thick horses;
The flails/boors want in secret
to be at/with the threshers, not the doctors/physicians/scholars
The children play on the columns/pillars
with lots of/louder heavy/hard Schniebe-käulgen
[in the] Air-jumpers/jacks feather/spring-fencers are
spry/fast and rapid/brisk like the wind[ing/thread?].
The smart cat slinks/tiptoes/sneaks/creeps
and catches/snatches fine fat mice.
The dog creeps/slinks also out of the hut/kennel/house,
but only as far as the chain/thread/string reaches/permits.
The beautiful treasures/estimate and machines/mechanisms
he knows to operate/serve them very well/friendly.
He wags/waggles/waves well/deliberately/probably with his tail
crawls/creeps/slinks on the belly through the hoop/tire/bracelet/rime,
for that/therefore soon the scrawny/slim jacks/poppets
also hit/tap/knock/thump [him] on the paws; X
One sees one wheel, and also no wheel[a not/un-wheel?],
because it has rims/felloes and also none at the same time.
[it?] Runs/works without inner and outer wheels,
cymballa-shaped weight, wind[ing/thread?] and clock-spring/feather, X
Here you see it half/in half/in part, there you see it complete/entire/whole;
It brags/boasts/shows off like a peacock-tail. X
It runs/works to the right and to the left [-wards/-hand sides];
one only needs to wave/beckon with the fingers/pegs/hand.
The length and width broadens itself,
here it is full/complete, there is is empty/blank/barren;
A thing is made up/built/consists of/out of the three realms;
[there] you have [my/the/your] obvious/tangible/handy/seizable cues/signs/gestures,

(90)
Without sulfur/brimstone, salt, mercury/Mercur
soon a thing is bound to lapse/flow away, too. X
The qualities of the/these elements
are required/needed for every thing.
Saturn, Mars, Jupiter fine/pretty/swell
are willingly ready for every[-one's?] war. X
The thing, too (on/by which one nourishes/feeds)
through intestines/bowels and pith/core and legs drives/is driven [goes right through]; X
A crab/cancer/crawfish creeps/crawls/slinks forward and backwards/on its back
and is wholesome/well/healthy (well done/prepared.)
The poltergeists[rumble/scuffle-ghosts/spirits/specters] are roaming/walking around freely
on occasion/often through locked/closed doors/doorways; X
For sure silently/still, silently/still and enough/sufficient,
enough/sufficient, else the enemy just becomes wise/clever/intelligent;
The enemy who wants to drool/slander me,
drool/slander [me], wants me to sputter/get excited,
sputter/get excited and in the very act
the coat/cloak/veil [would be] lifted/thrown off the wheel; X
But this wish will fail/miscarry him;
his snarling/ranting will not disturb me/get me there;
This be put in its/his place:
I rather/in reality want [for] the dear world
generously/freehandedly put in the/this book
the following special/particular/extraordinary questions;
which have been sent to me
just recently by/from a quite/very high/higher hand/position;


Hope this helps a little.

[ovyyus]

Hi Ralf,

Thanks for your translation version. It seems that all versions tend to give the same gist.

I've posted the hand written text that accompanies the 9th Maschinen Tractate drawing, as at www.orffyre.com/mt1-20.html. Perhaps you, or anyone else, would like to have a go at translating it?

[Ralf]

Uh, I can not even read this. I am not too good in deciphering old handwritings (I can barely read my great-grandmothers cookbook). Maybe if I see some of Besslers writings in his own script and as printed text, I can start to make out his letters and could guess the words, more or less. Just for now I can hardly recognize words, like "Kugel-rädern", "principium" or "aber", "man", "daß". What's your version of this text?

[Trev]

Ralf, I dont know if it is any help but those two words Schniebe and käulgen come up in a google search, the pages are all in German so I cant tell the meaning.

link

Trev.

[Ralf]

I already used Google, my friend. Those "Schniebe" are all surnames, or, in one case, it is a local dialect of the indicative present of the word "schnauben" (snort --> "I snort").
You need a specialist for this word, someone who understands early 18th German physics and mechanics, tools and machine parts. But I doubt that it holds the key to this text. As mentioned before, it his highly unlikely that anyone can use this poem as a blueprint for constructing a PM wheel.

[VergingOnDone]

As mentioned before, it his highly unlikely that anyone can use this poem as a blueprint for constructing a PM wheel.

The poem was a recap of what his book explains so in a way it highlighted the relevant text.

Love of money=evil:
- the desire to be rich caused a secret to be hidden far too long.

Anvil receives many strikes or blows:
- during the cycle of the movement a part interacts or releases an impact apon the "anvil" or the weighted portion causing a "looping cycle" of offsets or continuous hits to the anvil as it were.

Driver drives:
-describes the center piece which affects a rotating weight (separate not anvil; the grinder) and the movement of these interacting looks like a specific part of the action in running.

Just a sample of what I've come to understand and yet here I am still unfinished with my wheel interpretation. I do have to say though the revelation of the principle still brings a smile to me. I really want to complete my wheel before I give away the hidden too long secret.

[Fletcher]

I do have to say though the revelation of the principle still brings a smile to me. I really want to complete my wheel before I give away the hidden too long secret.

How long now Verge ? The champagnes uncorked & ready to pour :-)

[Ralf]

Okay, we all agree that the text is a lyrical interpretation of the thing. But the exact specifications are simply not there. What is a "dog"? What a "cat", or a "horse"? What kind of "bow"? Are the "poltergeists" the alleged actions of his scheming "enemies" or invisible physical forces, or both? The possibilities of what specific mechanisms, shapes and metal combinations were used are nearly endless. Numbers and relations are missing, too, as far as I can see it.
If anyone could have used this text to replicate his PM wheel, I am sure his immediate "enemies" would have done it, because they vaguely knew what he could have meant and what he worked with. They even saw and heard this thing in action and still couldn't do it, although they probably read his publications. And these men weren't stupid, either.

By the way, my interpretation of the first line ("Der Geiz ist eine Wurzel böß'") was: The damn problem is that something only moves in one direction on its own (because of gravity?), but not voluntarily in the opposite direction, so you need some thicks to archieve this.