1argentiferous lead, in each centumpondíum of which there is an
uncía and a
drachma of silver, or a total of ten uncíae less four drachmae. Of the liquation
thorns there remain three centumpondía, in each centumpondíum of which
there are three sícilící of silver; and there remain four centumpondía of
exhausted liquation cakes, each centumpondíum of which contains a semí
uncía or four and a half drachmae. Inasmuch as in a centumpondíum of copper
“bottoms” there is a third of a líbra and a semí-uncía of silver, in five of those
cakes there must be more than one and a half uncíae and half a drachma of
silver.
drachma of silver, or a total of ten uncíae less four drachmae. Of the liquation
thorns there remain three centumpondía, in each centumpondíum of which
there are three sícilící of silver; and there remain four centumpondía of
exhausted liquation cakes, each centumpondíum of which contains a semí
uncía or four and a half drachmae. Inasmuch as in a centumpondíum of copper
“bottoms” there is a third of a líbra and a semí-uncía of silver, in five of those
cakes there must be more than one and a half uncíae and half a drachma of
silver.
Then, again, from another two and a half centumpondía of copper
“bottoms,” together with eleven centumpondía of lead, four liquation cakes
are made. If in each centumpondium of copper there was a third of a líbra of
silver, there would be in the whole of the centumpondía of base metal five
sixths of a líbra of the precious metal. To this copper is added eight centum
pondía of poor argentiferous lead, each centumpondíum of which contains an
uncía and a drachma of silver, or a total of three-quarters of a líbra of silver.
There is also added three centumpondía of de-silverized lead, in each centum
pondíum of which there is a drachma of silver. Therefore, four liquation
cakes contain a total of a líbra, seven uncíae, a sícílícus and a drachma of silver;
thus each centumpondíum of lead, when it has been liquated from the copper,
contains an uncía and a half and a sícílícus of silver, which alloy we call
“medium” silver-lead.
“bottoms,” together with eleven centumpondía of lead, four liquation cakes
are made. If in each centumpondium of copper there was a third of a líbra of
silver, there would be in the whole of the centumpondía of base metal five
sixths of a líbra of the precious metal. To this copper is added eight centum
pondía of poor argentiferous lead, each centumpondíum of which contains an
uncía and a drachma of silver, or a total of three-quarters of a líbra of silver.
There is also added three centumpondía of de-silverized lead, in each centum
pondíum of which there is a drachma of silver. Therefore, four liquation
cakes contain a total of a líbra, seven uncíae, a sícílícus and a drachma of silver;
thus each centumpondíum of lead, when it has been liquated from the copper,
contains an uncía and a half and a sícílícus of silver, which alloy we call
“medium” silver-lead.
Then, again, from another two and a half centumpondía of copper
“bottoms,” together with eleven centumpondía of lead, they make four
liquation cakes. If in each centumpondium of copper there were likewise a
third of a líbra of silver, there will be in all the weight of the base metal five
sixths of a libra of the precious metal. To this is added nine centumpondía
of medium silver-lead, each centumpondíum of which contains an uncía and
a half and a sícílícus of silver; or a total of a libra and a quarter and a semí
uncía and a sícílícus of silver. And likewise they add two centumpondía of
poor silver-lead, in each of which there is an uncía and a drachma of silver.
Therefore the four liquation cakes contain two and a third líbrae of silver.
Each centumpondíum of lead, when it has been liquated from the copper,
contains a sixth of a líbra and a semí-uncía and a drachma of silver. This
alloy we call “rich” silver-lead; it is carried to the cupellation furnace,
in which lead is separated from silver. I have now mentioned in how many
ways copper containing various proportions of silver is alloyed with lead,
and how they are melted together in the furnace and run into the casting pan.
“bottoms,” together with eleven centumpondía of lead, they make four
liquation cakes. If in each centumpondium of copper there were likewise a
third of a líbra of silver, there will be in all the weight of the base metal five
sixths of a libra of the precious metal. To this is added nine centumpondía
of medium silver-lead, each centumpondíum of which contains an uncía and
a half and a sícílícus of silver; or a total of a libra and a quarter and a semí
uncía and a sícílícus of silver. And likewise they add two centumpondía of
poor silver-lead, in each of which there is an uncía and a drachma of silver.
Therefore the four liquation cakes contain two and a third líbrae of silver.
Each centumpondíum of lead, when it has been liquated from the copper,
contains a sixth of a líbra and a semí-uncía and a drachma of silver. This
alloy we call “rich” silver-lead; it is carried to the cupellation furnace,
in which lead is separated from silver. I have now mentioned in how many
ways copper containing various proportions of silver is alloyed with lead,
and how they are melted together in the furnace and run into the casting pan.
Now I will speak of the method by which lead is liquated from copper
simultaneously with the silver. The liquation cakes are raised from the
ground with the crane, and placed on the copper plates of the furnaces. The
hook of the chain let down from the arm of the crane, is inserted in a
ring of the tongs, one jaw of which has a tooth; a ring is engaged in each
of the handles of the tongs, and these two rings are engaged in a third, in
which the hook of the chain is inserted. The tooth on the one jaw of the
tongs is struck by a hammer, and driven into the hole in the cake, at the point
simultaneously with the silver. The liquation cakes are raised from the
ground with the crane, and placed on the copper plates of the furnaces. The
hook of the chain let down from the arm of the crane, is inserted in a
ring of the tongs, one jaw of which has a tooth; a ring is engaged in each
of the handles of the tongs, and these two rings are engaged in a third, in
which the hook of the chain is inserted. The tooth on the one jaw of the
tongs is struck by a hammer, and driven into the hole in the cake, at the point
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