Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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Latin Page · Branch 169 of 204
On Sulphur · Passage 15
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1616 · sequence pages 72
Latin
Alchimista: Et quis diabolus inter tot res et subiecta illum latentem invenire potest? Dic tu mihi materiam, ex qua illum Philosophi accipiunt.
Vox: Amice nimis prope accedis, attamen ut tibi satisfaciam, scito sulphur ubique esse, sed habet quaedam palatia ubi solet Philosophis audientiam dare; sed Philosophi illud in mari suo natans et cum Vulcano ludens adorant, quando illud vilissimo vestitu incognitum Philosophi accedunt.
Alchimista: Domine in mari illud quaerere non est meum, cum hic propinquius est absconditum.
Vox: Dixi tibi quod custodes eius illud in carceribus tenebrosissimis posuerunt, ne illud videre possis, est enim in uno solo subiecto; sed si illud domi non invenisti, vix in sylvis invenies. Ne autem desperes in inquirendo illo, tibi sacrosancte dico, illud in auro et argento esse perfectissimum, sed in argento vivo facillimum.
Alchimista: Domine libenti animo facerem lapidem Philosophorum.
Vox: Rem bonam desideras, sulphur quoque libenter dissolveretur.
English
Alchemist: What devil can find it hidden among so many things and subjects? Tell me the matter from which philosophers take it.
Voice: Friend, you come too close. Yet to satisfy you, know that sulphur is everywhere, but has certain palaces where it is accustomed to grant philosophers an audience. Philosophers adore it swimming in its sea and playing with Vulcan, when philosophers approach it, unrecognised in its poorest clothing.
Alchemist: Sir, it is not for me to seek it in the sea when it is hidden nearer here.
Voice: I told you its guards placed it in the darkest prisons so you could not see it. For it is in one subject alone. But if you have not found it at home, you will scarcely find it in the woods. Lest you despair in seeking it, I solemnly tell you: it is most perfect in gold and silver, but easiest in quicksilver.
Alchemist: Sir, I would gladly make the philosophers' stone.
Voice: You desire a good thing. Sulphur too would gladly be dissolved.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · On Sulphur · On Sulphur · Passage 15
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
The complete supplied Latin–English edition of the Twelve Treatises, Epilogue, Enigma, Parable, Dialogue of Mercury and Treatise of Sulphur, with original preliminaries, John French’s historical English address and its separately labelled modernisation, 101 annotations and the complete study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
The Twelve Treatises and their concluding texts follow the selected 1606 Herzog August Bibliothek witness. The Dialogue uses the 1607 Cologne printing; the author’s preface and Alsted epigram use Frankfurt 1611. Sulphur uses the 1616 Munich and Rome witnesses. John French’s 1650 address is separately identified as historical English reception.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The historical Latin texts and John French’s 1650 English address are in the public domain. The new translation, modernisation and editorial apparatus were prepared with AI assistance for Diotimos Editions in 2026 and are published with the site owner’s authorization.