Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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Latin Page · Branch 113 of 204
Sulphur · Water · Passage 4
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1616 · sequence pages 8–9
Latin
Manifestum autem est, quod omnes cursus aquarum, in cor maris revertuntur, sed quo postea perveniunt, non omnibus constat: sunt enim aliqui, qui credunt omnia flumina, aquas, et scaturigines, quae cursum suum in mare habent, ex astris generari, qui cum aliam rationem, cur illis mare non excrescit, nesciunt, dicunt in corde maris has aquas consumi. Sed hoc in Natura locum non habet, sicut de pluviis ostendimus. Astra quidem causant, sed non generant; cum nihil generatur, nisi in suo simili eiusdem speciei: astra vero sunt ex igne et aere, quomodo igitur generabunt aquas? Et si hoc ita esset, quod quaedam stellae aquas generarent, tunc necessario et aliae terram generassent, tum et aliae alia Elementa: quoniam haec machina Mundi quatuor Elementis ita detinetur, ut unum aliud minima etiam particula non excedat, sed in aequilibrio virtutibus certant; alias si unum aliud excederet, ruina sequeretur. At tamen maneat, qui vult, in sua opinione; nobis ita in lumine Naturae datum est, quod istis quatuor Elementis eorum aequalitate a summo Creatore proportionata, haec machina Mundi conservatur, et unum aliud in sua operatione non excedit.
English
It is evident that all streams return to the heart of the sea, but not everyone understands where they then go. Some believe that all rivers, waters and springs that flow into the sea are generated by the stars. Because they know no other reason why the sea does not grow larger, they say these waters are consumed in its heart. But this has no place in nature, as I have shown concerning rain. The stars indeed cause, but do not generate: nothing is generated except in its like, of the same species. The stars are composed of fire and air; how then will they generate waters? If certain stars did generate waters, others would necessarily have generated earth, and others the other elements. For the four elements hold this fabric of the world together in such a way that none exceeds another by even the smallest particle. Their powers contend in balance. If one exceeded another, destruction would follow. Whoever wishes may retain his opinion. In nature's light it has been given to us to understand that this fabric of the world is preserved by these four elements, their balance proportioned by the supreme Creator, and that none exceeds another in its operation.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · Sulphur · Water · Sulphur · Water · Passage 4
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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.
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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.