Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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Facing Pages · Branch 120 of 204
Sulphur · Water · Passage 11
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1616 · sequence pages 15–16
Latin
Talis igitur est distillator conditor omnium rerum, in cuius manu hoc distillatorium est, ad cuius exemplum distillationes omnes a Philosophis inventae sunt, quod ipsemet altissimus Deus ac misericors, absque dubio hominibus inspiravit: qui poterit, quando erit sancta eius voluntas, aut ignem centralem extinguere, aut vas frangere, et erit omnium finis. Sed cum eius bonitas in melius tendit, exaltabit aliquando sanctissimam Maiestatem suam, et ignem illum omnium purissimum, qui aquis caelorum in firmamentum est, altius extollet dabitque gradum fortiorem igni Centrali, ut et omnes aquae in aera eleventur, et calcinabitur terra; ut ita ignis, consumpto omni impuro, reddet subtiles, circulatas in aere aquas, purificatae terrae, atque sic multo nobiliorem mundum, si alias licet philosophari, efficiet.
English
Such a distiller is the maker of all things, who holds this still in his hand. Philosophers invented all distillations after its example, undoubtedly inspired by the Most High and merciful God himself. Whenever it is his holy will, he can either extinguish the central fire or break the vessel, and everything will end. But since his goodness tends towards better things, one day he will exalt his most holy majesty, raise higher that purest fire which gives firmness to the waters of the heavens, and grant the central fire a stronger degree, so that all waters rise into air and earth is calcined. Thus, after consuming everything impure, fire will return the subtle waters circulated in air to the purified earth, and so make a much nobler world—if one may philosophise about such matters.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · Sulphur · Water · Sulphur · Water · Passage 11
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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.
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.