Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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Facing Pages · Branch 172 of 204
On Sulphur · Passage 18
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1616 · sequence pages 74–75
Latin
Interim Alchymista in magis optatum somnium de suo sulphure incidit, et ecce apparent illi et venerunt in illum locum multi Alchymistae quaesitum etiam sulphur: quod cum apud illum fontem a sale occisum cadaver invenerunt, illud inter se diviserunt: quod Alchymista videns, etiam partem accepit, et sic quilibet illorum domum reversi sunt, coeperuntque in illo sulphure laborare, et hucusque non cessant; huic vero Alchymistae Saturnus occurrit et ait: Amice, quomodo se res habet?
Alchymista: O Domine multa mirabilia vidi, vix uxor mea credet ista; iam etiam inveni sulphur, rogo te mi Domine adiuva me, faciamus istum lapidem.
Saturnus: Libenter mi amice. Praepara ergo argentum vivum et sulphur et vitrum huc da.
Alchymista: Domine noli habere negotium cum Mercurio, quia est nequam, delusit socium meum et alios multos.
Saturnus: Absque argento vivo in cuius regno sulphur iam Rex est, Philosophi nihil fecerunt, nec ego aliter scio.
Alchymista: Domine faciamus ex solo sulphure.
Saturnus: Bene mi amice, sed ita succedet sicut iubes.
English
Meanwhile the alchemist fell into a more welcome dream about his sulphur. Behold, many alchemists appeared to him and came to that place, also seeking sulphur. Finding its corpse beside the spring, killed by salt, they divided it among themselves. Seeing this, the alchemist too took a portion. Each returned home and began working upon that sulphur, and they have not ceased to this day. Saturn met our alchemist and said: Friend, how do matters stand?
Alchemist: Sir, I have seen many wonders. My wife will scarcely believe them. I have now also found sulphur. Please help me, sir; let us make this stone.
Saturn: Gladly, my friend. Prepare quicksilver and sulphur, then, and bring a glass vessel here.
Alchemist: Sir, have nothing to do with mercury. It is a rogue: it deceived my companion and many others.
Saturn: Without quicksilver, in whose kingdom sulphur is now king, philosophers have accomplished nothing, and I know no other way.
Alchemist: Sir, let us make it from sulphur alone.
Saturn: Very well, my friend, but it will turn out as you command.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · On Sulphur · On Sulphur · Passage 18
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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.