Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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Facing Pages · Branch 66 of 204
Epilogue · Passage 8
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1606 pp. 148–149
Latin
Vas, ut supra dictum, unicum est, a principio usque ad finem, vel ad summum duo sufficiunt vasa: ignis etiam continuus in utroque opere quo nomine legant errantes caput X et XI. Si in tertia materia operatus fueris nil efficies: hanc tractant hi, qui extra hoc unicum sal nostrum, quod Mercurius est, laborant in herbis, animalibus, lapidibus et mineris excepto Sole et Luna nostra, quae obducta est sphaera Saturni. Et qui optatum desiderat finem, sciat conversionem elementorum, et levia facere ponderosa, et spiritus facere non spiritus, tunc non laborabit in re extranea: ignis est regimen quicquid fit, ut sufficienter in praecedentibus et hic conclusionis loco satis dictum est. Vale lector benevole, et hisce per experientiam meam verificatis laboribus, diu ad nominis divini gloriam, animae tuae salutem, proximique commodum perfruere.
English
As said above, the vessel is one from beginning to end, or at most two vessels suffice. The fire too is continuous in both works; on this point, let those who err read Chapters X and XI. If you work in the third matter, you will accomplish nothing. Those handle it who work outside this one salt of ours, which is Mercury, in herbs, animals, stones, and ores—with the exception of Sol and our Luna, which is covered by Saturn’s sphere. Whoever desires the wished-for end should know the conversion of the elements, how to make light things heavy and spirits into non-spirits. Then he will not labour upon a foreign thing. Fire governs whatever is done, as has been sufficiently said above and here in conclusion. Farewell, kindly reader. Long enjoy these labours, verified by my experience, for the glory of the divine name, the salvation of your soul, and your neighbour’s benefit.
Socrates
Reading A New Light of Alchemy · Epilogue · Epilogue · Passage 8
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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.