Aphorismi Urbigerani

Name: Aphorismi Urbigerani
Author: Baro Urbigerus

The Complete 1690 Volume · With Circulatum Minus

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Aphorismi UrbigeraniI–XIII: First Matter and the Philosophical Subject · Original

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Original English Page · Branch 32 of 194

I–XIII: First Matter and the Philosophical Subject · Original

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Original English

XIII. Our Gold is call'd Natural, because it is not to be made by Art, and since it is known to none, but the true Disciples of Hermes, who understand how to separate it from its original Lump, 'tis call'd also Philosophical; and if God had not been so gracious, as to create this first Chaos to our hand, all our Skill and Art in the Construction of the great Elixir would be in vain.

Modern English

XIII. Our gold is called natural because art cannot make it. Since it is known only to the true disciples of Hermes, who understand how to separate it from its original mass, it is also called philosophical. Had God not graciously created this first chaos ready for us, all our skill and art in constructing the great elixir would be in vain.

About This Reading Edition

The complete 1690 Aphorismi Urbigerani: historical frontispiece and Latin inscriptions, title and licence, dedication, all 101 grand-elixir aphorisms, the complete Circulatum Minus with its title, address and 31 vegetable aphorisms, and the full explanatory postscript with both printed endings. Original and modern English readings, fresh Latin translations, 115 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Baro Urbigerus, Aphorismi Urbigerani, London: Henry Faithorne, 1690; with Circulatum Minus Urbigeranum and the concluding postscript. The Getty Research Institute copy supplies the governing images; EEBO-TCP A25684 supplies the structured transcription witness, corrected against those images. The frontispiece signed W. F. is attributed in library catalogues to William Faithorne.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The historical text and engraving are public domain. The EEBO-TCP Phase 2 transcription is released under CC0; that waiver does not cover associated images. The engraving is credited to the Getty Research Institute copy digitised by Internet Archive. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.