Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition
Swipe or use the arrow keys.
Modern English Page · Branch 44 of 194
XIV–XXVII: The First and Second Ways · Modern English
Original English
XXIV. Since our Subject cannot be call'd the fiery Serpent of the Philosophers, nor have the power of overcoming any created thing, before it has receiv'd such Virtue and Quality from our Green-Dragon, and the Universal Menstruum, by which it self is first overcome, devour'd, and bury'd in their Bowels, out of which being born again, 'tis made capable of the same, it follows, that such a Virtue of killing and vivifying is natural to our Dragon and the Universal Menstruum.
Modern English
XXIV. Our subject cannot be called the philosophers’ fiery Serpent, or possess the power to overcome any created thing, until it has received that virtue and quality from our Green Dragon and the universal menstruum. These first overcome, devour, and bury the subject in their depths; born from them again, it becomes capable of doing the same. It follows that the power of killing and bringing to life is natural to our Dragon and the universal menstruum.
Socrates
Reading Aphorismi Urbigerani · XIV–XXVII: The First and Second Ways · Grand Elixir · Aphorism XXIV
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.
- Governing image witness and historical engravingGetty Research Institute: governing 1690 copy
- Historical textual witness checked against native imagesEEBO-TCP: structured 1690 transcription witness
- Complete original supplied fileDownload the supplied PDF edition
- Complete original supplied fileDownload the supplied EPUB edition
- Complete original supplied fileDownload the supplied Word edition
- Complete original supplied fileDownload the supplied Markdown edition