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The Complete Postscript · Modern English
Original English
The Tree is a Supporter of the Motto, Virtus unita fortior: which, being to be read from the side of the Serpent, representing by the Half-Moon on its Head the Planet, under whose Influence it is born, is to be referr'd to it according to its particular Motto, which signifies, that, if you take it alone, it can do little or nothing in our Art, as wanting the Assistance of others. By the Green Dragon is to be understood our first undetermin'd Matter, comprehending all our Principles, (as is demonstrated by the Half-Moon on its Head, the Sun in its Body, and the Cross on its Tail,) and denoting by its Motto, that it can perform the whole work without being join'd with any other created or artificially prepar'd thing: which is our first way. But this our Dragon, when copulating with our Serpent, is forc'd to comply with her, degrading it self from its undetermin'd Being for the production of our second way. Apollo with the Sun on his head, and Diana with the Half-Moon, embracing each other, shew our third way, and the Continuation of our first and second. The River, into which they descend, signifies the State, they must be reduc'd into, before they can be in a Capacity of being born again, and before in any of our three ways they can be brought to a perfect Spiritualization and Union. Apollo and Diana, coming out of the River in one wonderful Body, Diana having obtain'd all, represent our Herculean works, ready finish'd, and the beginning of their Conjunction, and by their going to set their foot on firm ground, where she is to sow the noble Fruits for the Procreation, is to be understood the Continuation of their Conjunction, till they are fully united and perfected. In this Scheme also, as well as in our Aphorisms, are mystically exhibited all the principal Points of Faith and Religion, compris'd in the Volumes of the Old and New Testament: whence it manifestly appears, that the Contemplation of Nature truly leads to the Comprehension of those heavenly Verities, by which alone we can expect to arrive at the Enjoyment of that blessed Immortality, to which, as to the true and ultimate End of our Creation, all our Endeavors are to be directed.
Modern English
The tree supports the motto “United strength is stronger.” This must be read from the side of the serpent, which represents, by the crescent on its head, the planet under whose influence it is born. The motto must be referred to the serpent in accordance with its own particular motto, which signifies that, taken alone, it can do little or nothing in our art because it lacks the assistance of others. By the green dragon is to be understood our first undetermined matter, containing all our principles, as shown by the crescent on its head, the sun in its body and the cross on its tail. Its motto denotes that it can perform the whole work without being joined to any other created or artificially prepared thing: this is our first way. But when our dragon couples with our serpent, it is forced to comply with her, lowering itself from its undetermined being to produce our second way. Apollo, with the sun on his head, and Diana, with the crescent, embracing each other, show our third way and the continuation of our first and second. The river into which they descend signifies the state to which they must be reduced before they can be born again, and before they can be brought to perfect spiritualisation and union in any of our three ways. Apollo and Diana coming out of the river in one wonderful body, Diana having obtained everything, represent our Herculean works already finished and the beginning of their conjunction. Their movement to set foot on firm ground, where she is to sow the noble fruits for procreation, signifies the continuation of their conjunction until they are fully united and perfected. In this scheme, as in our aphorisms, all the principal points of faith and religion contained in the Old and New Testaments are also mystically exhibited. From this it plainly appears that the contemplation of nature truly leads to an understanding of those heavenly truths through which alone we may expect to attain the enjoyment of that blessed immortality. Towards this, as the true and ultimate end of our creation, all our endeavours must be directed.
Socrates
Reading Aphorismi Urbigerani · The Complete Postscript · Postscript · Passage 2
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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.
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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.
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