Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition
Swipe or use the arrow keys.
Facing Pages · Branch 117 of 194
LXXX–CI: Nourishment, Perfection and Fermentation · Grand Elixir · Aphorism XCIII
Original English
XCIII. It is to be observed, that the Glass Vessel, which must be oval, with a Neck half a foot long, and very strong, be of a fit bigness, and of such Capacity, that your Matter, when it is put into the Vessel, may take up only the third part of it, leaving the other two vacant: for, if it should be too big, it would be a great hinderance in performing the Work, and if too little, it would break into a thousand pieces.
Modern English
XCIII. Observe that the glass vessel, which must be oval, with a neck half a foot long, and very strong, is of suitable size and capacity. When your matter is placed in it, it must occupy only a third, leaving the other two thirds empty. If the vessel is too large, it will greatly hinder the work; if too small, it will break into a thousand pieces.
Socrates
Reading Aphorismi Urbigerani · LXXX–CI: Nourishment, Perfection and Fermentation · Grand Elixir · Aphorism XCIII
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