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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Baro Urbigerus

Aphorismi Urbigerani

The Complete 1690 Volume · With Circulatum Minus

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Aphorismi UrbigeraniXLIV–LXIII: Creation, Separation and the Third Way · Grand Elixir · Aphorism LVI

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Facing Pages · Branch 78 of 194

XLIV–LXIII: Creation, Separation and the Third Way · Grand Elixir · Aphorism LVI

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Original English

LVI. Know then, that this right Proportion is ten parts of our Mercury simplex to one of your finest common Gold in filings, which is dissolved in it, like Ice in common Water, after an imperceptible manner, and as soon as the Dissolution is over, the Coagulation and Putrefaction presently follow, which effects if you find not, 'tis a sign, that the Mercury exceeds its due Proportion. Now when your Gold has been thus well amalgamated, united, putrify'd, and inseparably digested with our Mercury simplex, you will then have only our Philosophical Sulphur, in which time one might easily have perform'd the whole Work, working without common Gold.

Modern English

LVI. Know, then, that this right proportion is ten parts of our simple mercury to one part of your finest common gold in filings. The gold dissolves in it imperceptibly, like ice in common water. As soon as dissolution is complete, coagulation and putrefaction immediately follow. If you do not find these effects, it is a sign that the mercury exceeds its due proportion. Now, when your gold has thus been thoroughly amalgamated, united, putrefied and inseparably digested with our simple mercury, you will have only our philosophical sulphur. In that time one might easily have completed the whole work without using common gold.

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.