DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Baro Urbigerus

Aphorismi Urbigerani

The Complete 1690 Volume · With Circulatum Minus

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

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

Facing Pages · Branch 79 of 194

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

Book Mode

Original English

LVII. Althô our Mercury simplex is exceedingly spiritual and volatil, yet since it is the right Agent, digesting the Seed or Essence of all Metals and Minerals, it will, thô undigested, naturally adhere to any of them, althô corporeal, that shall come near it, and will never leave it, unless it be forc'd away by the Test, thô kept in a great Fusion for many hours.

Modern English

LVII. Although our simple mercury is exceedingly spiritual and volatile, it is the proper agent for digesting the seed or essence of all metals and minerals. Therefore, even while undigested, it will naturally adhere to any of them that comes near it, although that metal or mineral is corporeal. It will never leave it unless driven away by the assay, even if kept in strong fusion for many hours.

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.