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Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart II — Chapter 13: The Controversy Over Light

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German & Latin Page · Branch 329 of 411

Part II — Chapter 13: The Controversy Over Light

German & Latin

211

Et sanè verbum DEI est propria illa forma, quæ ab initio creationis dedit, & adhuc dat esse rebus omnibus: Quâ de formâ vulgares Philosophi ferè omnes ante multa secula balbutire cœperunt & adhuc balbutiunt, nec non aliquando verba multa faciunt, sed tamen quid eorum forma sit, ipsi nesciunt, ut curiosus ille Sp. cum subtilissimo suo Sc. ingenuè fatetur. Unde meritò dici potest, illos verba pro rebus & terminos pro Philosophiâ discipulis suis tradere.

211

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part II — Chapter 13: The Controversy Over Light

211

Indeed, God’s Word is that proper form which from the beginning of creation gave, and still gives, existence to all things. Almost all the ordinary philosophers began stammering about this form many centuries ago and still stammer about it. Sometimes they multiply words, yet they do not themselves know what their form is, as that inquisitive Sp., together with his most subtle Sc., frankly admits. One may therefore rightly say that they hand their students words in place of things and terms in place of philosophy.

211

About This Reading Edition

An anonymous Hermetic treatise of 1680, presented in its original German and Latin with a new English translation, 279 explanatory notes, the historical phoenix frontispiece, an introduction, reading guide, outline, glossary, bibliography, and original registers.

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Candida Phoenix philosophica. Frankfurt am Main: Christian Hermsdorff, 1680. The chosen witness is the Wellcome Library copy digitized as b32993456; German and Latin, with French, Greek, and Hebrew passages retained.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The 1680 source is identified as public domain by the Wellcome/Internet Archive record. The supplied 2026 transcription, English translation, introduction, notes, reading guide, outline, glossary, bibliography, and editorial arrangement are published with the site owner’s authorization. The frontispiece is retained from the supplied edition and credited to its historical witness.