Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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German Page · Branch 102 of 175
Philosophical Discourse · Passage 7
German
Es sind auch etliche / welche durch Cristallen-Spiegel; oder auch per reflectionem △ ☉is procediren / und ich gewisse Exempla / was damit ausgericht ist worden / aber es geschicht mit langer Zeit / und ist Gefahr bey Instrumenten / welche leicht vom Winde beschädigt werden. Was anlangt das gemeine materialische Feuer / darff man auch nicht viel Kunst; ich wil in einer Stuben oder Gemach ein Feuer haben / dem Philosophischen nicht ungleich / ohne Rauch / und 100. Gläser oder mehr uno calore continuo regieren / secundum gradus debitos, wären also 2. Stück oder requisita cum inferiori opere universalis dargethan / nemlich Materia & △ / mangelt noch eins / Instrumentum Physicum; Die Chymici brauchen Gläser / damit können sie ihre labores perficiren / aber gleichwol ist es Heterogeneum; Weil die Materia und Feuer schlecht / und von der Natur selbsten formirt / so muß auch das Instrumentum von der Natur nicht durch Kunst gemacht seyn / biß auf ein Stücke; bedencke doch / bedencke doch selbsten; Worin wachsen die Mineralia, Metall / und Edelgestein? Antwort: im Letten und Steinen; diß Mittel muß der Philosophus auch practiciren / ein Instrument aus Steinen lassen aushölern / wie ein Apotheker-Büchse / dieselbe also umb die juncturen mit ▽. Leim wol lutiren / und mit Eisen ✠ weise wol vermachen / er muß aber zu seiner Materia auch observiren Proportionem Geometricam, sonst ist aller Labor vergebens / also hab ich nun hiermit mein Schul-Recht angezeigt / denen nemlich / welche Filii Naturalis Hermeticæ Philosophiæ sind.
English
Some also proceed by crystal mirrors or by reflection of the Sun’s fire, and I know definite examples of what has been accomplished with them. But it takes a long time, and there is danger to the instruments, which the wind can easily damage. As for ordinary material fire, little art is needed either. I can have in a room or chamber a smokeless fire not unlike the philosophical fire, and govern a hundred glasses or more with one continuous heat, according to the proper degrees. Thus two things or requirements for the lower universal work have been shown: matter and fire. One remains: the natural instrument. Chymists use glasses and can perfect their labours with them, yet glass is heterogeneous. Since the matter and fire are plain and formed by nature herself, the instrument too must be made by nature rather than art, except for one point. Consider for yourself: where do minerals, metals, and precious stones grow? Answer: in clay and stones. The philosopher must practise this method too: have an instrument hollowed out of stone like an apothecary’s jar, lute its joints well with water and clay, and secure it well with iron crosswise. He must also observe the geometrical proportion to his matter; otherwise all labour is vain. I have now displayed my school-right to those who are sons of natural Hermetic philosophy.
Socrates
Reading Centrum Naturae Concentratum · Philosophical Discourse · Philosophical Discourse · Passage 7
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
The complete supplied German–English edition of the 1682 collection: the main treatise attributed to Ali Puli, Helbig’s preface, distinct companion discourses, the short potable-gold preparation and the anonymous Father’s Last Testament, with four historical figures, 103 annotations and the full Diotimos study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
The governing German witness is the complete 1682 collection in Badische Landesbibliothek Karlsruhe, shelfmark 87 B 76050, with an unnumbered title and printed pages 1–80. The historical title’s Arabic and Portuguese antecedents and its authorial persona are retained as claims, not authenticated originals. Johann Otto Helbig (Hellwig), Martin de Delle, J. J. F. and the anonymous testament retain their distinct historical roles.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The historical German source text and engraving are in the public domain. The English translation and editorial material were prepared with AI assistance for Diotimos Editions in 2026, with a supplied translation and sign commentary identified separately, and are published with the site owner’s authorization.