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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Attributed to Ali Puli

Centrum Naturae Concentratum

The Salt of Nature Regenerated

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Centrum Naturae ConcentratumThe Last Testament of a Father to His Beloved Son · Passage 23

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Facing Pages · Branch 153 of 175

The Last Testament of a Father to His Beloved Son · Passage 23

German

Noch eins hab ich vergessen oben, so diese Figur anlangt, nemblich daß die Sonne oder ihr Circul schwartz ist, wie der Circul des ♄i oder ♁ii, das thun die Weisen darumb, damit sie andeuten wollen, daß ☉ und ♁ium ein Metall ist in der Kunst. Daher haben viel Philosophi das Gold Bley, und das Bley, verstehe das ♁ium ☉um genennt. Denn aus diesen beyden wird der Lapis Philosophorum gemacht, und das ♀ ist das erste Metall, daraus alle andere wachsen, denn wenn ein Metall zu dem Grad des ☉des kömmt, kan es von Natur nicht höher kommen, und ist zu der höchsten und endlichen Perfection kommen. Die Weisen halten deswegen das erste und letzte Metall, als ☉ und ♁ in ihren Wesen für ein Metall. vid. Tractat. de Pharmico Cathol. fol. 18. num. 2. Dieser Tractat ist in 4to. Lateinisch, da kanst du es lesen.

English

I forgot one further point above concerning this figure: the Sun or its circle is black, like the circle of Saturn or antimony. The sages do this to indicate that gold and antimony are one metal in the art. Hence many philosophers have called gold lead, and lead—understand antimony—gold. For the Philosophers’ Stone is made from these two, and Venus is the first metal, from which all the others grow. When a metal reaches the degree of gold, it cannot rise higher by nature, but has reached the highest and final perfection. The sages therefore regard the first and last metal, gold and antimony, as one metal in their essence. See the Treatise on the Universal Medicine, folio 18, number 2. This treatise is in Latin in quarto; you can read it there.

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.