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Nature in Motion · Modern English
Original English
then to make the like again. This is her Tick Tack, shee playes one Game, to begin another. The matter is placed before her like a peece of Wax, and shee shapes it to all formes, and figures. Now shee makes a Bird, now a Beast, now a Flowre, then a Frog and shee is pleas'd with her own Magicall performances, as men are with their own fansies. Hence shee is call'd of Orpheus, πολυμήχανος μήτηρ and ἀλλοτριομορφοδίαιτε the Mother that makes many Things, and ordaines strange shapes, or figures. Neither doth shee, as some sinfull Parents doe, who having their pleasure, care not for their Child; shee loves them still after shee hath made them, hath an eye over them all, and provides even for her Sparrowes. IT is strange to consider that shee workes as well privatly as publicly, not onely in Gardens where Ladyes may smell her perfumes, but in remote Solitudes and Deserts. The Truth is, shee seeks not to please others so much as her self, wherefore many of her works, and those the Choysest, never come to Light. Wee see little Children, who are newly come from under her hand, will be dabling in 'Dirt and Water, and other idle sports affected by none but Themselves. The Reason is, they are not as yet Captivated, which makes them seek their own pleasures; But when they come to Age, then Love or Profit makes them square
Modern English
then making their like again.” This is her tick-tack: she plays one game in order to begin another. Matter lies before her like a piece of wax, and she moulds it into every form and figure. Now she makes a bird, now a beast, now a flower, then a frog; she delights in her magical performances as people delight in their own fancies. Hence Orpheus calls her [New translation of the Greek epithets:] “the resourceful mother” and “she who dwells in ever-changing forms.” [Vaughan’s own English rendering:] “The mother who makes many things and ordains strange shapes or figures.” Nor does she behave like sinful parents who, having had their pleasure, care nothing for their child. She loves her children after making them, watches over them all, and provides even for her sparrows. It is strange to consider how she works privately as well as publicly, in remote solitudes and deserts as well as gardens where ladies smell her perfumes. In truth, she seeks to please herself more than others; hence many of her works, including the choicest, never come to light. Little children, newly come from her hands, dabble in dirt and water and other idle games enjoyed by no one but themselves. They are not yet captive, and therefore seek their own pleasures. But as they grow older, love or profit makes them shape
Socrates
Reading Coelum Terrae · Nature in Motion · Page 91 · Passage A
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Thomas Vaughan’s complete Coelum Terrae discourse from the 1650 Magia Adamica, with original and modern English, fresh translations of foreign quotations, the complete Hyanthe and closing poems, eight historical marginal notes, the work-specific printed corrections, 91 annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes), Coelum Terrae, included in Magia Adamica. London: T. W. for H. Blunden, 1650, pp. 78–140 and the work-specific unnumbered errata. Governing textual basis: EEBO-TCP A64768, Wing V151, ESTC R203905, British Library Thomason witness 174:E1299[1]. First-edition image comparison: Getty Research Institute copy 372004, Internet Archive magiaadamicaoran00vaug. The Getty copy lacks the opening page 78 and final errata; these are taken from the TCP/BL witness.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
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The historical text is public domain; the EEBO-TCP Phase I transcription is released under CC0. The supplied 2026 reading, translations and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.
- Governing historical text and transcriptionEEBO-TCP: governing 1650 textual witness
- First-edition image witness with stated lacunaeGetty Research Institute: surviving 1650 comparison copy
- Later comparison; not the governing editionWellcome Collection: later 1888 comparison
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