DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Parallel Edition

Thomas Vaughan (Eugenius Philalethes)

Coelum Terrae

The Magician’s Heavenly Chaos · The Complete 1650 Text

Explore the Lexicon
Coelum TerraeThe Voice of Nature · Original

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

Original English Page · Branch 49 of 136

The Voice of Nature · Original

Original English

The fifth gate serves onely for Metals. This Mysterie existing from the Foundation of the World, and the Creation of Adam is of all others the most ancient, a knowledge which God Almighty by his Word breathed into Nature, a miraculous power, the blessed fire of Life, the Transparent Carbuncle, and red Gold of the Wise men, and the Divine Benediction of this life. But this mysterie, because of the Malice and wickednesse of men, is given onely to few, notwithstanding it lives, and moves every day in the sight of the whole world, as it appears by the following parable. I am a poysonous Dragon, present every where, and to bee had for nothing. My water and my fire dissolve and Compound; out of my body thou shalt draw the Green, and the Red Lyon: but if thou doest not exactly know mee, thou wilt with my Fire destroy thy five Senses. A most pernieious quick poyson comes out of my Nostrils, which hath been the Destruction of many. Separate therefore the Thick from the Thin artificially, unlesse thou dost delight in extreme Povertie. I give thee faculties both Male and Female and the Powers both of Heaven and Earth. The Mysteries of my Art are to bee performed magnanimously, and with great

Modern English

The fifth gate serves metals alone. Existing since the world's foundation and Adam's creation, this mystery is the most ancient of all: a knowledge Almighty God breathed into Nature through his Word, a miraculous power, the blessed fire of life, the transparent carbuncle and red gold of the wise, and the divine blessing of this life. Yet because of human malice and wickedness it is given to few, although it lives and moves daily before the whole world, as the following parable shows. I am a poisonous dragon, present everywhere and obtainable for nothing. My water and fire dissolve and combine. From my body you shall draw the green and red lion. But unless you know me exactly, you will destroy your five senses with my fire. A most deadly, living poison comes from my nostrils and has destroyed many. Therefore separate the thick from the thin with art, unless you delight in utter poverty. I give you male and female faculties, and the powers of heaven and earth. The mysteries of my art must be performed magnanimously and with great

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.

Rights

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.