Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
Nine Books on the Nature of Things
A fresh translation from the early Latin text with annotations and study apparatus
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English Page · Branch 111 of 642
Book 3 · Preservation · Passage 11
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 211
Latin
Porro etiam cognoscenda est conservatio quarundam aquarum & liquorum ex herbis, radicibus, & omnibus aliis fructibus & crescentibus expressorum, quae facile situm & mucorem contrahunt, ita ut quasi pellis ipsis inducantur. Istae igitur aquae vel liquores reponantur in vitro superius angusto, inferius amplo, & impleatur vitrum usque ad summum, demum aliquot guttae olei olivae addantur, ita ut aqua vel liquor totus contegatur: ita oleum supernatabit, & liquorem vel aquam longa tempora a situ vel mucore conservabit. Nulla enim aqua vel liquor, si oleo tegatur, unquam potest mucida vel maleolens fieri. Possunt hac ratione etiam duae aquae, duo liquores, duo vina in uno vitro separatim conservari, ita ut non misceantur, & non solum duplicia, sed & triplicia, quadruplicia, quintuplicia, & adhuc plura, si tantum modo oleum intersit: nam ab oleo discriminantur, ut a muro, qui non sinit ea coniungi & uniri. Nam oleum & aqua sunt duo contraria, & neutrum alteri misceri potest. Sicut vero oleum aquas uniri non permittit, ita contra aqua olea non misceri sinit.
English
The preservation of certain waters and liquors pressed from plants, roots and all other fruits and growing things must also be understood. They readily acquire mould and mildew, as though a skin formed over them. Store such waters or liquors in a glass narrow above and broad below, filling it to the top; then add a few drops of olive oil so that the entire water or liquor is covered. The oil floats above and preserves the liquor or water from mould and mildew for a long time. No water or liquor covered with oil can ever become mouldy or foul-smelling. In this way two waters, two liquors or two wines can also be kept separately in one glass without mixing—not only two but three, four, five or more, provided oil is interposed. They are separated by oil as by a wall which does not allow them to join and unite. Oil and water are two contraries, and neither can mix with the other. As oil prevents waters from uniting, so conversely water prevents oils from mixing.
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Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 3 · Preservation · Book 3 · Preservation · Passage 11
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The complete supplied Latin–English edition of the historical title, dedication and all nine books, with 363 separately labelled historical marginal notes, 117 modern annotations and the complete Diotimos study apparatus. The transmitted composite work is traditionally attributed to Paracelsus; individual authorship remains qualified.
Historical Text and Translation
The normalized Latin follows the complete 1605 Frankfurt Palthenian witness, volume six, printed pages 198–271, in SUB Göttingen PPN578052199, historical scans 182–255. Earlier textual tradition is German; the individual translator of the 1605 Latin text is not identified. The dedication’s 1537 date is transmitted text, not an established date for the composite work.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
The historical Latin text is in the public domain. The fresh English translation and editorial material were prepared with AI assistance for Diotimos Editions in 2026 and are published with the site owner’s authorization.