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 305 of 642
Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 4
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 229–230
Latin
Tertius gradus est Solutio, sub qua subintelliguntur dissolutio & resolutio, qui quidem gradus saepius post sublimationem & distillationem sequitur, nempe, ut solvat materiam, quae in fundo remanet. Est autem solutio duplex. Una scilicet frigoris, altera caloris: una fit extra ignem, altera in igne. Solutio frigida solvit omnia salia, omnia corrosiva, omnia calcinata. Quicquid est salsae & corrosivae qualitatis, id resolvit, in oleum, in liquorem, in aquam: & hoc fit in humida & frigida cella, aut alias tantum in aere, in marmore vel vitro. Nam omne quod in frigore solvitur, continet acrem spiritum salis, quem saepe in sublimatione vel destillatione acquirit & assumit. Et omne quod in frigore vel aere solvitur, iterum calore ignis coagulatur in pulverem vel lapidem. Solutio vero caloris, solvit omnia pinguia & omnia sulphurea: Et quicquid calor ignis solvit, hoc coagulat frigus in massam: & quicquid calor coagulat hoc solvit rursus aer & frigus. Hic quoque sciendum est, quicquid aer vel cella resolvit, id est magnae siccitatis, & in se absconditum habet ignem corrosivum: ita quicquid in igne & eius calore solvitur, habet in se dulcedinosam frigiditatem extra ignem. Ita & non aliter solutio intelligenda est.
English
The third stage is Solution, which includes dissolution and resolution. This stage often follows sublimation and distillation, dissolving the material which remains at the bottom. Solution is twofold: one of cold, the other of heat; one outside fire, the other in fire. Cold solution dissolves all salts, corrosives and calcined things. Whatever is of a salty and corrosive quality it resolves into oil, liquor or water. This occurs in a moist, cold cellar, or merely in air, on marble or in glass. Everything dissolved in cold contains an acrid spirit of salt, which it often acquires and takes up in sublimation or distillation. Everything dissolved in cold or air is coagulated again by fire’s heat into powder or stone. Solution by heat dissolves all fatty and sulphurous things. Whatever fire’s heat dissolves, cold coagulates into a mass; whatever heat coagulates, air and cold dissolve again. Understand also that what air or a cellar dissolves is very dry and contains a hidden corrosive fire; what is dissolved in fire and its heat contains a sweet coldness outside fire. Solution must be understood in this way and no other.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 7 · Transmutations · Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 4
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
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.