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
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
English Page · Branch 426 of 642
Book 8 · Separation · Passage 26
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 242–243
Latin
Praeterea etiam cum cemento per gradum Reverberationis metalla duo permixta a se invicem separari possunt, maxime vero, si non in simili Fixationis gradu consistunt, ut ferrum & cuprum. Quod vero metallum Fixationis quam minimum habet, velut stannum & plumbum: id per gradum Reverberationis in Cemento universum consumitur. Quo autem Fixius est metallum, eo minus a cemento affici ac consumi potest. Sciendum itaque, aurum finum omnium fixissimum & perfectissimum esse metallum, quod a nullo cemento consumi possit. Huic proximum est Argentum finum. Si vero aurum & argentum invicem in uno corpore permiscentur, quod pars cum parte vocari solet, aut argentum in se aurum, aut aurum argentum continet: haec inquam permixta si una in cementum data Reverberentur, tunc aurum perpetuo integrum & inviolatum manet, argentum autem per cementum consumitur, & ex fino auro extrahitur, ita, ut seorsim sit cuprum ab argento ferroque aut stannum a cupro & ferro, aut plumbum a stanno, &c. & sic deinceps.
English
Two mixed metals can also be separated from each other with cement through the stage of reverberation, especially if, like iron and copper, they do not have the same degree of fixation. A metal having very little fixation, such as tin or lead, is entirely consumed by reverberation in cement. The more fixed a metal is, the less it can be affected and consumed by cement. You should therefore know that refined gold is the most fixed and perfect of all metals, and cannot be consumed by any cement. Refined silver comes next. If gold and silver are mixed in one body, which is commonly called part-with-part, or if silver contains gold or gold silver, and these mixed materials are put together into cement and reverberated, the gold always remains whole and unharmed, while the silver is consumed by the cement and extracted from the refined gold. In the same way copper is set apart from silver and iron, tin from copper and iron, lead from tin, and so on.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 8 · Separation · Book 8 · Separation · Passage 26
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
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.