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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Latin Page · Branch 429 of 642
Book 8 · Separation · Passage 29
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 243
Latin
De primo hoc Ente sciendum est, quod sit fugax Spiritus, in volatilitate adhuc consistens, velut infans in foeminae matrice latet, qui interdum Liquori, interdum Alcool assimilatur. Quisquis ergo primum Ens cuiuslibet corporis talis habere, et separare satagit: huic multa experientia & Spagyricae scientiae cognitione opus est. Si enim in Alchimia non sedulo laboravit, nihil expediendo frustra omnia tentabit. Quo vero modo primum Ens a quibuslibet mineralibus corporibus separandum sit: in libris Archidox. satis explicatum est, nec hic cum taedio repeti debet. Quantum autem ad separationem Mineralium, notandum est, per gradum sublimationis huiusmodi multa separari, velut Fixum de non Fixo, spiritualia & volatilia corpora de Fixis, & sic consequenter secundum omnia membra, prout de metallis compraehensum est. Omnium enim mineralium unus ac similis processus est per omnes gradus, sicut ars Spagyrica docet, &c.
English
You should know that this first being is a fugitive spirit still in a volatile state, lying hidden like an infant in a woman’s womb, sometimes resembling a liquor and sometimes an alcool. Whoever seeks to possess and separate the first being of any such body needs much experience and knowledge of spagyric science. Unless he has worked diligently in alchemy, he will attempt everything in vain and accomplish nothing. How the first being is to be separated from mineral bodies has been sufficiently explained in the Archidoxis and need not be repeated tediously here. As for separation of minerals, observe that many such things are separated by sublimation: the fixed from the unfixed, spiritual and volatile bodies from fixed bodies, and similarly in every other respect, as was included in the treatment of metals. For all minerals have one similar process through all the stages, as the spagyric art teaches.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 8 · Separation · Book 8 · Separation · Passage 29
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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.