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 51 of 642
Book 1 · Generation · Passage 10
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 204–205
Latin
Hic quoque opus esset dicere de generatione metallorum, sed quoniam in libello de generatione metallorum satis de illis scripsimus, brevissime hic rem tractabimus, & tantum modo quae in dicto libello omisimus, hic breviter indicabimus. Hoc modo sciatis, quod omnia septem metalla nascantur ex triplici materia, nempe ex ☿, Sulphure & Sale, attamen distinctis & peculiaribus coloribus. Ob id Hermes non male dixit, ex tribus substantiis omnia septem metalla nasci & componi, similiter & tincturas & lapidem Philosophorum. Illas tres substantias nominat, spiritum, animam & corpus: sed non indicavit quomodo hoc intelligendum sit, aut quid per hoc velit, quanquam fortassis etiam tria principia potuit scivisse, sed non facit eorum mentionem. Quare non dico eum hic errasse, sed tantum reticuisse. Ut autem istae tres substantiae distincte & recte intelligantur, nempe spiritus, anima, corpus, sciendum est, quod nihil aliud significent, nisi tria principia, hoc est, Mercurium, Sulphur, salem, ex quibus omnia septem metalla generantur. Nam Mercurius est spiritus, sulphur est anima, sal est corpus, metallum vero inter spiritum & corpus, de quo & Hermes dicit, est anima, quae quidem est sulphur, quod ista duo contraria corpus & spiritum unit & in unam essentiam mutat, &c.
English
We should also speak here about the generation of metals. Since we have written enough about them in the little book On the Generation of Metals, however, we shall treat the matter very briefly here and indicate only what we omitted there. Understand that all seven metals arise from a threefold material, namely Mercury, Sulphur and Salt, yet in distinct and particular colours. Hermes therefore spoke well when he said that all seven metals are born and composed from three substances, and likewise tinctures and the philosophers’ stone. He names those three substances spirit, soul and body, but did not explain how this is to be understood or what he meant. Perhaps he knew the three principles too, but he does not mention them. I therefore do not say he erred here, but merely kept silent. To understand those three substances—spirit, soul and body—clearly and correctly, know that they signify nothing but the three principles, Mercury, Sulphur and Salt, from which all seven metals are generated. Mercury is spirit, Sulphur soul and Salt body. What lies in the metal between spirit and body, of which Hermes also speaks, is soul, namely Sulphur, which unites those two contraries, body and spirit, and changes them into a single essence, and so forth.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 1 · Generation · Book 1 · Generation · Passage 10
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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.
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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.