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 543 of 642
Book 9 · Signature · Passage 37
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 258
Latin
Sed ut tandem ad practicam huius scientiae Chiromantiae digrediamur, & sententiam nostram brevibus aperiamus: scire vos velim, me quidem, quantum ad manus attinet, nihil quicquam ibi mutare, sed veterum observationibus & descriptionibus acquiescere. Institutum tamen in hac Chiromantiae practica de illis saltem scribere, de quibus veteres nihil commentati sunt, veluti de Chiromantia Herbarum, Lignorum, Lapidum, & similium. Et notari debet primum, herbas omnes, quae unius generis sunt, unius & eiusdem quoque Chiromantiae esse. Si autem lineae illarum dissimiles sunt, & in aliis maiores minoresve apparent: id a senio ipsarum est. Expresse itaque profitemur, herbarum Chiromantiam ad nihil aliud conferre, quam ut cuiuslibet herbae aut radicis aetas sciatur & cognoscatur.
English
To turn at last to the practice of this science of chiromancy and explain our view briefly, I wish you to know that, so far as hands are concerned, I change nothing there but rest content with the ancients’ observations and descriptions. In this practice of chiromancy, however, I intend to write only of matters on which the ancients offered no account, such as the chiromancy of herbs, woods, stones and the like. Observe first that all herbs of one kind have one and the same chiromancy. If their lines differ and appear larger or smaller in some, that is due to their age. We therefore expressly declare that the chiromancy of herbs serves only to know and recognise the age of each herb or root.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 9 · Signature · Book 9 · Signature · Passage 37
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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.