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 554 of 642
Book 9 · Signature · Passage 43
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 260
Latin
Praedestinatum hoc tempus est tertia pars destinatae aetatis omnium mineralium, vegetabilium & animalium, quae omnium rerum terrenarum tria summa genera sunt. Quod autem in sua matrice adhuc versatur, tamdiu crescit, donec matrix in seipsa emoriatur. Nam & matrici praedestinatum suum vivendi & moriendi tempus est, si modo illa externis Elementis subiecta est. Illis quod subiectum non est, nullum tempus, nullum terminum habet alium, quam Elementa ipsa habent, cum quibus id etiam in die novissimo (qui illorum terminus est) interibit. Hinc sequitur, omnia, quae infra terram sunt, externis Elementis minime subiici. Nec enim calorem, nec frigus, nec humiditatem, nec siccitatem, nec ventum, nec aerem, a quibus destrui possint, sentiunt. Eiusmodi itaque corpora non possunt putrescere, situmve & putorem contrahere, aut emori quamdiu infra terram in suo Chao consistunt. Sed & haec iam de metallis & lapidibus dicta sunt: ita sciendum est, hoc modo multos etiam homines in montium Cavernis centenis aliquot annis sese sustentasse, veluti fuerunt Gigantes & pygmei, de quibus singularem libellum conscripsimus.
English
This predestined time is one third of the appointed lifespan of all minerals, plants and animals, the three chief kinds of earthly things. Whatever remains in its own matrix grows until the matrix itself dies. For the matrix too has its predestined time of living and dying, provided it is subject to the external elements. What is not subject to them has no time or limit other than the elements themselves; it will perish with them on the last day, their own limit. It follows that everything below the earth is not subject to the external elements, for it experiences neither heat, cold, moisture, dryness, wind nor air by which it might be destroyed. Such bodies therefore cannot rot, acquire mould and stench, or die while they remain below the earth in their own chaos. What has been said of metals and stones must also be understood in this way: many human beings have sustained themselves in mountain caverns for several hundred years, such as giants and pygmies, about whom we have written a separate little book.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 9 · Signature · Book 9 · Signature · Passage 43
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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.