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 594 of 642
Book 9 · Signature · Passage 60
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 266–267
Latin
Sic cum dicimus, Hic est porcus, Equus, vacca, ursus, canis, vulpes, ovis, &c. Porci nomen una foedum & impurum animal indicat. Sic equus indicat animal forte & patiens: vacca animal vorax & insatiabile: ursus, robustum, victoriosum & indomitum animal: Vulpes versutum & callidum animal: Canis, suo generi infidum animal: Ovis placidum & utile, neminique noxium animal. Hinc est, quod interdum etiam homo porcus vocetur, ob sordidam & porcinam vitam: & equus, ob tolerantiam, qua prae ceteris insignis est: & vacca, quod cibo potuque insatiabilis sit, nec ventris modum sciat: Et ursus, quod aliis hominibus vastior & robustior exsistat: & vulpes, quod versipellis & dolosus sit, omnibus sese accommodans, nec quem facile offendens: & canis, quod non nisi ori proprio fidelis sit, & inofficiosum infidumque se omnibus praebeat: & ovis, quod non nisi sibiipsi noceat, omnibus autem potius, quam sibiipsi usui sit, &c.
English
Thus when we say, “This is a pig, horse, cow, bear, dog, fox or sheep,” the name pig indicates a foul and unclean animal; horse, a strong and enduring animal; cow, a greedy and insatiable animal; bear, a powerful, victorious and untamed animal; fox, a shrewd and cunning animal; dog, one unfaithful to its own kind; and sheep, a gentle, useful animal harmful to nobody. Hence a person is sometimes called a pig because of a filthy, swinish life; a horse because of exceptional endurance; a cow because of insatiable eating and drinking and an unrestrained stomach; a bear for being larger and stronger than others; a fox for being crafty and deceitful, adapting to everyone and not readily offending anyone; a dog for being faithful only to his own mouth and showing himself undutiful and untrustworthy towards everyone; and a sheep for harming only himself and being useful to everyone rather than himself.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 9 · Signature · Book 9 · Signature · Passage 60
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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.