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
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
Latin Page · Branch 28 of 642
Book 1 · Generation · Passage 3
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 201
Latin
Et hic notandum est aliquid maius, nempe, si ista avis viva in sigillata cucurbita in pulverem vel cinerem comburatur tertio gradu ignis, postea ita clausa putrificetur putrefactione summa Ventris Equini in phlegma mucilaginosum, tunc iterum illud phlegma maturari potest, atque ita renovata & restaurata avis fieri: nempe si illud phlegma rursum in priorem suam testam vel receptaculum includatur. Hoc est mortuos revivificare per regenerationem & clarificationem quod quidem magnum & profundum miraculum Naturae est. Hoc processu possunt omnes aves occidi, & iterum vivificari, renovari & restaurari, & hoc est summum & maximum miraculum & mysterium Dei, quod Deus mortali homini patefecit. Sciendum etiam est hoc modo posse generari homines sine naturali patre & matre, hoc est, non ex muliere naturali modo, sed per artem, & industriam periti Spagyrici potest homo nasci & crescere, sicut postea dicetur.
English
Something greater must be noted here. If that living bird is burned to powder or ashes in a sealed cucurbit at the third degree of fire, and afterward, still enclosed, is putrefied by the utmost putrefaction of the horse’s belly into a mucilaginous phlegm, that phlegm can then be matured again and thus become a renewed and restored bird: that is, if the phlegm is enclosed once more in its former shell or receptacle. This is to bring the dead to life again through regeneration and clarification, which is a great and profound miracle of nature. By this process all birds can be killed and then made alive, renewed and restored. This is the highest and greatest miracle and mystery of God which God has disclosed to mortal humanity. It must also be understood that humans can be generated in this way without a natural father and mother: not naturally from a woman, but through the art and diligence of an expert spagyrist a human can be born and grow, as will be explained later.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 1 · Generation · Book 1 · Generation · Passage 3
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
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.