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 177 of 642
Book 5 · Death · Passage 1
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 215–216
Latin
Mors omnium rerum naturalium nihil aliud est quam alteratio & eversio virium & virtutum, praedominatio malitiae & bonitatis, oppressio & deletio prioris naturae, & generatio novae & alterius naturae. Nam sciendum est multas res in vita sua bonas esse & habere suas virtutes, mortuas vero, nihil aut parum virtutis suae retinere, sed plane fatuas & invalidas apparere. Ita e contra multa in vita sua sunt mala, sed in morte vel postquam mortificata sunt multiplicem vim & efficaciam ostendunt, & multum prosunt. Exempla multa hic recensere possemus, sed id plane non est nostri propositi. Ut autem videatis me hic non ex verisimili opinione mea scribere, sed ex mea experientia, oportet me afferre unum exemplum, quo sedabo & mutos faciam Sophistas qui dicunt, quod ex rebus mortuis prorsus nihil accipi possit, nec aliquid in ipsis quaeri vel reperiri debeat. Causa vero est, quod Alchymistarum praeparationes nihil aestiment, per quas multa eiusmodi magna Secreta reperiuntur. Nam inspicite Mercurium, Sulphur vivum & crudum, & Antimonium crudum, ita ut ex fodinis afferuntur, hoc est, dum vivunt, quam parva sit ipsorum virtus, quam leniter & tarde efficaciam suam exerceant, imo plus mali quam boni afferant, & potius venenum sint quam medicina. Si vero per solertis Alchymistae industriam, in prima sua substantia corrumpantur, & prudenter praeparentur, (nempe ☿ coaguletur, praecipitetur, sublimetur, resolvatur & in oleum vertatur: sulphur sublimetur, calcinetur, reverberetur, & in oleum vertatur: similiter & ♀ sublimetur, calcinetur, reverberetur, & in oleum vertatur) videris utique quantam utilitatem, quantam vim & virtutem & quam celerem efficaciam praestent & ostendant, ut nemo eam satis eloqui aut describere possit. Nam ipsorum multiplices virtutes sunt impervestigabiles, nec quisquam omnes indagare potest. Quare quilibet Alchymista & fidelis Medicus, in his tribus rebus per totam vitam suam quaerere debet, & usque ad mortem suam in his ludere & tempus terere. Nam certissime omnes ipsius labores, studium & sumptus egregie compensabunt.
English
The death of all natural things is nothing but the alteration and overthrow of their forces and virtues, the predominance of badness and goodness, the suppression and destruction of the former nature, and the generation of a new and different nature. Many things are good and possess their virtues in life, but once dead retain little or none of their virtue and appear utterly insipid and powerless. Conversely, many things are bad in life, but in death, or after being mortified, display manifold force and efficacy and confer great benefit. We could list many examples here, but that is not our purpose. Yet to show that I write from experience rather than plausible opinion, I must offer one example to quiet and silence the sophists who say that absolutely nothing can be obtained from dead things, and nothing should be sought or found in them. They say this because they set no value on alchemists’ preparations, through which many such great secrets are discovered. Consider Mercury, living and crude Sulphur, and crude Antimony as brought from the mines—that is, while alive. How small their virtue is, how mildly and slowly they exert their efficacy! Indeed, they bring more harm than good and are poison rather than medicine. But if through an expert alchemist’s diligence they are corrupted in their first substance and prudently prepared—Mercury coagulated, precipitated, sublimed, dissolved and converted into oil; sulphur sublimed, calcined, reverberated and converted into oil; likewise Copper sublimed, calcined, reverberated and converted into oil—you will see how much benefit, force and virtue and how swift an efficacy they display, beyond anyone’s adequate expression or description. Their manifold virtues cannot be fully investigated, and no one can discover them all. Every alchemist and faithful physician should therefore search in these three things throughout life and occupy and spend time with them until death. They will most certainly compensate all that labour, study and expense magnificently.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 5 · Death · Book 5 · Death · Passage 1
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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.