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 327 of 642
Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 10
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 232
Latin
Notandum quoque quaslibet faeces fixioris esse substantiae, quam suus potus, acrioris quoque & penetrantioris naturae: sicut de vino ardenti videtis, quod fit ex faecibus vini, de cerevisia ardenti, quae ex cerevisiae faecibus distillatur, & sicut vinum ardens flagrat, & sicut sulphur incenditur. Similiter si de faecibus aceti aliud acetum distilletur, sicut vulgo vinum ardens distillatur, fiet inde acetum tam igneae & acerrimae naturae, ut omnia metalla, lapides, & alia, quasi aqua fortis consumat.
English
Note also that all dregs are of a more fixed substance than their drink and of a more acrid and penetrating nature. You see this in ardent wine made from wine lees and ardent beer distilled from beer dregs: it flames like ardent wine and ignites like sulphur. Likewise, if another vinegar is distilled from vinegar dregs as ardent wine is commonly distilled, a vinegar results of so fiery and intensely acrid a nature that it consumes all metals, stones and other things like aqua fortis.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 7 · Transmutations · Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 10
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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.