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 465 of 642
Book 9 · Signature · Passage 5
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 249
Latin
Sic miles tesseram vel simbolum nigrum, candidum, flavum, viride, coeruleum aut rubrum gestat, ut ab hoste discerni possit. Ex eo dignosci potest, hunc esse Caesarianum, illum Regum, hunc Italum, hunc Gallum, &c. Haec signa sunt, quae ad ordinem et officium spectant, quorum multa adhuc enumerari possent. Sed tamen, quoniam, alia signa, naturalium & supernaturalium rerum describenda nobis proposuimus, libellum hunc alienis signis minime infarciemus.
English
A soldier likewise wears a black, white, yellow, green, blue or red badge or emblem, so that he can be distinguished from the enemy. By it one can recognise one man as imperial, another as belonging to kings, one as Italian and another as French. These signs concern rank and office, and many more could be listed. Since, however, we have proposed to describe other signs, those of natural and supernatural things, we shall not stuff this little book with signs foreign to its purpose.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 9 · Signature · Book 9 · Signature · Passage 5
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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.