DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Attributed to Paracelsus

Nine Books on the Nature of Things

A fresh translation from the early Latin text with annotations and study apparatus

Explore the Lexicon
Nine Books on the Nature of ThingsBook 3 · Preservation · Passage 16

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

Facing Pages · Branch 123 of 642

Book 3 · Preservation · Passage 16

Source reference
Latin witness
1605 p. 212

Latin

Cerevisiae conservatio est oleum Garyophillorum, si aliquot eius guttae iniiciantur, ita ut una mensura tres aut duas guttas habeat: melius tamen est oleum Benedictae Garyophyllatae, quod cerevisiam ab acetositate praeservat. Hydromeli conservativum est oleum zuccari, quo utendum est ut oleo Garyophyllorum vel Benedictae.

English

Beer’s preservative is oil of cloves, if a few drops are added, so that one measure contains three or two drops. Better still is oil of blessed avens, which preserves beer from sourness. Mead’s preservative is oil of sugar, to be used like oil of cloves or of avens.

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.