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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Facing Pages · Branch 142 of 642
Book 4 · Life · Passage 3
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 214
Latin
Vita metallorum est latens pinguedo, quam a sulphure acceperunt: quod ostenditur ex fluxu ipsorum, quia omne quod in igne fluit ob occultam suam pinguedinem fluit. Nisi ea esset, nullum metallum in fluxum, redigi posset, sicut videmus in ferro & chalybe, quae minimum sulphuris, habent & pinguedinis inter omnia metalla, quare siccioris naturae sunt, quam alia metalla omnia.
English
The life of metals is the hidden fatness they have received from Sulphur. Their melting shows this, because everything that flows in fire flows through its hidden fatness. Without it no metal could be brought into fusion, as we see in iron and steel, which have the least Sulphur and fatness of all metals and are therefore drier in nature than every other metal.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 4 · Life · Book 4 · Life · Passage 3
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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.