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 191 of 642
Book 5 · Death · Passage 4
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 217
Latin
Ultra has autem mortificationes metallorum, destructiones & ablationes virium ipsorum, sciatis etiam alias plures esse mortificationes metallorum. Nam praeterquam quod ferrugo omnis ferri & chalybis mors est, aliae sunt ex plurimis sunt facienda. Sciendum enim est quodlibet vitriolum, aut etiam aes ustum, esse cuprum mortificatum: quemlibet praecipitatum, sublimatum, calcinatum, cinnabarim, Mercurium mortificatum esse: quamlibet cerussam, quodlibet minium vel flavum plumbi, mortificatum plumbum: quemlibet lazurium mortificatum argentum: ita etiam quodlibet ☉, cui tinctura sua Quinta Essentia, resina vel crocus vitriolum vel sulphur detractum est, mortuum est, quia non amplius, formam habet auri, sed est metallum album, simile ☽ fixae.
English
Beyond these mortifications of metals, destructions and removals of their forces, know that there are many further mortifications of metals. Besides rust being the death of all iron and steel, many others can be effected. Every vitriol, or burnt copper, is mortified copper. Every precipitate, sublimate, calcinate and cinnabar is mortified Mercury. Every ceruse, minium or yellow of lead is mortified lead; every lazurium is mortified silver. Likewise any Gold from which its tincture, quintessence, resin or crocus, vitriol or sulphur has been taken is dead: it no longer has the form of gold but is a white metal like fixed Silver.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 5 · Death · Book 5 · Death · Passage 4
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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.