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 202 of 642
Book 5 · Death · Passage 9
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 218–219
Latin
Ut autem ex cupro fiat viride aeris, sunt variae quoque viae, quas non opus est hic recensere. Tantum igitur duas describemus, attamen duplici praeparatione, unam scilicet ad medicinam, alteram ad Alchimiam. Viride igitur aeris, quod in medicina usurpandum est, talem habet processum: Accipe laminas cupri, quas inunge sequenti materia: Recipe mellis & aceti ana, & salis tantum, ut ex his tribus pultem crassiorem facere possis, bene miscendo: postea pone in reverberatorio aut furno figulino, tandiu donec figulus vasa sua torruerit, & videbis materiam adhaerentem laminis nigram esse, sed hoc ne tibi pariat sollicitudinem, nec te terreat. Nam si ad aerem suspendas vel ponas laminas illas, tota materia nigra in paucis diebus viridis fiet, & fiet pulcerrimum viride aeris, quod balsamus cupri appellari possit, & summe laudatum est ab omnibus medicis. Sed neque hoc mirari debes, quod istud viride aeris in aere primum viride fit, & quod aer colorem nigrum in tam pulcrum viridem transmutare possit. Nam hic sciendum est, quod & quotidiana experientia in Alchymia demonstrat, quod quaelibet terra mortua vel caput mortuum, quam primum ex igne in aerem venit, citissime alium colorem acquirat & suum colorem, quem in igne assumpserat, relinquat. Mutationes autem istorum colorum sunt variae. Prout enim materia est, fiunt quoque colores, quanquam plerunque ex nigredine terrae mortuae fluant. Nam vos qui Alchymiae periti estis, videtis quod quaelibet terra mortua pulveris fixi vel aquae fortis, nigra ex igne veniat, & quo plura sunt ingredientia, eo magis varie ostendunt se colores in aere: interdum videntur rubri tantum, sicut quidem vitriolum facit, interdum solum flavi, albi, virides, coerulei: interdum mixtum, ut in Iride vel Cauda pavonis. Isti colores omnes post mortem se ostendunt & ex morte: nam in omnium rerum naturalium morte videntur alii colores & a primo colore in alium mutantur, quilibet iuxta suam naturam & proprietatem.
English
There are also various ways to make verdigris from copper, which need not all be listed here. We shall describe only two, with different preparations: one for medicine and the other for alchemy. Verdigris intended for medicinal use has this process. Take copper plates and anoint them with the following material: equal portions of honey and vinegar and enough salt to make a rather thick paste from the three, mixing well. Place them in a reverberatory or pottery kiln until the potter has fired the vessels. You will see the material adhering to the plates is black, but do not let this concern or frighten you. If you hang or place those plates in air, the whole black material becomes green in a few days, producing very fine verdigris which may be called the balsam of copper and is highly praised by all physicians. Nor should you wonder that this verdigris becomes green only in air, and that air can change black into so beautiful a green. Every dead earth or caput mortuum, as soon as it comes from fire into air, very quickly acquires another colour and abandons the colour it assumed in fire, as daily alchemical experience demonstrates. These colour changes vary according to the material, though they mostly flow from the blackness of dead earth. Those skilled in alchemy see that every dead earth of fixed powder or aqua fortis comes black from fire. The more ingredients there are, the more variously colours appear in air: sometimes only red, as with vitriol; sometimes only yellow, white, green or blue; sometimes mixed, as in a rainbow or peacock’s tail. All these colours appear after death and from death. In the death of all natural things other colours are seen, and each changes from its first colour to another according to its nature and property.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 5 · Death · Book 5 · Death · Passage 9
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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.