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 213 of 642
Book 5 · Death · Passage 13
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 220
Latin
Porro hic notandum est magnum Secretum de Mercurio praecipitato, si post colorationem suam cum aqua salis tartari dulcificetur, distillando eam inde, semper recentem, toties quidem, donec aqua non amplius acris a praecipitato ascendat, sed plane dulcis sit. Tum habebis praecipitatum dulce ut saccarum vel mel, qui in omnibus vulneribus, ulceribus, & morbo Gallico summum Arcanum est, ut melius aliud sibi Medicus optare non debeat: praeterea exhilarat Alchimistas perditos. Est enim augmentum ☉, & ingreditur ☉, & cum ipso aurum constans & bonum fit. Quanquam autem multum laboris & sudoris requiratur ad hunc praecipitatum, satis tamen ea recompensat, & sumptus tuos tibi reddit: & praeterea satis lucri inde habes, plus quidem quam optimo artificio aliquo assequi posses: merito autem de hoc laetari debes, & Deo & mihi ob id gratias agere.
English
A great secret about precipitated Mercury must be noted here. After its colouring, sweeten it with water of salt of tartar, distilling that water from it, always fresh, until the water rising from the precipitate is no longer acrid but entirely sweet. You will then have a precipitate sweet as sugar or honey, a supreme arcanum in all wounds, ulcers and the French disease, so that a physician should wish for nothing better. It also cheers ruined alchemists: it is an augmentation of Gold, enters Gold and becomes stable, good gold with it. Though much labour and sweat are required for this precipitate, it amply compensates them and repays your expense. You also gain considerable profit, more than you could obtain through any excellent craft. You should rightly rejoice and thank God and me for it.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 5 · Death · Book 5 · Death · Passage 13
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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.