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 216 of 642
Book 5 · Death · Passage 14
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 220
Latin
Ut autem Mercurius coaguletur, dixi iam in acri aqua forti oportere id fieri, quae distillando abstrahatur, & praecipitatio fiat. Ut vero Mercurius in cinnabarim redigatur, oportet eum prius cum sale & sulphure flavo mortificare & liquefacere, & in pulverem album redigere, postea in cucurbita ponere, & superponere Aludel & sublimare in maximo fluxu, ut moris est, ita ascendit cinnabaris in Aludel, & adhaeret durus, ut haematites.
English
As I have already said, Mercury must be coagulated in acrid aqua fortis, which is drawn off by distillation to bring about precipitation. To reduce Mercury to cinnabar, first mortify and liquefy it with salt and yellow sulphur and reduce it to white powder. Then place it in a cucurbit, put an aludel above it and sublime at the greatest flux, as customary. Cinnabar rises into the aludel and adheres hard like hematite.
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Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 5 · Death · Book 5 · Death · Passage 14
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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.