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 290 of 642
Book 6 · Resuscitation · Passage 9
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 227–228
Latin
Resuscitatio autem & restauratio ligni est difficilis & ardua, attamen naturae possibilis, sed sine insigni solertia & industria fieri nequit. Ut autem revivificetur, tali maxime modo id fit: Recipe lignum quod primum fuerit carbo, postea cinis, & pone in cucurbita, una cum resina, liquore & oleitate illius arboris, omnium sit idem pondus, misceantur, & in leni calore liquefiant, & fiet mucilaginosa materia, atque ita habes tria principia simul, ex quibus scilicet omnia nascuntur & generantur, nempe phlegma, pinguedinem & cinerem. Phlegma est Mercurius, pinguedo est sulphur, cinis est sal. Nam omne quod igni fumat & evaporat, est Mercurius: quod flagrat & comburitur, est sulphur, & omnis cinis est sal. Cum iam ista tria principia simul habes, pone ea in ventre equino & putrefac ad suum tempus. Si postea illa materia in pingue solum sepeliatur vel infundatur, videbis eam reviviscere & arborem vel lignum parvum inde nasci, quod quidem in sua virtute multo est nobilius priore. Hoc vero lignum est & vocatur resuscitatum lignum, & renovatum, & restauratum, quod ab initio quoque lignum fuit, sed mortificatum, destructum, & in carbones & cineres & in nihilum redactum, & tamen ex illo nihilo aliquid factum & renatum est. Hoc sane in Luce Naturae magnum est Mysterium, nempe quod res, quae formam suam plane amiserat & in nihilum redacta fuerat, eam recuperet, & ex nihilo aliquid fiat, quod postea multo nobilius sit in sua virtute & efficacia quam primo fuerat.
English
The resuscitation and restoration of wood is difficult and arduous, yet naturally possible, though it cannot be accomplished without exceptional skill and diligence. To bring it to life again, the chief method is this. Take wood which has first become charcoal and then ash and place it in a cucurbit together with the resin, liquor and oiliness of that tree, all in equal weight. Mix and melt them in gentle heat into a mucilaginous material. You thus have together the three principles from which everything is born and generated: phlegm, fatness and ash. Phlegm is Mercury, fatness is Sulphur and ash is Salt. Everything which fumes and evaporates in fire is Mercury; what flames and burns is Sulphur; every ash is Salt. When these three principles are together, place them in the horse’s belly and putrefy them for their proper time. If that material is then buried or poured into rich soil, you will see it revive and a tree or small piece of wood arise from it, much more excellent in virtue than before. This is called resuscitated, renewed and restored wood: it was wood at the beginning, but was mortified, destroyed and reduced to charcoal, ashes and nothing; nevertheless, from that nothing something has been made and born again. This is truly a great mystery in the light of nature: a thing which entirely lost its form and was reduced to nothing recovers it, and something comes from nothing, afterward much more excellent in virtue and efficacy than at first.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 6 · Resuscitation · Book 6 · Resuscitation · 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.