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 298 of 642
Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 2
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 228–229
Latin
Primus igitur gradus est Calcinatio, sub qua & comprehenduntur Reverberatio & Cementatio. Nam inter haec tria parva est differentia quantum ad calcinationem attinet. Quare calcinatio hic praecipuus est gradus. Nam per Reverberationem & Cementationem etiam multae res corporales calcinantur & in cinerem reducuntur & praecipue metalla. Quod autem calcinatum est non propterea est reverberatum vel cementatum. Per calcinationem igitur omnia metalla, mineralia, lapides, vitra, &c. & omnes res corporales fiunt carbo & cinis, & hoc fit nudo, forti ac aerem habente igne, per quem omnis tenax, mollis, & pinguis terra in lapidem induratur: omnes vero lapides in calcem rediguntur, sicut videmus in furno figulorum, calcis & laterum.
English
The first stage is Calcination, which also includes Reverberation and Cementation. There is little difference among these three insofar as calcination is concerned, so calcination is the principal stage here. Through reverberation and cementation many corporeal things, especially metals, are calcined and reduced to ash. Yet a thing which has been calcined has not thereby necessarily been reverberated or cemented. Through calcination all metals, minerals, stones, glasses and all corporeal things become coal and ash. This occurs through a bare, strong, aerated fire which hardens every tenacious, soft and fatty earth into stone, but reduces all stones to calx, as we see in pottery, lime and brick kilns.
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Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 7 · Transmutations · Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 2
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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.