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 300 of 642
Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 3
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 229
Latin
Sublimatio est secundus gradus etiam valde principalis ad transmutationem multarum rerum naturalium: sub quo intelligitur, Exaltatio, Elevatio, & Fixatio; estque non adeo dissimilis distillationi. Nam sicut ab omnibus phlegmaticis & aqueis rebus aqua in distillatione ascendit, & a suo corpore separatur, ita in sublimatione spirituale a corporali, volatile a fixo, & in rebus siccis, ut sunt omnia mineralia, attollitur & subtiliatur, & purum ab impuro separatur. Praeter sublimationem enim multae bonae virtutes & mirabiles res reperiuntur in Mineralibus, multaeque res fixantur & constantes fiunt, ita ut in igni permaneant hoc modo: Sublimatum cum suis faecibus iterum teratur & misceatur, & ut antea sublimetur, quod toties fiat donec non amplius sublimetur, sed omnia simul in fundo maneant & fixa fiant. Ita postea fiet lapis & oleum quando & quoties velis, nempe si infrigidatum in aere vel vitro ponas: ibi enim resolvitur statim in oleum. Si autem iterum in ignem ponas, iterum coagulatur in lapidem, qui mirabilis & magnae virtutis est. Hoc autem habeas pro magno Secreto & mysterio naturae, nec Sophistis manifestes. Porro ut in sublimatione multa corrosiva dulcia fiunt coniunctione duarum materiarum, ita contra multa dulcia corrosiva fiunt: multa dulcia fiunt acerba & austera vel amara, & contra multa amara dulcia ut saccharum. Notandum quoque hic est, quod quodlibet metallum, quod per sal Armoniacum in sublimationem perducitur, postea in frigore vel in aere solvatur in oleum, & contra, in igni coaguletur in lapidem. Quae quidem una est ex maximis & summis transmutationibus in omnibus rebus naturalibus, nempe metallum in lapidem transmutare.
English
Sublimation, the second stage, is also highly important for the transmutation of many natural things. It includes Exaltation, Elevation and Fixation and is not very unlike distillation. As water rises in distillation from all phlegmatic and watery things and is separated from its body, so in sublimation the spiritual is raised and subtilised from the corporeal, the volatile from the fixed, in dry things such as all minerals, and the pure is separated from the impure. Through sublimation many good virtues and marvellous things are found in minerals, and many things are fixed and made stable so that they remain in fire, as follows. Grind and mix the sublimate again with its own dregs and sublime as before. Repeat until it no longer sublimes but everything remains together at the bottom and becomes fixed. It will afterward become stone or oil whenever and as often as you wish: place it, cooled, in air or glass, and it immediately dissolves into oil; put it back into fire and it coagulates again into a stone of marvellous and great virtue. Regard this as a great secret and mystery of nature and do not reveal it to sophists. Just as many corrosives become sweet in sublimation through the union of two materials, so conversely many sweet things become corrosive: many sweet things become tart, astringent or bitter, and conversely many bitter things become sweet as sugar. Note also that every metal brought to sublimation through sal ammoniac afterward dissolves into oil in cold or air and conversely coagulates into stone in fire. This is one of the greatest and highest transmutations among all natural things: to transmute a metal into a stone.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 7 · Transmutations · Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 3
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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.