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 36 of 642
Book 1 · Generation · Passage 6
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 202
Latin
Sicut autem iam audivistis per putrefactionem multas & varias res generari & vivificari, ita etiam sciendum est, quod ex multis herbis per putrefactionem varia nascantur animalia, quod harum rerum periti sciunt. Hic quoque sciendum est, quod talia animalia quae in & ex putrefactione nascuntur & fiunt, omnia aliquid veneni contineant, & venenosa sint, attamen unum longe plus & efficacius altero, & unum alia forma quam alterum, ut videtis in serpentibus, viperis, bufonibus, ranis, scorpionibus, basiliscis, araneis, apibus sylvestribus, formicis, multiplicibus vermibus, ut erucis, muscis, bruchis, &c. quae omnia in & ex putrefactione nascuntur. Nascuntur etiam multa monstra inter animalia. Sunt autem & monstra illa, quae non per se ex putrefactione nascuntur, sed per artem fiunt in vitro, ut dictum est, quia illae saepissime in valde mirabili specie & horrenda aspectu forma apparent, ut saepe cum multis capitibus, multis pedibus, multis caudis, multis coloribus, saepe vermes cum caudis piscium, vel pennis praediti, & alia insueta forma, ita ut similes visi non sint. Propterea non solum omnia animalia, quae parentes non habent & ex sibi similibus non nascuntur monstra sunt, sed etiam quae ex aliis rebus nascuntur.
English
As you have now heard that many different things are generated and brought to life through putrefaction, you must also understand that various animals arise from many plants through putrefaction, as those skilled in these matters know. Every animal born and made in and from putrefaction contains some poison and is poisonous, though one much more strongly and effectively than another, and one in a different form from another. You see this in serpents, vipers, toads, frogs, scorpions, basilisks, spiders, wild bees, ants and many worms, such as caterpillars, flies and grubs, and so forth: all these arise in and from putrefaction. Many monsters also arise among animals. There are also monsters which do not arise by themselves from putrefaction but are made through art in glass, as was said. They very often appear in an extraordinarily marvellous shape and a form dreadful to behold: with many heads, feet, tails or colours, or as worms with fish tails or feathers, or in some other unfamiliar form unlike anything seen before. Thus not only animals which have no parents and are not born from their like are monsters, but also those born from other things.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 1 · Generation · Book 1 · Generation · Passage 6
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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.