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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Latin Page · Branch 369 of 642
Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 28
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 236
Latin
Similiter & ex pellibus gluten excoquitur: ex Panno linco fit papyrus: ex lino in acerrimo lixivio ex calce & cinere Isatidis herba cocto fit sericum. Ita si pennis detrahantur partes plumae, & in tali lixivio coquantur, neri & texi instar gossypii possunt. Quodvis oleum vel spermatica mucilago potest coagulari in vernicem: quilibet liquor in Gummi &c. Haec omnes sunt rerum naturalium transmutationes: de quibus cum hactenus dictum satis sit, hic colophonem imponemus.
English
Likewise glue is boiled from skins, paper is made from linen cloth, and silk from flax boiled in a very acrid lye of lime and ash of woad herb. If the downy parts are stripped from feathers and boiled in such a lye, they can be spun and woven like cotton. Any oil or spermatic mucilage can be coagulated into varnish, any liquor into gum, and so forth. All these are transmutations of natural things. Since enough has now been said about them, we shall set our concluding mark here.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 7 · Transmutations · Book 7 · Transmutations · Passage 28
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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.