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 394 of 642
Book 8 · Separation · Passage 11
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 238
Latin
Ab hoc scienda etiam est separatio metallorum a suis montibus, hoc est, separatio metallorum & mineralium. Separatione in his instituta, ex una materia multae prodeunt, sicuti videtis ex mineralibus prodire metallum, scoriam, vitrum, arenam, Piritem, Marcasitam, Granatum, Cobaltum, Talcum, Cackimiam, Zinetum, Bisemutum, Antimonium, Lithargyrum, sulphur, vitriolum, aeruginem, Chrysocollam, caeruleum seu Lasulum, Auripigmentum, Arsenicum Realgar, Cinnabarim, Ferri argillam, Spathum, Gypsum, Tripolim, Rubricam fabrilem, &c. & his similia alia plura: velut & deinceps horum cuiuslibet aquas, olea, resinas, calcem, sive cinerem, Mercurium, sulphur & sal, &c.
English
Next one must also understand the separation of metals from their mountains, that is, the separation of metals and minerals. When separation is performed on these, many matters emerge from one, as you see minerals yield metal, slag, glass, sand, pyrite, marcasite, garnet, cobalt, talc, cackimia, zinetum, bismuth, antimony, litharge, sulphur, vitriol, verdigris, chrysocolla, blue mineral or lazulum, orpiment, arsenic realgar, cinnabar, iron clay, spar, gypsum, tripoli, red earth used by craftsmen, and many similar things. Subsequently each of these also yields waters, oils, resins, calx or ash, mercury, sulphur and salt, and so forth.
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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.