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 551 of 642
Book 9 · Signature · Passage 42
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 260
Latin
Minerae quoque ac metalla extra quidem ignem & effossam materiam vera sua indicia & signa promunt, quae simul & ab Archeo, & ab Astris superioribus acceperunt, quolibet suum genus discretis coloribus & terrae differentiis referente. Aliud enim est minerale auri, ab argenti minerali. Sic diversum est minerale argenti, a minerali cupri. Diversum est minerale cupri a minerali ferri. Sic etiam ferri a stanni & plumbi. Et sic deinceps. Inficiari nemo potest, quin per Chiromantiam fodinarum mineralia & metallica corpora omnia, quae in terrae abditis latent, ex signis exterioribus cognoscantur. Ea Chiromantia est fodinarum, venarum, & ductuum, &c. ex quibus non ea solum, quae interius condita sunt produntur, sed etiam certa profunditas, & fodinae opulentia, ac metalli copia manifestantur. Et in hac Chiromantia tria scitu necessaria sunt: nempe Aetas, Profunditas, & Latitudo Venarum, sicut paulo ante etiam de herbis dictum est. Quo enim antiquiores Venae, eo fodinae metallis opulentiores & auctiores. De hac philosophandum ita est quod metalla omnia, quae in sua adhuc matrice latent continenter & iugiter crescant. Unde & hoc liquet, rem quamlibet crescentem, etiam extra matricem suam positam, minorem fieri non posse, sed subinde augescere, hoc est, multiplicari, & secundum suam substantiam, mensuram, & pondus usque ad tempus praedestinatum increscere.
English
Ores and metals too, outside fire and the excavated matter, disclose their true indications and signs, which they have received both from the Archaeus and from the upper stars. Each displays its kind through distinct colours and differences of earth. Gold ore differs from silver ore; silver ore from copper ore; copper ore from iron ore; and iron ore from tin and lead ore, and so on. Nobody can deny that through the chiromancy of mines all mineral and metallic bodies hidden within the earth are recognised by outward signs. This is the chiromancy of mines, veins and courses, which disclose not only what lies concealed inside but also the precise depth, richness of the mine and quantity of metal. In this chiromancy three things must be known: the age, depth and breadth of the veins, as was said of herbs a little earlier. The older the veins, the richer and more abundant the mines in metals. One must philosophise about this in the following way: all metals still hidden in their own matrix grow constantly and continually. Hence it is clear that any growing thing, even placed outside its matrix, cannot become smaller but continues to increase, that is, multiply and grow in substance, measure and weight until its predestined time.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 9 · Signature · Book 9 · Signature · Passage 42
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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.