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 567 of 642
Book 9 · Signature · Passage 50
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 262–263
Latin
Coruscationes hae omnes utcunque appareant, ductuum metallicorum certissima indicia praebent, ut ex illis cognoscantur, & metalla, ceu certa Dei Dona, ex terra eruantur. Quicquid enim Deus in hominum usum creavit, id certae proprietatem in natura ei ingessit, ut nec absconditum maneret. Et licet illud quidem absconditum fecerit: peculiaria tamen quoque externa signa addidit, ad investigationem ducentia. Ex quo praedestinatio eius mira cognosci debet. Eodem modo ipsi et homines, si thesauros defodiunt certis notis additis, locum signant, & vel ad limites, vel statuas, vel fonticulos, vel aliud quid eosdem sepeliunt, ut si opus sit, ipsos rursus invenire & eruere possunt. Veteres Chaldaei ac Graeci, si bellorum temporibus, expugnationis & eiectionis metuentes thesauros suos defoderunt, locum istum aliter non designarunt, quam ut certam diem, horam, & minutiam anni sibi praeponerent, & quonam Sol aut Luna umbram iactaret, attenderent, ac eo thesauros conderent seu defoderent. Hanc artem Sciomantiam, hoc est, artem umbrae vocitarunt. Ex umbrabilibus illis multae artes exortae, & res occultae multae revelatae sunt, utpote quibus omnes spiritus & syderea corpora cognoscuntur. Haec enim sunt signata Cabalistica, fallere nescia: itaque diligenter observanda.
English
All these flashes, however they appear, give most certain indications of metallic courses, so that these may be recognised and metals dug from the earth as assured gifts of God. Whatever God created for human use he endowed with a particular property in nature so that it should not remain hidden. Although he made it hidden, he also added particular outward signs leading to its discovery. From this his wonderful predestination should be recognised. People likewise mark places where they bury treasures, adding certain signs and burying them near boundaries, statues, little springs or something else, so that when needed they can find and dig them up again. When the ancient Chaldeans and Greeks buried treasures in wartime, fearing conquest and expulsion, they marked the place by appointing a certain day, hour and minute of the year, observing where the Sun or Moon cast its shadow, and hiding or burying their treasures there. They called this art sciomancy, that is, the art of the shadow. From such shadow practices many arts arose and many hidden things were revealed, by which all spirits and sidereal bodies are known. These are cabalistic signs which cannot deceive, and must therefore be diligently observed.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 9 · Signature · Book 9 · Signature · Passage 50
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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.