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 569 of 642
Book 9 · Signature · Passage 51
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 263
Latin
Sedulo ergo opera danda est, ut ne vos per divinationes artium incertarum seduci patiamini. Ea enim vana & irrita sunt, comprimis virgulae divinatoriae, quae multis metallariis fucum fecerunt. Semel enim si quid recte ostendunt, decies utique vicissim fallunt. Similiter & aliis fraudulentis diaboli signis, quae noctu & inconvenienti tempore contra omnem naturam fiunt ac apparent, velut spectra, visiones &c. fidendum minime est. Scire enim vos velim, diabolum quoque signa edere, sed ex mera fraude & dolo. Sic nullum templum exstruitur, ad quod sacellum suum diabolus non collocet. Sacellum nullum exstruitur, cui ille arulam non inferat. Semen bonum nullum seminatur, cui ille lolium non interserat. Eadem omnino et condicio est visionum & apparitionum supernaturalium, in Crystallis, Berillis, speculis, undis, &c. sicut illis hactenus praeter omne mandatum Dei & ipsius naturae luminis potentiam ceremoniales Nigromantes foede abusi sunt.
English
Take care, therefore, not to let yourselves be led astray by divinations of uncertain arts. They are vain and ineffective, especially divining rods, which have deceived many miners: if they show something correctly once, they deceive ten times in return. Nor should one trust other fraudulent signs of the devil appearing by night or at an unsuitable time against all nature, such as ghosts and visions. I wish you to know that the devil too produces signs, but from sheer fraud and deceit. No temple is built beside which he does not place his chapel; no chapel is built into which he does not bring his little altar; no good seed is sown among which he does not sow darnel. The same applies to supernatural visions and apparitions in crystals, beryls, mirrors and waters, which ceremonial necromancers have hitherto shamefully abused against every command of God and the power of nature’s own light.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 9 · Signature · Book 9 · Signature · Passage 51
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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.