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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English Page · Branch 58 of 642
Book 1 · Generation · Passage 13
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 p. 205
Latin
Quod autem Hermes dixit, quod sola anima sit illud medium, quod coniungat spiritum corpori, non inepte sensit. Cum enim sulphur sit illa anima, & sicut ignis, omnes res maturet & excoquat, poterit etiam spiritum ligare cum corpore & una incorporare & unire, ita ut inde valde nobile corpus gignatur. Quanquam non vulgare combustibile sulphur pro anima metallorum habendum est, sed anima est aliud quid quam corpus combustibile & corruptibile. Quare a nullo igni comburi potest, cum sit tota ignis: & revera nihil aliud est quam Quinta Essentia Sulphuris, quae ex reverberato sulphure per spiritum vini extrahitur, & coloris rubei & pellucida existit sicut rubinus: quod quidem magnum & praestans Arcanum est ad transmutandum metalla alba, & ad coagulandum ☿ vivum in fixum & probatum ☉: hoc tibi pro thesauro ditescendi commendatum habeas, & merito hoc unico arcano in transmutatione metallorum contentus esse debes.
English
Hermes was right to say that soul alone is the medium which joins spirit to body. Since Sulphur is that soul and, like fire, matures and cooks all things, it can also bind spirit to body, embody and unite them together, so that a very excellent body is generated. Yet common combustible sulphur must not be taken as the soul of metals: that soul is something other than a combustible and corruptible body. It therefore cannot be consumed by any fire, since it is entirely fire. In truth it is nothing other than the quintessence of Sulphur, extracted from reverberated sulphur by spirit of wine, red in colour and transparent like a ruby. This is a great and outstanding arcanum for transmuting white metals and coagulating living Mercury into fixed and tested Gold. Regard it as a treasure commended to you for enrichment: you ought rightly to be content with this one arcanum in the transmutation of metals.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 1 · Generation · Book 1 · Generation · Passage 13
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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.