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 587 of 642
Book 9 · Signature · Passage 57
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 265–266
Latin
Eadem etiam ratione quodlibet terrenum corpus peculiaria & discreta sua in igne signa exhibet, an aliquid habeat Mercurii, sulphuris aut salis, & cuiusnam ex his tribus principiis plus habeat. Si enim effumat antequam cum flamma ardeat, signum est, plus Mercurii quam sulphuris ibi contineri. Si autem illico cum flamma ardet, & sine omni fumo deflagrat, signum est, multum sulphuris, nihil autem vel quam minimum Mercurii ibi delitescere. Id fieri videtis in pinguedinosis substantiis, velut adipe, oleo, resina & similibus. Si autem citra flammam omnem per fumum abeat, signum est, multum Mercurii, & nihil vel parum sulphuris inexsistere. Id evenire videtis in herbis, floribus, &c. & aliis vegetabilibus substantiis ac corporibus volatilibus, ut sunt Mineralia ac Metalla, in primo ente adhuc constituta, nec dum cum corporeo sulphure permixta, quae fumum tantum & nihil flammae emittunt. Mineralia & metalla, quae in igne nec fumum nec flammam emittunt, hoc est, nec effumant, nec deflagrant, ea Mercurii & sulphuris aequalem permixtionem & fixationem ac perfectionem supra omnem constantiam vehementem indicant.
English
In the same way every earthly body displays its own distinct signs in fire, showing whether it contains mercury, sulphur or salt, and which of these three principles it contains most abundantly. If it smokes before burning with a flame, that signifies more mercury than sulphur. If it immediately burns with a flame and is consumed without any smoke, that signifies much sulphur and no mercury, or very little, concealed within it. You see this in fatty substances such as fat, oil, resin and the like. If it passes away in smoke without any flame, that signifies much mercury and little or no sulphur. You see this in herbs, flowers and other vegetable substances and volatile bodies, such as minerals and metals still in their first being and not yet mixed with bodily sulphur, which emit only smoke and no flame. Minerals and metals which emit neither smoke nor flame in fire, neither smoking away nor burning, indicate an equal mixture of mercury and sulphur and a fixation and perfection of strength beyond all steadfastness.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 9 · Signature · Book 9 · Signature · Passage 57
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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.