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 619 of 642
Book 9 · Signature · Passage 68
Source reference
- Latin witness
- 1605 pp. 269–270
Latin
Ut autem ex addito exemplo me planius intelligatis: scire vos velim, Planetae Soli subiici Coronam, Sceptrum, Solium, omnemque regiam potestatem & maiestatem, omnem dominationem, omnes divitias, thesauros, ornatus & apparatus huius mundi. Lunae Planetae subiecta sunt, omnis agricultura, navigatio, peregrinatio & peregrinatores, & quae alia huc spectant. Planetae Marti subiiciuntur, Munitiones (ut vocant) omnes, bracteae, Loricae, tormenta, hastilia, denique omnia arma, & quae ad bellum pertinent. Planetae Mercurio subiiciuntur omnes literati, omnia instrumenta Mechanica, & quae ad artes requiruntur. Planetae Iovi subiiciuntur omnia iudicia & iura, ordo universus Leviticus, omnes Ecclesiarum ministri, templorum ornatus, clenodia, & si qua alia huius classis sunt. Planetae Veneri subiiciuntur, quaecunque ad Musicam referuntur, Musica instrumenta, & exercitia venerea, amores, scortationes, &c. Planetae Saturno subiiciuntur, quicunque in & infra terram operantur, ut metallarii, cunicularii, Vespillones, fontium effossores, velut & omnia his familiaria instrumenta, &c.
English
To make myself clearer through an example, know that the crown, sceptre, throne, all royal power and majesty, all dominion, riches, treasures, ornaments and display of this world are subject to the planet Sun. All agriculture, navigation, travel and travellers, and related matters, are subject to the Moon. All munitions, as they call them, plates of armour, breastplates, artillery, spears, and every weapon and thing belonging to war are subject to Mars. All learned people, all mechanical instruments and things required for the arts are subject to Mercury. All courts and laws, the whole Levitical order, all ministers of churches, the adornment and treasures of temples and things of this kind are subject to Jupiter. Whatever concerns music, musical instruments, sexual exercises, loves and whoring is subject to Venus. All who work in or below the earth, such as miners, tunnellers, gravediggers and well-diggers, together with all the instruments associated with them, are subject to Saturn.
Socrates
Reading Nine Books on the Nature of Things · Book 9 · Signature · Book 9 · Signature · Passage 68
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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.