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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Clovis Hesteau de Nuysement

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici

Treatises on the True Salt and the Universal Spirit of the World

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Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi PhilosophiciBook Two · Chapter 2

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English Page · Branch 103 of 251

Book Two · Chapter 2

French

1621 pp. 112–114 · scans FR132, FR133, FR134

Nous l’appercevons clairement aux viandes que nous mangeons; la masse desquelles ne se convertit ou trans-substancie pas en nostre chair, mais s’evacue par les lieux à ce destinez; Nature attirant seulement d’icelles le suc invisible & spirituel, apte à se carnifier & substancier en nous. De mesme pouvons nous dire que cette masse terrestre que nous foulons des pieds n’est qu’un excrement de la premiere substance, qui s’amassa dans le limbe du cahos; s’affaissant & enfonçant à l’entour du centre par egale proportion: qui a causé cette rondeur spherique, avec la substance equilibre, qui fait qu’elle ne peut remuer ny tomber, car estant ja devalee au plus bas lieu, elle ne sçauroit passer outre qu’en remontant, de quelque costé que ce soit: & cela repugneroit totallement à son naturel. Nous voyons que les lignes qui de chacune partie de la superficie d’un cercle tombent à son centre qui est leur poinct, n’en peuvent estre tirees sans remonter d’où elles sont parties. Je ne dy pas qu’au corps de la terre il n’y ait rien qu’excrement: car jaçoit qu’il apparoisse tout excrementel, si est-ce qu’en ses excremens est enveloppee une substance pure; qui toute spirituelle ne peut substanter sans l’administration d’un corps: ainsi que nous voyons en toutes les choses qui en proviennent, dont la semence & premiere matiere est invisible; mais est portee & conduite par la masse corporelle qui s’engendre mesme avec elle, parce que rien ne se corporifie sans l’excrement.

1621 pp. 112–114 · scans FR132, FR133, FR134

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book Two · Chapter 2

1621 pp. 112–114 · scans FR132, FR133, FR134

We perceive this clearly in the foods we eat: their mass is not converted or transubstantiated into our flesh, but is evacuated through the places appointed for that purpose; Nature draws from them only the invisible and spiritual juice fitted to become flesh and substance within us. Likewise we may say that the earthly mass we tread underfoot is merely an excrement of the first substance, which gathered in the limbus of chaos, sinking and settling around the centre in equal proportion. This caused its spherical roundness, and its equally balanced substance, which prevents it moving or falling; for, having already descended to the lowest place, it could go further only by rising again, in whatever direction, and that would be wholly contrary to its nature. We see that lines drawn from each part of a circle’s circumference down to its centre, which is their point, cannot be drawn out again without rising to where they began. I do not say that earth’s body contains nothing but excrement; for although it appears wholly excrementitious, its excrements nevertheless envelop a pure substance which, being entirely spiritual, cannot subsist without the provision of a body. We see this in all things proceeding from it: their seed and first matter are invisible, but are carried and conveyed by the bodily mass generated together with them, because nothing takes bodily form without excrement.

1621 pp. 112–114 · scans FR132, FR133, FR134

About This Reading Edition

The complete French text of 1621 with a new English translation, all three books, preliminary texts, nine concluding sonnets, original errata, 299 annotations and the complete supplied study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Clovis Hesteau de Nuysement, Traittez de l’harmonie et constitution generalle du vray sel, secret des Philosophes, & de l’Esprit universelle du Monde. Paris: Jérémie Périer and Abdias Buisard, 1621. The governing witness is the BnF/Gallica reproduction, ark:/12148/bpt6k656273. The reproduced privilege is dated 6 November 1620; the separate eighty-page Poème philosophic of 1620 is outside this edition.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The historical text printed in 1621 is in the public domain. The supplied 2026 French reading text, new English translation, introduction, notes and complete study apparatus are published with the site owner’s authorization.