Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici

Name: Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici
Author: Clovis Hesteau de Nuysement

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

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Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi PhilosophiciBook Two · Chapter 4

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English Page · Branch 165 of 251

Book Two · Chapter 4

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French

1621 pp. 241–243 · scans FR261, FR262, FR263

Parquoy de ses mesmes arguments je tireray cestuy-cy: Tout ce qui se meut de soy est principe de mouvement & en continuelle vie; celuy qui est en continuelle vie ne peut avoir vivification que de soy, il est donc luy mesme vivifiable? Or l'Esprit general du monde est tel. Et puis qu'il se convertit en corps dans la terre; ou pour mieux dire qu'il y prend son siege pour se corporifier & convertir en terre; en laquelle (ainsi qu'a dit Hermes) toutes ses vertus, actions, & qualitez demeurent entieres, il s'ensuit qu'estant vital, luy mesme se refournit de vie en se multipliant par sa propre vertu. Ce que nous apercevons en ce Mercure universel lequel se nourrit & refournit tousjours dans sa miniere, de sorte qu'encore que l'on en tire ce qu'on pourra, si est ce qu'il y recroistra autant qu'auparavant, & en quelque lieu qu'il soit jetté jamais il n'y deffaudra. Non pas que je vueille dire qu'il s'engendre de la terre, mais en la terre, par toutes les parties de laquelle il rampe & s'espand incessamment par multiplication & vegetation. Ce que les anciens ont voulu signifier par ce serpent que Moyse mesme a dit aller glissant sur la terre & se nourrir de la poussiere d'icelle. C'est ce qui a meu les cabalistes de l'appeller Prince des sepulchres, d'autant qu'il y devore & consomme les corps gisans lors qu'il les convertit en terre. Non pas que les corps morts ny la terre soient son aliment, mais ils sont le siege où il se repaist & alimente.

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book Two · Chapter 4

1621 pp. 241–243 · scans FR261, FR262, FR263

From these same arguments I shall therefore draw this one: everything that moves itself is a principle of motion and continually alive; what is continually alive can receive life only from itself, so is it not itself capable of being given life? The universal spirit of the world is such. Since it changes into a body in the earth—or rather, makes its seat there in order to take bodily form and change into earth, in which, as Hermes said, all its powers, actions and qualities remain entire—it follows that, being alive, it replenishes itself with life, multiplying through its own power. We perceive this in that universal mercury which continually nourishes and replenishes itself within its mine: however much may be extracted, just as much will grow again as before; and wherever it is cast, it will never fail there. I do not mean that it is generated from the earth, but within the earth, through every part of which it creeps and spreads ceaselessly by multiplication and growth. This is what the ancients meant by that serpent which Moses himself said goes gliding over the earth and feeds upon its dust. This moved the cabalists to call it Prince of Sepulchres, because it devours and consumes the bodies lying there when it converts them into earth. Dead bodies and the earth are not its food; rather, they are the seat where it feeds and sustains itself.

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.