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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 4

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English Page · Branch 180 of 251

Book Two · Chapter 4

French

1621 pp. 295–297 · scans FR295, FR296, FR297

En faveur de laquelle je me dispenseray du silence promis, pour declarer que ce nom de Medée veut dire cogitation, meditation, ou investigation; tirant sa derivation d’un mot qui signifie Principe, Origine, source, ou raison. Car toute meditation, cogitation, ou investigation, doit sans doute avoir quelque principe ou raison pour fondement sur qui elle soit appuyee, & d’où elle sorte: luy donnant occasion de faire telle recherche avec ratiocination. Cette Medée apprit à Jason (qui est l’inquisiteur ou Philosophe) deux choses ausquelles consiste toute la Philosophie. La premiere est de conquester la toison d’or, qui est l’art destiné aux transmutations metalliques avec les choses mineralles. La seconde est la restauration des corps debilitez par maladies; en les guarissant promptement & parfaitement: puis leur restituant cette jeunesse ou premiere vigueur alentie, & presque esteinte par le froid aconit des ans: Chassant des corps par cette medecine uniquement universelle, toutes humeurs & superfluitez corrompues & corrompantes qui les conduisent à leur fin, le plus souvent precipitee par l’excés de tels accidents impreveus. Ces deux miraculeux effects furent atteints & accomplis par Jason, observant religieusement les utiles conseils de la sage Medée: apres toutesfois une longue & laborieuse navigation suivie d’infinis perilleux hazards, à cause du dragon & des Taureaux qu’il luy convient dompter. Or cette navigation est la penible recherche & douteuse experience des choses, où l’on vogue souvent tout le temps de la vie sans pouvoir arriver au port de cette immense mer de la Nature.

1621 pp. 295–297 · scans FR295, FR296, FR297

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

1621 pp. 295–297 · scans FR295, FR296, FR297

For this story’s sake I shall dispense with my promised silence, to declare that the name Medea means cogitation, meditation or investigation, deriving from a word which signifies principle, origin, source or reason. For every meditation, cogitation or investigation must undoubtedly have some principle or reason as its foundation, upon which it rests and from which it proceeds, giving occasion for such a search through reasoning. This Medea taught Jason, who is the enquirer or philosopher, the two things in which all philosophy consists. The first is to win the Golden Fleece, which is the art directed towards metallic transmutations by means of mineral things. The second is to restore bodies weakened by disease, curing them promptly and perfectly, then restoring their youth or original vigour, slowed and almost extinguished by the cold aconite of the years. By this uniquely universal medicine, all corrupted and corrupting humours and superfluities are driven from bodies: these bring them to their end, which is most often hastened by an excess of such unforeseen accidents. Jason attained and accomplished these two miraculous effects by religiously observing the useful counsels of wise Medea, though only after a long and arduous voyage followed by countless perilous hazards, because of the dragon and bulls he had to subdue. Now this voyage is the laborious search and uncertain trial of things, in which one often sails throughout an entire lifetime without being able to reach the harbour in this immense sea of Nature.

1621 pp. 295–297 · scans FR295, FR296, FR297

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.