Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici
Treatises on the True Salt and the Universal Spirit of the World
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Book One · Chapter 5
French
1621 pp. 38–39 · scans FR058, FR059Quand donc nous disons que la Lune est mere de l'esprit & matiere universelle, nous ne parlons pas sans raison apparente; & n'y a rien d'absurde: Mais il nous fault faire voir d'où vient cette maternité. Chaleur & humeur sont les deux clefs de toute generation: la chaleur faisant l'office de masle, & l'humeur celuy de femelle. Par l'action du chaud sur l'humide se fait premierement la corruption; qui est suivie par la generation. Cecy apparoist au petit vaisseau d'un œuf; dedans lequel le sperme se putrifie par la chaleur de fomentation; puis apres le poulet se coagule & forme, le mesme arrive en la generation de l'homme, qui est amené à un corps accomply de toutes ses parties, par l'assemblement de deux spermes, l'un masculin & l'autre feminin, dedans la matrice, à l'aide de la chaleur naturelle de la femme. J'appelle icy corruption le changement & passage de forme en forme, qui ne peult arriver sans le moyen de putrefaction, qui est le vray chemin de generation; laquelle est procuree & avancee par certain Mercure ou argent vif, comme porteur & conducteur special de la vertu vegetative.
Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book One · Chapter 5
1621 pp. 38–39 · scans FR058, FR059When, therefore, we say that the moon is the mother of universal spirit and matter, we do not speak without evident reason, and there is nothing absurd in it; but we must show the source of this motherhood. Heat and moisture are the two keys to all generation: heat performs the office of the male, and moisture that of the female. Through the action of the hot upon the moist, corruption first takes place, followed by generation. This appears in the little vessel of an egg, within which the seed-fluid putrefies through the heat of warming; afterwards the chick coagulates and takes form. The same happens in human generation: a body complete in all its parts is brought about through the gathering together of two seed-fluids, one male and the other female, within the womb, aided by the woman’s natural heat. Here I call corruption the change and passage from one form to another, which cannot occur without putrefaction, the true path of generation. Generation is procured and advanced by a certain Mercury or living silver, as the special bearer and conductor of the vegetative power.
Socrates
Reading Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici · Book One · Chapter 5 · Book One · Chapter 5 · Unit 2
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.
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This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
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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.
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