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
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
English Page · Branch 64 of 251
Book One · Chapter 7
French
1621 pp. 48–50 · scans FR068, FR069, FR070Bien que cet Esprit soit infus & resident tant és choses inferieures que superieures, toutesfois on le peult plus evidemment & facilement voir & connoistre au corps plus proche. Or le plus proche & vegeteux de tous les corps c'est celuy de la terre. En elle donc il s'engendre & manifeste davantage, non sans grande raison: car la terre est comme le blanc & la butte de toutes les celestes influstions & vertus superieures, en laquelle tous les astres descochent & lancent leurs rayons. Elle est aussi le fondement & baze de tous les elements, contenant en soy les semences & vertus seminales de toutes choses, qui est cause qu'on la nomme Mere commune des animaux, vegetaux, & mineraux. Estant donc engrossie par les cieux & les autres Elements, elle produit de son sein toutes choses. Or que d'icelle on arrache cet Esprit; qu'on le lave; qu'on le separe tant que l'on voudra; si on laisse cette terre ainsi despouillee quelque temps à l'air, elle sera r'engrossie & impregnee comme devant par les vertus & forces du ciel, produisant derechef certaines pierrettes cristallines, & reluysantes estincelles: & cet Esprit que l'on pensera en estre du tout separé, regermera tousjours. Parquoy l'impregnation faite par l'action des cieux & des qualitez premieres la rend continuellement generante, car d'elle provient tout ce qui est dessous le cercle de la Lune.
Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book One · Chapter 7
1621 pp. 48–50 · scans FR068, FR069, FR070Although this spirit is infused and resident in lower things as well as higher, it can be seen and known more clearly and easily in the nearer body. Now the nearest and most productive of all bodies is that of the earth. In her it is therefore generated and made manifest more abundantly, and with good reason: for the earth is like the mark and target of all celestial influxes and higher powers, into which all the stars discharge and cast their rays. She is also the foundation and base of all the elements, containing within herself the seeds and seminal powers of all things; hence she is called the common mother of animals, plants and minerals. Made pregnant by the heavens and the other elements, she produces all things from her bosom. Now let this spirit be drawn out of her, washed and separated as much as one wishes: if this earth, thus stripped, is left in the air for some time, she will again be made pregnant and impregnated as before by the powers and forces of heaven, once more producing certain little crystalline stones and shining sparks. This spirit, which one will suppose to have been entirely separated from her, will always sprout again. Thus impregnation through the action of the heavens and the primary qualities makes her continually generative, for from her proceeds everything below the circle of the moon.
Socrates
Reading Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici · Book One · Chapter 7 · Book One · Chapter 7 · Unit 1
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
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.
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.
- Governing historical witnessBnF/Gallica: 1621 witness
- Complete original supplied fileDownload the supplied PDF edition
- Complete original supplied fileDownload the supplied EPUB edition
- Complete original supplied fileDownload the supplied Word edition
- Complete original supplied fileDownload the supplied Markdown edition