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 Two · Chapter 3
French
1621 pp. 174–176 · scans FR194, FR195, FR196On pourra donc recueillir de ce qui a ja esté dit qu'il n'est rien vuide d'excremens : & que excrement & substance sont les deux parties dont tous corps sont composez : & que rien sinon le seul excrement ne doit aussi estre separé du subject, comme accidentel, & qui n'a nulle afinité avec l'essence de la substance. On pourra semblablement recueillir que le feu est celuy qui seul procure & facilite cette separation. Mais il est temps de dire comment cela se fait, car ce n'est pas assez de proposer que la separation est le commencement des œuvres tant de la Nature que de l'art, ny de sçavoir qu'elles choses sont separables, si l'on ne sçait comment cela doit estre pratiqué. J'ay cy devant dit qu'il y a deux especes de separation, L'une qui se fait par distinction & ornement, de laquelle je me tairay maintenant d'autant qu'elle appartient à la seule nature, & non à l'art. L'autre qui se fait par division ou retrenchement des parties : qui est celle dont je desire esclaircir la practique. J'ay n'aguere dit que toutes choses visibles & palpables sont composees de ces deux parties contraires, excrement & substance. Quant à la substance, elle est de soy simple & indivisible, soit qu'on la prenne generalement pour la premiere matiere de tout, ou bien pour les especes particulieres, selon l'impression de l'idee ou forme celeste qui est insinuee. C'est à dire qu'au limbe de l'univers, ou bien en chacune espece des corps composez, cette substance est une en essence, vertu, & qualité. Et ne peut on dire qu'en un mesme subject il y ait une partie d'icelle d'une sorte, & l'autre d'une autre : mais il n'est pas ainsi de l'excrement.
Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book Two · Chapter 3
1621 pp. 174–176 · scans FR194, FR195, FR196From what has already been said, we may therefore gather that nothing is free of excrements; that excrement and substance are the two parts of which all bodies are composed; and that excrement alone should be separated from the subject, as something accidental, having no affinity with the essence of the substance. We may likewise gather that fire alone brings about and facilitates this separation. But it is time to say how this is done: it is not enough to propose that separation is the beginning of the works of both Nature and art, or to know which things can be separated, unless one knows how it should be practised. I said above that there are two kinds of separation. One occurs by distinction and adornment; I shall say no more of it now, since it belongs to Nature alone and not to art. The other occurs by division or removal of parts: this is the one whose practice I wish to explain. I said a little earlier that all visible and tangible things are composed of these two contrary parts, excrement and substance. Substance in itself is simple and indivisible, whether taken generally as the first matter of everything, or in particular species, according to the impression of the idea or celestial form instilled into it. That is to say, in the limbus of the universe, or in each species of compound bodies, this substance is one in essence, power and quality. One cannot say that, within the same subject, one portion of it is of one kind and another of a different kind. Excrement, however, is otherwise.
Socrates
Reading Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici · Book Two · Chapter 3 · Book Two · Chapter 3 · Unit 24
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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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