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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 3

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Facing Pages · Branch 143 of 251

Book Two · Chapter 3

French

1621 pp. 193 · scans FR213

Or cette practique de sublimation a esté trouvee pour ce que la calcination qui ne se peut accomplir sans extreme violence de feu esleveroit le pur avec les feces sans aucun avancement de separation ny purification. Il est bien vray que la sublimation requiert quelque violence de feu, mais c'est alors seulement que la chose sublimable est profondement meslee & attachee aux feces ou chaux de quelque corps fixe, pour plus arrester & retenir les immondices terrestres. Et cette maniere de sublimer est la plus seure ; si ce n'est aux choses qui ont leurs feces capables de s'arrester d'elles mesmes. La dessention se practique pour deux utilitez : l'une afin de tirer l'huille des vegetaux, sans les brusler. L'autre pour mondifier les corps fusibles avant qu'ils soient rendus fuyants. Voyla les trois manieres de separation qui se font par le feu.

1621 pp. 193 · scans FR213

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book Two · Chapter 3

1621 pp. 193 · scans FR213

Now this practice of sublimation was devised because calcination, which cannot be accomplished without extreme violence of fire, would raise the pure together with the dregs, without any advance in separation or purification. It is indeed true that sublimation requires some violence of fire, but only when the sublimable thing is deeply mingled and attached to the dregs or calx of some fixed body, so as better to arrest and retain the earthly impurities. This manner of sublimation is the safest, except for things whose dregs are capable of staying behind of themselves. Descension is practised for two purposes: one is to draw oil from vegetable substances without burning them; the other is to cleanse fusible bodies before they become fugitive. Those are the three manners of separation performed by fire.

1621 pp. 193 · scans FR213

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.