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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 3

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Facing Pages · Branch 145 of 251

Book Two · Chapter 3

French

1621 pp. 196–198 · scans FR216, FR217, FR218

Cet inconvenient m'arriva une fois en la calcination du Cristal commun, que voulant purger de ses excrements pour le reduire en vraye essence par une longue ignition, je trouvay entierement vitrifié avec ses feces, & partant inutile à mon dessein, & à tout autre ouvrage. Car encore que le Cristal paroisse clair, lucide, & transparent, les premieres fumees noires, puis violettes qui se presentent en sa calcination, avec une odeur puante & sulfuree, tesmoignent bien sa terrestreité excrementeuse : tout ainsi que les blanches qui les suivent sont indices vrais de l'homogeneité de la substance, qui demeure en fin claire & flotante en petite quantité, tant qu'elle soit parvenue à la Nature & consistance de pur sel cristallin : & durant ces reiterations dernieres l'odeur ingrate qui se sent és premieres se change en une tres-souefve & plaisante, semblable à la poudre de violette. Or de la reiteration des calcinations outre les choses predittes arrivent deux biens : L'un, que la chose calcinee acquiert par l'accoustumance du feu cette subtilité & permanence aux medicamens desquelles j'ay desja parlé : L'autre, que ce qui est souvent dissoult acquiert penetration, ingression prompte & subtile, & puissante vertu de transmuer l'estat du patient, de maladie à santé, de langueur à vigueur, de destruction à restauration & parfaict amandement. Voyla les voyes ordinaires de toutes separations qui ne tendent à autre but qu'à sequestrer les pures substances de leurs excrements corrompants, & les eslever de la lourde espaisseur terrestre à la pureté ignee : & bref d'imperfection à perfection.

1621 pp. 196–198 · scans FR216, FR217, FR218

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

1621 pp. 196–198 · scans FR216, FR217, FR218

This disadvantage once befell me in calcining common crystal. Wishing to purge its excrements and reduce it to its true essence through prolonged ignition, I found it entirely vitrified with its dregs, and therefore useless for my design or any other work. For although crystal appears clear, lucid and transparent, the first black fumes, then violet ones, which appear during its calcination, with a foul, sulphurous smell, clearly attest its excrementitious earthliness. Likewise, the white fumes following them are true indications of the homogeneity of the substance, which finally remains clear and floating in a small quantity, until it has attained the nature and consistency of pure crystalline salt. During these final repetitions, the unpleasant smell perceived in the first changes into a very sweet, pleasant one like violet powder. Besides the things already mentioned, two benefits arise from repeated calcinations. One is that the calcined thing, through becoming accustomed to fire, acquires that subtlety and permanence in medicines of which I have already spoken. The other is that what is often dissolved acquires penetration, swift and subtle entry, and a powerful virtue for transforming the patient’s state from disease to health, from languor to vigour, from destruction to restoration and complete recovery. These are the ordinary paths of all separations, whose sole aim is to set pure substances apart from their corrupting excrements and raise them from heavy earthly thickness to fiery purity: in brief, from imperfection to perfection.

1621 pp. 196–198 · scans FR216, FR217, FR218

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.