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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 PhilosophiciSonnet 6

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Facing Pages · Branch 216 of 251

Sonnet 6

French

1621 Unnumbered sonnet leaf 6 · scans FR336

Comme pour l'ornement de la masse indigeste Nature usa premier de separation: Ainsi tout art qui vise à la perfection, Doit suivre cette reigle & sentier manifeste. La substance a par tout l'excrement qui l'infecte Soit par limon terrestre ou par adustion, Mais l'art par lavement ou calcination, Usant d'eau, ou de feu, en bannit cette peste. L'industrie de l'art peut seule separer Et par nouvelle vie apres regenerer Tout en tout, de tout vice exemptant l'ame pure. Qui donc entend bien l'art d'user d'eau & de feu, Sçait les deux vrays sentiers qui montent peu à peu Au plus haut des secrets de toute la Nature.

1621 Unnumbered sonnet leaf 6 · scans FR336

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Sonnet 6

1621 Unnumbered sonnet leaf 6 · scans FR336

As, to adorn the undigested mass, Nature first employed separation, So every art aiming at perfection Must follow this rule and manifest path. Substance everywhere bears the excrement infecting it, Whether through earthly slime or scorching; But Art, through washing or calcination, Using water or fire, banishes that plague. Art’s skill alone can separate And afterwards regenerate through new life All in all, freeing the pure soul from every fault. Whoever therefore understands the art of using water and fire Knows the two true paths which climb little by little To the highest of all Nature’s secrets.

1621 Unnumbered sonnet leaf 6 · scans FR336

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.