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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French Page · Branch 43 of 251
Book One · Chapter 3
French
1621 pp. 21–22 · scans FR041, FR042Les choses sont nourries de ce dont elles sont faites. Il se voit que tout respire, vit, croist, & se nourrit par cet esprit infus au monde: & se dissout & meurt iceluy defaillant. Il s'ensuit donc que tout est fait de luy, qui n'est autre chose qu'une simple essence subtile, que les philosophes nomment quinte, parce qu'elle peut estre separee des corps comme d'une matiere crasse & grossiere, & de la superfluité des quatre elemens: & lors elle a des operations merveilleuses. Or elle est infuse par toutes les parties du monde, & par elle la vertu de l'ame se dilate & devient vigoureuse: Laquelle vertu est principalement versee & donnee aux corps qui ont plus attiré & participé de cet Esprit, estant envoyee & decoulee d'enhaut, c'est à sçavoir du Soleil, qui veritablement produit la qualité de la matiere en essence: Tellement que cet esprit eschauffé par l'action du Soleil, acquiert grande abondance de vie, multipliant & vivifiant les semences de toutes choses, qui croissent & augmentent jusques à la magnitude determinee, selon l'espece & forme de la chose. Pour cette cause Virgile a veritablement dit Qu'une vigueur ignee & celeste origine Est en chaque semence, & en elle domine.
Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book One · Chapter 3
1621 pp. 21–22 · scans FR041, FR042Things are nourished by that of which they are made. We see that everything breathes, lives, grows and is nourished through this spirit infused into the world, and dissolves and dies when it fails. It follows, then, that everything is made of it. It is nothing other than a simple, subtle essence, which philosophers call the fifth because it can be separated from bodies as from thick, coarse matter and from the superfluity of the four elements; and then it performs marvellous operations. It is infused throughout every part of the world, and through it the power of the soul spreads and becomes vigorous. This power, sent and flowing down from above—that is, from the sun—is chiefly poured into and bestowed upon those bodies which have drawn in and shared more of this spirit. The sun truly brings the quality of matter into being. Thus this spirit, heated by the sun’s action, acquires a great abundance of life, multiplying and vivifying the seeds of all things, which grow and increase to their determined size according to the species and form of the thing. For this reason Virgil truly said: A fiery vigour and a heavenly origin Are in each seed, and hold dominion within it.
Socrates
Reading Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici · Book One · Chapter 3 · Book One · Chapter 3 · Unit 1
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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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