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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 One · Chapter 4

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English Page · Branch 48 of 251

Book One · Chapter 4

French

1621 pp. 26–28 · scans FR046, FR047, FR048

C'est pourquoy nous voyons en Hiver. Lors que le Soleil s'est esloigné de nous, que la terre morfondue par la privation des rayons perpendiculaires d'iceluy, & par ce moyen depourveuë de chaleur suffisante, demeure sterile; mais quand au renouveau le Soleil remonte sur nous par sa voye ordinaire, alors elle reprend vie & vigueur comme ressuscitee. De ce changement est seule cause cet esprit de l'univers, tres plein d'ame & de vie, habitant principalement en la terre. Lequel avant que pouvoir engendrer doit necessairement habiter & demeurer en quelque corps, assavoir en la terre, qui est comme le corps de tous les corps. Et parce que toutes choses sont alimentees & nourries de ce dont elles sont faites, cet esprit est tres-aymé du Soleil, & pour cette cause les sages anciens n'ont pas dit sans raison que le Soleil vient au Printemps réchauffer & ranimer son pere aggravé de vieillesse, & languissant demy mort, par les froidures de l'Hiver. Puis donc qu'il est renforcé & revivifié par le Soleil, ce n'est pas sans subject que nous disons avec Hermes que le Soleil est son pere: sans lequel autrement il seroit ingenerable, & ne pourroit croistre ny multiplier, & ce d'autant plus que la chaleur influante des astres provient du Soleil & empreinte la terre, qui ayant conceu, engendre, esleve, & multiplie cette matiere spiritueuse; l'amenant d'incorporeité à corporeité.

1621 pp. 26–28 · scans FR046, FR047, FR048

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book One · Chapter 4

1621 pp. 26–28 · scans FR046, FR047, FR048

This is why we see in winter, when the sun has withdrawn from us, that the earth, chilled through being deprived of its perpendicular rays and thus lacking sufficient heat, remains barren. But when, at the renewal of the year, the sun rises over us again along its accustomed path, the earth recovers life and vigour as though resurrected. The sole cause of this change is the spirit of the universe, most full of soul and life, dwelling chiefly in the earth. Before it can generate, it must necessarily inhabit and remain within some body, namely the earth, which is like the body of all bodies. And because all things are fed and nourished by that of which they are made, this spirit is greatly loved by the sun. For this reason the ancient sages did not say without cause that in spring the sun comes to warm and revive its father, weighed down with age and languishing half dead from winter’s cold. Since, then, it is strengthened and revived by the sun, we do not say without grounds, with Hermes, that the sun is its father. Without it, it would otherwise be incapable of generation and could neither grow nor multiply. This is all the more so because the heat flowing from the stars proceeds from the sun and impregnates the earth, which, having conceived, generates, raises and multiplies this spirituous matter, bringing it from incorporeality into corporeality.

1621 pp. 26–28 · scans FR046, FR047, FR048

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.