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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 1

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Facing Pages · Branch 79 of 251

Book Two · Chapter 1

French

1621 pp. 65–66 · scans FR085, FR086

Or ce moteur n'est autre chose que le feu, ou la chaleur qui se meut premier dedans l'air: Car toutes generations se commencent par là; d'autant que le feu est le plus actif de tous les Elements, & par consequent comme plus subtil & leger, plus prompt à motion. Ce feu donc, duquel le propre est de voller en haut à cause de sa vive legereté, & de rendre visibles les choses incognues, prend necessairement la source de son mouvement & action d'embas, c'est à dire du centre du monde, où nous avons cy devant logé le vieil Demogorgon progeniteur de toutes choses; estant leans assis comme en son trosne au beau milieu de son Empire: afin que de là il gouverne, commande, entretienne, & departe de tous costez l'essence de la vie à tout ce grand corps spherique, rondement estendu autour de luy, afin qu'un chacun reçoive en chaque membre ce qu'il luy en faut, plus facilement & par distance egalle. Dedans le sein fecond de cet antique pere est implantee la racine de ce feu; qui de là fait une vaporante halaine, que Hermes en son Pimandre appelle Nature humide. Car vapeur est la premiere & prochaine action du feu; avec lequel elle est tellement conjoincte qu'on ne le sçauroit seulement imaginer sans elle.

1621 pp. 65–66 · scans FR085, FR086

Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi Philosophici: Book Two · Chapter 1

1621 pp. 65–66 · scans FR085, FR086

Now this mover is nothing other than fire, or the heat which first moves within air. All generations begin there, because fire is the most active of all the elements and consequently, being subtler and lighter, the readiest to move. This fire, whose property is to fly upwards because of its lively lightness, and to make unknown things visible, necessarily takes the source of its movement and action from below: that is, from the centre of the world, where we earlier lodged old Demogorgon, the progenitor of all things. He sits there as upon his throne in the very midst of his empire, so that from there he may govern, command, sustain and distribute on every side the essence of life to this entire great spherical body, spread round about him, and each may receive in every member what it needs more easily and at an equal distance. Within the fruitful bosom of this ancient father is implanted the root of this fire, which sends forth from there a vaporous breath, called moist Nature by Hermes in his Pimandre. For vapour is the first and immediate action of fire, so closely joined to it that fire cannot even be imagined without it.

1621 pp. 65–66 · scans FR085, FR086

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.