DiotimosReading Desk

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

Explore the Lexicon
Sal Lumen and Spiritus Mundi PhilosophiciBook Two · Chapter 1

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

English Page · Branch 85 of 251

Book Two · Chapter 1

French

1621 pp. 75–77 · scans FR095, FR096, FR097

Ce qui est donc de plus subtil en cette vapeur montant volontiers, parvient en fin jusques à la superficie de la terre, où elle est contraincte de s'arrester. Et d'autant qu'elle ne peut demeurer ocieuse, & ne peut toutesfois devaller, ny monter plus haut, parce qu'estant esprit, c'est son propre de s'eslever; & que ne trouvant rien de solide qui la puisse porter; il est force qu'elle continue l'intention de Nature, & s'employe à la generation & corporification des individus. Mais afin que plus clairement on puisse entendre tout ce que j'ay desia dit; prenons quelqu'un de ces individus, & pour donner une absolue conclusion à ce chapitre, voyons comment il est procreé: Car cela nous rendra certains que cet Esprit du monde prend corps, & nous descouvrira comment il se corporifie. Le gland semé dedans la terre y demeureroit à jamais inutile, ou se consommeroit sans germer, s'il n'y avoit quelque agent qui portast en acte la puissance occulte que Nature y a logee. D'où pourroit on imaginer cette action sinon du feu central sortant du cœur de ce Demogorgon, lequel feu attiré & fomenté par les rayons du Soleil celeste, redouble sa force & vigueur? Cette germination n'a elle donc pas son commencement par ce feu de Nature qui eslevant & multipliant sa vapeur resveille & excite le feu inné dedans le gland, qui de sa part aussi se vaporise par le moyen de son air propre, puis estant commencé à vaporiser, se nourrit & augmente de cette vapeur premiere, qui jamais ne defaut ny cesse d'agir sur la matiere du gland, jusques à ce qu'il soit au periode de la perfection où l'intention de Nature l'a destiné, qui est d'estre fait chesne:

1621 pp. 75–77 · scans FR095, FR096, FR097

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

1621 pp. 75–77 · scans FR095, FR096, FR097

What is subtler in this vapour therefore readily rises and finally reaches the earth’s surface, where it is compelled to stop. Since it cannot remain idle, yet can neither descend nor rise higher—being spirit, its property is to rise, but it finds nothing solid to bear it—it must continue Nature’s intention and apply itself to the generation and embodiment of individual things. To make everything I have already said more clearly understood, let us take one of these individuals and, to bring this chapter to a full conclusion, see how it is produced. For this will assure us that the spirit of the world takes body and show how it is embodied. An acorn sown in the earth would remain there for ever useless, or be consumed without germinating, if there were no agent to bring into actuality the hidden power Nature has lodged within it. From where could we imagine this action to come except the central fire issuing from the heart of Demogorgon, a fire which, drawn and fostered by the celestial sun’s rays, redoubles its strength and vigour? Does not this germination therefore begin through the fire of Nature, which, raising and multiplying its vapour, awakens and rouses the innate fire within the acorn? The acorn in turn gives off vapour through its own air; and having begun to do so, it is nourished and increased by that first vapour, which never fails or ceases to act upon its matter until it reaches the term of perfection to which Nature’s intention has destined it: to become an oak.

1621 pp. 75–77 · scans FR095, FR096, FR097

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.