Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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English Page · Branch 171 of 287
Nature’s Demonstration
German & Latin
1619 pp. 160–161 · scans ER164, ER165Wann du nuhn wissen wilt / wo ich hierzu die Matri nehme: so sage ich dir / daß ich erstlich auffthue die Kammer meiner hohen / subtilen Geheimnüssen vnnd gehe suchen die rechte nechst materiam eine mineram zu machen: diese neme ich auß den Büchsen meiner vier Elementen / vnnd ist solche ein anfänglicher Samen / der eine wesentliche formam in sich hat / componirt in simplicitet, præpariret vnnd wol geordnet zum transmutiren die viere in eins / so ein genus generalissimum, oder allgemein Catholisch ding sey. Alßdann gebe ich jhme durch meine Gütigkeit vnnd Kunst metallische Krafft / darvon dann reine vnnd vnreine / harte vnd weiche Metall werden. Solche Materi ziehe ich auß den Elementen / ziehe sie mit meinen Himmeln / vnnd führe sie durch länge der Zeit von der ersten Materi / in die nechste vnnd eigne Materi / von der ich meine mineram mache: darnach gehen herauß sulphur vnd argentum vivum, welche sich in metalla verkehren: nicht aber ein solches argentum vivum vnd sulphur wie du sihest / welches allhier nichts soll: dann durch jhre widerwertige Qualiteten seyn sie von jhrer eignen Natur in eine andere transmutiret vnnd getrieben. Also gehet eine Materi durch die fäulung vnd tüchtige Coruption, vermittels der privation von jhrer ersten forma, vnnd ziehet eine newe an: vñ durch natürliche Wärme / welche die materia in sich hat / vnnd von dem Himmel erwecket wirdt / mit gelindem Fewer / so ich zu machen weiß / gebe ich endlich eine solche formam, welche die materia gerne annimmet / vnnd sie an sich ziehet. Vff solche weise seyn privatio, forma vnd materia meine verordnete vnnd von oben herab empfangene principia vnnd Anfäng.
The Sophic Hydrolith: Nature’s Demonstration
1619 pp. 160–161 · scans ER164, ER165If you now wish to know where I take the matter for this, I tell you that first I open the chamber of my high and subtle secrets and seek the right proximate matter for making an ore. I take this from the containers of my four elements. It is an original seed containing an essential form, composed in simplicity, prepared and well ordered for transmuting the four into one, so that it is a most general genus, or a common universal thing. Then, through my goodness and art, I give it metallic power, from which pure and impure, hard and soft metals arise. I draw this matter from the elements, draw it with my heavens, and over a long time lead it from first matter into the proximate matter proper to it, from which I make my ore. Afterwards sulphur and quicksilver emerge and turn into metals; but not a quicksilver and sulphur such as you see, which are of no use here. For through their contrary qualities they have been transmuted and driven from their own nature into another. Thus a matter passes through putrefaction and suitable corruption, by the privation of its first form, and puts on a new one. Through the natural warmth which the matter possesses within itself and which heaven awakens, with a gentle fire that I know how to make, I finally give a form which the matter willingly receives and draws to itself. In this way privation, form and matter are my ordained principles and beginnings, received from above.
Socrates
Reading The Sophic Hydrolith · Nature’s Demonstration · Nature’s Demonstration · Unit 3
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
The anonymous Water Stone of the Wise of 1619, with German text, a new English translation, 240 annotations, three companion treatises from the original volume, two separately identified responses of 1661, and the complete supplied study apparatus.
Historical Text and Translation
Anonymous, Wasserstein der Weysen. Frankfurt: Lucas Jennis, 1619. The governing e-rara copy belongs to the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung, Zürich (DOI 10.3931/e-rara-8968). The work is traditionally attributed to Johann Siebmacher; this remains an attribution, not a name printed in the anonymous witness. The separately sourced First and Second Responses use the 1661 Wolfenbüttel witness, qun-642-1s, pp. 200–206.
About Diotimos Editions
This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
Rights
Historical texts printed in 1619 and 1661 are in the public domain. The supplied 2026 German reading text, new English translation, introduction, notes and complete study apparatus are published with the site owner’s authorization. The original triangle is credited to the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung, Zürich, and e-rara, Public Domain Mark.
- Governing historical witnesse-rara: 1619 witness
- Separately identified later response sourceHerzog August Bibliothek: 1661 responses
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