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Attributed to Jean d’Espagnet

The Summary of Physics Restored

A Fresh English Translation from the Complete 1653 Latin Enchiridion

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The Summary of Physics RestoredThe 245 Canons · Latin

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Latin Page · Branch 37 of 375

The 245 Canons · Latin

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Latin

Soli rerum creatori, ut ex nihilo licuit, quaecunque placuit, creare; sic eidem soli creata in nihilum vertendi ius competit: quicquid enim entis aut substantiae charactere signatum est, ab eo deficere, & ad non ens reflecti Naturae lege prohibitum est: Nihil itaque in Mundo mori, sed omnia transire & immutari rectè statuit Trismegistus: Ex Elementis siquidem componuntur mixta, quae iterum per naturae rotam in sua Elementa resolvuntur.

Huic accedit uti quicque in sua corpora rursum Dissolvat natura; neque ad nihilum interimat res.

English

Just as the creator of things alone was permitted to create from nothing whatever pleased him, so he alone has the right to turn created things into nothing. For whatever is stamped with the character of being or substance is forbidden by nature's law to fall away from it and return to non-being. Trismegistus therefore rightly held that nothing in the world dies, but all things pass over and are changed. Compounds are composed of elements and through nature's wheel are resolved again into their own elements.

To this is added that nature dissolves each thing back into its own bodies, and does not destroy things into nothing.

About This Reading Edition

The complete 1653 Enchiridion physicae restitutae, conventionally attributed to Jean d’Espagnet, with Latin and a fresh English translation, all 245 canons, the title and maxim, address to students, epigram, original marginalia, 140 modern annotations and the complete supplied Diotimos study apparatus.

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Enchiridion physicae restitutae. Geneva: Jean-Antoine and Samuel de Tournes, 1653. ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Rar 4790; digitised by e-rara, doi:10.3931/e-rara-21407. Conventionally attributed to Jean d’Espagnet; the original title page is anonymous.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The historical Latin text is a public-domain work. The supplied 2026 fresh English translation, readable Latin transcription and Diotimos editorial material are published with the site owner’s authorization.