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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 · English

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The 245 Canons · English

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Latin

Regio aëris inferior collo & superiori parti alembici similis est, per eam enim vapores scandentes ad cacumen delati à frigore condensantur, mox in aquam resoluti pondere suo relabuntur. Sic natura per sedulas distillationes aquam sublimando, cohobando eam rectificat, & exuberat. In huiusmodi Naturae operationibus terra est cucurbita, & vas recipiens. Vicinior itaque nobis haec aëris plaga, nubium regione, tanquam concamerato suo tecto terminata densior & impurior est caeteris sublimioribus.

English

The lower region of air resembles the neck and upper part of an alembic. Vapours rising through it and carried to the top are condensed by cold; soon, resolved into water, they fall back under their own weight. Thus nature rectifies and enriches water through diligent distillations, raising it and repeatedly returning it. In such operations of nature, earth is the cucurbit and receiving vessel. This tract of air nearer to us, bounded by the region of clouds as by its vaulted roof, is therefore denser and less pure than the other, higher regions.

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.