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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

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

Vniuersales Naturae quò crassiores, eò etiam impuriores; quò tenuiores, eò mundiores: Terra quia densior est Aquâ, eò ignobilior; sic aqua aëre, aër coelo; Regionum autem caeli sublimior, quia subtilior, ideo nobilior sanè habenda est. Indubitatae enim veritatis est naturas spirituales corporeis longè praestantiores, & spiritualibus viciniores perfectioni proximiores esse.

English

The grosser the universal natures are, the more impure they are; the finer, the purer. Because earth is denser than water, it is less noble; so too is water less noble than air, and air than heaven. Of heaven’s regions, the higher, being subtler, must certainly be regarded as nobler. For it is an undoubted truth that spiritual natures are far superior to corporeal ones, and that those nearer to spiritual natures are nearer perfection.

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.