The expression ” convenientibus mediis” is also really uncertain. A modern neolatin translator might interpret as “with suitable means”, nevertheless in no way a classic latin dictionary shows “medius ” as means, but always as “middle of the two” or even “together”. If interpreted in the ancient way (properly together ), it should be a really sophisticated wording by Orthelius. Anyway, he has elsewhere demonstrated an extensive use of neologisms, this one (with suitable means) might be an example. To you the final decision. In my opinion a Ciceronian sophistication doesn’t fit with the bare technical, and decaying, seventeenth century latin of the rest of the treatise. To be honest, Orthelius uses a well known phrase from Cicero to beautify the end of the paragraph, that’s to say “imitari potest”, but he has missed to start it with the necessary “quod non”. In fact “imitari potest” alone actually means “can imitate”. Nevertheless in this sentence “quod” should have been indispensable also for an affirmative sentence. So….can we imitate or not the process?
” From that it is said: this is a wonderful arcane of Nature. In fact the gold undressed of its body and opened in its Quicksilver, it shines somewhat pierces like a star, which splendor our eyes cannot bear…..”
May be a little exaggerate? But Gold is certainly our Sun on the earth. And Mercurius Philosophorum is a little star.
“…… we cover it with a veil to observe for a long time. Promptly follows the Quicksilver of the same Silver, which doesn’t radiate with less splendor. Only before a lightning it pales, the other instead tends to become red, with no doubt a pleasant spectacle. The fight of them will be very nice to see, it is fair to say, nobody can observe it thoroughly, there is nobody who doesn’t fully tremble. About which you shall see by the same author whom I wish to offer the work of this book, which further will be accomplished.
To be continued at Orthelius Commentary on Maria Prophitissa. Part 1 .
- The latin texts, both in Theatrum Chemicum and Artis Auriferae, present neologisms we cannot find in a latin dictionary of the classical age. For i.e. the verbs “Ignifico” and ” Vitrifico” are well later constructions (italian rather than latin), which apparently would stand for ” to vitrify” and “to ignite”, in the place of the real latin verb “Ignisco”, or take fire-be given fire-to incinerate. While a specific verb for to vitrify could not exist in ancient roman times, so a neologism from the ancient vitreus and vitreum was taken;
- See also Franz Kieser and the two Perceivable Lights ;
- See also Hortulus Hermeticus and Love Between Fumes ;