About the Russian translation of Blaise de Vigenère’s «Treatise on Fire and Salt» (1618)

Abstract

The critical article is dedicated to Russian translation of «Treatise on Fire and Salt» (published 1618) by Blaise de Vigenère considered here together with the preface by the translator. The author of the translation neglects comprehensive research of natural philosophical views of Vigenère, in particular, their origin. As a result, the preface does not reveal either the speci c features of the author’s views or the nuances of proto-scienti c ideas of the modern early period. The impression is also spoiled by the imposition of own political views by the author of the article where, as it seems, more attention should have been paid to the text itself and the gure of its author. The problems of the translation follow from this, for this reason the translation gives the impression of the unelaborated and insensible one. The translator neglects scienti c commentary, rarely reads numerous references to other authors, makes no attempt to understand the essence of the chemical experiments described in «Treatise». Such a super cial method of translation entails errors in the interpretation of terms. Due to chosen approach of literally following the text, aggravated by the translator’s shortcomings, the Russian translation does not reveal the heart of alchemical practices of 16th century at all and makes the text dif cult to understand not only for a wide range of readers, but even for the scienti c community