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Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart I — Theorem VII

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German & Latin Page · Branch 63 of 411

Part I — Theorem VII

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German & Latin

47–48

So hab ich oben mit der Erfahrung selbst erwiesen / daß dieser Geist / welcher in der Schöpffung auff dem Wasser geschwebt / und noch darauff schwebt / auß dem Wasser herkommen und geschaffen worden. Welcher / sage ich nochmahln / der Wind und Lufft / und der Philosophorum Spiritus Mundi ist: Dann ob sie schon etwa einen andern darfür halten und außgeben / oder erdichten / so thut doch solches ex merâ & nimiâ subtilitate, und keinen wahren Gründen und Ursachen herfliessen / und ist also eine falsche opinion. Inmassen auch bey den alten Philosophis, als dem Gerlando, Lullio, Villa Nova, Comite Bernhardo, und andern mehr / meines wissens / nichts darvon gefunden wird; Wie nicht weniger Theophrastus, meines abermahligen wissens / allein seiner Huyle, oder Alkaests gedencket.

47–48

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part I — Theorem VII

47–48

I have already shown by experience itself that this spirit, which hovered upon the water in creation and still hovers there, arose and was created from water. It is, I say again, wind and air, and the philosophers’ Spiritus Mundi. If they propose, proclaim, or invent some other spirit in its place, this springs merely from excessive subtlety rather than true grounds and causes, and is therefore a false opinion. To my knowledge, nothing of this is found among the ancient philosophers—Gerlandus, Lull, Villanova, Count Bernard, and many others. Likewise, as far as I know, Theophrastus mentions only his Huyle, or Alkahest.

47–48

About This Reading Edition

An anonymous Hermetic treatise of 1680, presented in its original German and Latin with a new English translation, 279 explanatory notes, the historical phoenix frontispiece, an introduction, reading guide, outline, glossary, bibliography, and original registers.

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Candida Phoenix philosophica. Frankfurt am Main: Christian Hermsdorff, 1680. The chosen witness is the Wellcome Library copy digitized as b32993456; German and Latin, with French, Greek, and Hebrew passages retained.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The 1680 source is identified as public domain by the Wellcome/Internet Archive record. The supplied 2026 transcription, English translation, introduction, notes, reading guide, outline, glossary, bibliography, and editorial arrangement are published with the site owner’s authorization. The frontispiece is retained from the supplied edition and credited to its historical witness.