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Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart II — Chapter 6: Rainwater as a Subject

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English Page · Branch 227 of 411

Part II — Chapter 6: Rainwater as a Subject

German & Latin

151

Und zwar also singt die avicula Hermetis catholica: Die Philosophi sagen / Antimonium ist Mercurius, und Vitriolum ist Sulphur, dardurch sie ihre Meynung wohl zu verstehen geben / worinn unser Schwefel und Mercurius zu suchen sey. Nichts desto weniger / wann man der Natur ein wenig nachdencket / so findet sich re ipsâ, daß weder Antimonium, noch Vitriolum, zu unserm Vorhaben dienlich &c.

151

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part II — Chapter 6: Rainwater as a Subject

151

Thus sings the Universal Little Bird of Hermes: “The philosophers say that antimony is Mercury and vitriol is sulphur. By this they make their meaning clear, indicating where our sulphur and Mercury are to be sought. Nevertheless, if one reflects a little on nature, it is found in reality that neither antimony nor vitriol serves our purpose.”

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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.