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Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart II — Chapter 4: Generation of Metals

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Facing Pages · Branch 153 of 411

Part II — Chapter 4: Generation of Metals

Book Mode

German & Latin

107–108

Und zumahln die Philosophi die Wissenschafft von Gebährung der Metallen zu Begreiff- und Erlernung der Hermetischen Kunst / sehr nöthig achten: Als habe ich von solcher Gebährung alhier auch etwas handlen / und wie ich im vorhergehendem Capitel von der Operation unsers Subjecti einige Anregung gethan / also darinn noch etwas weiter fortfahren wollen: Ohngeachtet sonsten von angeregter Wissenschafft an sich selbst zu schreiben fast gefährlich ist / wie ich auch dieselbe nur pro scientiâ conjecturali halte: Dann wir wissen zwar / daß die Metalla in der Erden generirt werden; Allein wie sothane generation eigentlich zugehe / hat meines ermessens noch keiner gründlich erforschet. Gestalten der berühmte Bergmeister Lazarus Erkard hierinn auch das stillschweigen halten muß. Der Philosophorum vulgarium dissension mit ebenmäßigem stillschweigen zu übergehen.

107–108

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part II — Chapter 4: Generation of Metals

107–108

Since philosophers consider knowledge of metallic generation very necessary to understanding and learning the Hermetic art, I have wished to discuss that generation here. Having offered some hints concerning the operation of our subject in the preceding chapter, I shall proceed a little further. Writing about this knowledge in itself is rather hazardous, however, and I regard it only as a conjectural science. We know that metals are generated in the earth; but to my judgment nobody has thoroughly investigated how that generation actually takes place. Even the celebrated mining master Lazarus Erkard must remain silent here. I shall pass over the disagreements of ordinary philosophers with equal silence.

107–108

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.