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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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German & Latin Page · Branch 163 of 411

Part II — Chapter 4: Generation of Metals

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German & Latin

112–113

Massen ich auch darvor halte / daß die Philosophi durch diese und andere Gleichnussen nichts anders / als die operation unsers Subjecti beschreiben wollen / wie unden nicht weniger und mit mehrem zu vernehmen seyn wird: Sintemahln unlaugbar / daß eine jede Natur sich fort und fort zu veredlen sucht. Dahero beedes der Natur und Vernunfft zu wider / daß das Silber / so nechst dem Golde das reinest und edelst Ertz ist / erst wieder zu Kupffer / und dann auch zu Eisen werden sol. Zu geschweigen / daß ein anders unsere Kunst / ein anders die generation der Metallen in den Bergwercken ist; Ohngeachtet die generir- und Gebährung der Metallen / auß bedeuter operation unsers Subjecti, mehrers / weder sonsten einigem Ding conjecturirt werden kan.

112–113

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

112–113

I also believe that by these and other analogies philosophers intend to describe nothing other than the operation of our subject, as will be explained more fully below. It is undeniable that every nature continually seeks to ennoble itself. It therefore contradicts both nature and reason that silver, the purest and noblest metal after gold, should first become copper again and then iron. Moreover, our art is one thing and metallic generation in mines another, although more may be conjectured about metallic generation from the operation of our subject than from anything else.

112–113

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.