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Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart II — Chapter 7: Other Waters and Philosophical Earth

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Facing Pages · Branch 254 of 411

Part II — Chapter 7: Other Waters and Philosophical Earth

Book Mode

German & Latin

168

Damit ich nun ohne fernere Umbschweiff recht zum Zweck schreite / so will ich einem jeden frey stellen / zu glauben / oder nicht / daß ich die Materiam Lapidis bißhero recht beschrieben. Es wird aber ein jeder / der anders gesunder Vernunfft / mir gleichwohl wenigst hierinn Beyfall geben / daß es ein für alle mahl eine gantz rohe materia seye. Dargegen ist ausser Zweiffel / daß der Lapis Philosophorum das aller perfecteste Wesen; als welches dann auch obgedachter massen ausser des Menschen Seel / das alleredelst- und köstlichste Ding auff Erden. Wie kan nun demnach der Vernunfft und der Natur gemäße seyn / daß eine dergleichen rohe materia, in vier Tagen / in einem ebenmässigen / und dem allerstärcksten Grad des Feuers zu ihrer plusquamperfection mag gebracht werden?

168

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part II — Chapter 7: Other Waters and Philosophical Earth

168

To come directly to the point without further digression, I leave everyone free to believe or disbelieve that I have correctly described the matter of the stone. Anyone of sound reason will at least agree with me that it is, once and for all, an entirely raw matter. By contrast, it is beyond doubt that the philosophers’ stone is the most perfect essence and, as already stated, the noblest and most precious thing on earth apart from the human soul. How, then, can it accord with reason and nature that such raw matter should be brought to its more-than-perfection in four days under a uniform and maximally strong degree of fire?

168

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.