DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

Facing Pages · Branch 260 of 411

Part II — Chapter 7: Other Waters and Philosophical Earth

Book Mode

German & Latin

172

Da aber ferner zu wissen / daß nur ein einiges Ding in der gantzen Welt ist / welches das Gold radicaliter solvirt: Und zwar thut es solches nicht durch seine corrosivität und Schärffe oder Stärcke / sondern allein durch seine mit dem Gold habende Gleichwesenheit verrichten; Wie auch übrigens sothane Aufflösung vielmehr subtili ingenio (ut formalibus utar Hermetis) deßgleichen durch Geschickligkeit / beharrlichen Fleiß / und Unverdrossenheit / weder durch Eyl und Geschwindigkeit &c. geschehen muß. Gestalten wie die Philosophi sagen: Daß das eyllen vom Teuffel her komme.

172

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

172

It must further be known that there is only one thing in the whole world that dissolves gold radically. It accomplishes this through neither corrosiveness, sharpness nor strength, but solely through its sameness of essence with gold. Such dissolution must be performed with subtle ingenuity—to use Hermes’ own expression—and with skill, persistent diligence and perseverance, rather than with haste and speed. As the philosophers say: haste comes from the devil.

172

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.