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Anonymous

Candida Phoenix Philosophica

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart II — Chapter 8: Philosophical Water

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Facing Pages · Branch 269 of 411

Part II — Chapter 8: Philosophical Water

Book Mode

German & Latin

177–178

Wie dann so wohl die Astra, als die Animalia, Vegetabilia, und Mineralia auß diesem Subjecto herkommen / und entsprungen seynd / und es also der Astral- animal- vegetabil- und mineralischen Natur theilhafftig ist / bevorab aber diese / die mineralische / darinn prædominiret. So ist die distinctio inter materiam universalem nondum specificatam, & materiam metallicam per Naturam (ut ajunt) præparatam compositam & specificatam &c. welche jetzt- und mehrangeregte Philosophi beyzubringen sich bemühen / dißfalls auch nicht relevant: Inmassen sothane præparatio, compositio, und specificatio an sich selbst nichts anders / als die Würckung der Astrorum, und sonderlich der Sonnen / in mehrberührtes Wasser / daher der concentrirte Mercurius kommt.

177–178

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part II — Chapter 8: Philosophical Water

177–178

The stars, as well as animals, plants and minerals, came from and arose out of this subject. It therefore participates in astral, animal, vegetable and mineral nature, although mineral nature especially predominates in it. The distinction which these philosophers labour to introduce—between universal matter not yet specified, and metallic matter prepared, compounded and specified by nature, as they say—is therefore irrelevant here. Such preparation, composition and specification are in themselves nothing other than the action of the stars, especially the sun, upon the water repeatedly mentioned, from which concentrated Mercury arises.

177–178

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.