Candida Phoenix Philosophica

Name: Candida Phoenix Philosophica
Author: Anonymous

The White Philosophical Phoenix

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Candida Phoenix PhilosophicaPart II — Conclusion

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Facing Pages · Branch 376 of 411

Part II — Conclusion

Book Mode

German & Latin

241–242

Sintemahln beschlossen ist / daß der Mensch im Schweiß seines Angesichts sein Brod essen soll / gestalten auch dem Faulen und Müssigganger diese Kunst so wenig / als dem Verächter zu theil werden wird. Zu deme so habe ich nicht allein vorerwehnter massen eine solche Theoriam, darauß eine gute Practic erfolgen mag: sondern auch Anfang / Mittel und Ende der Kunst beschrieben. Daß ich mich aber hierbey in etwas verwahrt / und nicht eine vollkommene Practic mit allen und jeden Handgriffen edire, wird mich verhoffentlich nochmahl niemand verdencken / angesehen ich sonsten aller Philosophorum Fluch auff mich geladen: Hätte ich dann dieselbe mit ihren dunckeln Schrifften und Sprüchen imitirt / so würde ich einen und andern dardurch / gleich wie sie / in Irrthumb verführt haben; Ohngeachtet / wann ich der Sache recht nachdencke / ich befinde / daß nicht ihnen den Philosophis, sondern denen jenigen selbst / die ihre Bücher nicht mit gutem Bedacht / und fleissigem Nachsinnen lesen / die Schuld hierinn beyzumessen.

Candida Phoenix Philosophica: Part II — Conclusion

241–242

For it has been decreed that a human being must eat bread by the sweat of his face; this art will be granted as little to the lazy and idle as to those who despise it. Besides, I have described not only a theory from which sound practice may follow, but also the art’s beginning, means, and end. I hope no one will blame me for exercising some reserve and not publishing a complete practice with every manipulation: otherwise I would have brought all the philosophers’ curse upon myself. Had I imitated their obscure writings and sayings, I would, like them, have led some readers into error. Yet on reflection I find that the blame belongs not to the philosophers but to those who fail to read their books thoughtfully and with diligent reflection.

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.