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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

Anonymous (traditionally attributed to Anton Joseph Kirchweger)

The Golden Chain of Homer

A New Translation from the German Edition of 1723

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The Golden Chain of HomerI.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

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German & Latin Page · Branch 139 of 504

I.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

German & Latin

1723 pp 91–92

Nun wollen wir solche partes examiniren, nemlich das Volatile, das Acidum, und die Erde oder Alcali. Daß das Volatile sich ins Acidum figirt hat, und solches rectificirt, dann figirt und attrahirt, ist scheinbar, weilen der Spir. vini zuvor sehr scharff war und das Schieß-Pulver anzündete, nun aber gantz schwach, wie ein lauter phlegma, da siehets jeder mit Augen, daß er sein Volatile oder Schärffe bey dem Acido und Alcali hinterlassen hat. Daß nun das Acidum eine Erden oder Alcali in sich genommen und solviret hat, siehet man auch klar, dann zuvor war es ein lauterer Spiritus und Wässeriges aquafort, da es nunmehr eine Saltz-Form in sich genommen, welche nicht gantz fix, auch nicht gantz flüchtig, sondern stehet zu beyden Theilen geneigt, also daß es bald wieder flüchtig durch ein flüchtiges homogeneum werden kan, auch gleich durch ein fixes homogeneum kan figirt werden, es hat nunmehr sein Corrosiv und starckes oder heftiges Acidum verlohren, aus Ursach, daß es eine Erde in sich solviret hat. Solches spüret man ex gustu: Denn es mild und süß ist als ein Sal commune aus der reverberirten Kreiden, und daraus gelaugten Alcali. Siehet man also klar, daß das Acidum sich alcalisiret oder in ein Alcali verändert hat, und daß die Erde das Acidum magnetice attrahiret und solches alcalisirt. Ist also diese Probe genugsam demonstriret, daß das Volatile zu einem Acido, das Acidum aber zu einem Alcali wird. Denn die Erde ist viel stärcker und kräfftiger, also daß sie das Acidum nicht hat können völlig überwinden und gantz in sich selbst mutiren. Derowegen hat die Erde die Oberhand, und überwindet also beyde Obere.

1723 pp 91–92

The Golden Chain of Homer: I.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

1723 pp 91–92

Let us examine these parts: the volatile, the acid, and the earth or alkali. That the volatile has fixed itself in the acid, and that the acid rectifies, fixes and attracts it, is evident. The spirit of wine was previously very sharp and ignited gunpowder; now it is entirely weak, like mere phlegm. Everyone can see that it has left its volatile or sharpness with the acid and alkali. That acid has taken up and dissolved an earth or alkali is equally clear. Previously it was a clear spirit and watery aqua fortis; now it has assumed a saline form, neither wholly fixed nor wholly volatile, but inclined to both. A homogeneous volatile can readily make it volatile again, while a homogeneous fixed substance can just as readily fix it. It has lost its corrosive quality and strong or vehement acidity because it has dissolved earth within itself. This is perceived by taste: it is mild and sweet, like a common salt from the reverberated chalk and the alkali leached from it. One clearly sees that acid has become alkaline, or changed into alkali, and that earth has magnetically attracted and alkalized it. The experiment thus sufficiently demonstrates that the volatile becomes acid, and acid alkali. Earth is much stronger and more powerful, so that it has not been able completely to overcome the acid and change it entirely into itself. Earth therefore has the upper hand and overcomes both upper parts.

1723 pp 91–92

About This Reading Edition

The two-book alchemical work of 1723 in German with a new English translation, 399 notes, eight historical diagrams, chapter outlines, keyword essays, a glossary, bibliography, subject index, and 400 discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Aurea Catena Homeri. Frankfurt and Leipzig: Johann Georg Böhme, 1723. Traditionally attributed to Anton Joseph Kirchweger; the attribution remains uncertain. Historical diagrams from the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung copy digitized by e-rara.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The supplied edition identifies the 1723 German source and historical diagrams as public-domain material. Its new English translation and editorial apparatus are published with the site owner’s authorization. The complete original files are retained unchanged.