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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.22 · The Generation of Plants

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English Page · Branch 194 of 504

I.22 · The Generation of Plants

German & Latin

1723 pp 140–141

Ist also der vegetabilische Same ein coagulirtes, in der Solution aber ein schleimig Wasser, wie bey denen Animalien, und also eine vegetabilische Gur. Aus solchem ist weiter zu sehen, daß alles aus dem Wasser geboren, und wieder zu Wasser reduciret wird, und nimmt es wieder seinen Tod und Absterben, wie im andern Tractat de Anatomia klärlich beschrieben wird. Dieses ist nun der kurtze Begriff der vegetabilischen Geburt, deren Bestand-Wesen aber ist in illorum Anatomia aus viel Flüchtigem und wenigerm Acido, noch wenigerm Alcali, doch ist dieses gantze Bestand-Wesen sowol das Volatile, Acidum und Alcali mehr acid oder constringent, als deren animalien Substantz, welches zu spüren und zu mercken aus ihrem Spiritu volatili ardendi, so je und allezeit eine kleine Adstringentz bey sich führet. Ihr Acidum oder Acetum aber hat keinen Beweiß nöthig, denn es ist aperte adstringent, das Alcali aber kommt fast mit dem animalischen überein. Daß diesem also, ist augenscheinlich: Denn mehr Volatile müssen sie haben als Acidum, sonst könten sie nicht so schnell, hoch, groß und in die Höhe wachsen: welches denn ihr Motus ist. Denn das Volatile muß das Acidum überwiegen, zu dem ist auch das Volatile einer acidischen Art. Denn solte das Acidum adstringens überhand nehmen, so könten sie also nicht in die Höhe wachsen, und solten mehr bey der Lufft bleiben oder gar zu Mineralien werden, indem des mineralischen Reichs gantz eigen ist, starck acid zu seyn.

1723 pp 140–141

The Golden Chain of Homer: I.22 · The Generation of Plants

1723 pp 140–141

Vegetable seed is therefore a coagulated water and, when dissolved, a slimy water, as in animals: hence it is a vegetable Gur. This further shows that everything is born from water and reduced again to water, thereby meeting its death and passing away, as will be clearly described in the second treatise on anatomy. This is a brief account of vegetable generation. As their anatomy reveals, plants consist of much volatile matter, less acid, and still less alkali. Nevertheless, this entire constitution—volatile, acid, and alkali alike—is more acidic or contracting than animal substance. This can be perceived in their volatile burning spirit, which always carries a slight astringency. Their acid or vinegar needs no proof, since it is plainly astringent; their alkali, however, nearly agrees with animal alkali. That this is so is evident. They must have more volatile matter than acid, or they could not grow so quickly, so tall and large, and upward: that is their motion. The volatile must outweigh the acid, and the volatile itself is also of an acidic kind. If the astringent acid gained the upper hand, they could not grow upward in this way, but would remain more “by the air,” or even become minerals, since being strongly acidic is especially characteristic of the mineral kingdom.

1723 pp 140–141

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.