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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 Homer23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them

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German & Latin Page · Branch 262 of 504

23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them

German & Latin

1723 pp 202–203

Geuß nun auf eben diese Erde mehr Acidi und ziehe es starck ab, glühe es wie das vorige aus, so wirst du sehen, daß es flüßiger ist als zuvor. So du nun noch mehr Acidi darüber giessest und figirest damit, so wird es immer flüßiger, ja endlich wie Saltz fliessen. Denn dieses soll noch zum Nachdruck und öffterer Erinnerung der Artist wissen, daß je stärcker das Acidum in die Erde arbeitet und je häuffiger, je mehr und stärcker es durch die Hitze ausgetrocknet und figirt wird, je mehr solch Acidum alcalisirt, concentrirt und ponderos wird. Zuvor heissts Sal, alsdenn Sulphur, auf die letzte heissts Mercurius fixatus. Denn wie der Mercurius zuvor ein lauter flüchtiger und sehr ringer Dampff ist, also wird er hernach fix und sehr schwer, je mehr dieses Acidum alcalisirt wird; oder je mehr es zu der Fixität absteigt, je mehr verändert es seinen Namen: 1) heissts Dampff, 2) Gur und Vitriol, 3) Sulphur, 4) Arsenic, 5) Marcasit, 6) Metallum, und wird aus dem Acido fixo ein Mercurius, wie bey allen Marcasiten zu sehen, welcher in Gestalt eines fixen Pulvers kan dargewiesen werden, und soll billig heissen Mercurius verus. Denn so der Mercurius currens mit einem Acido praecipitiret wird, wird er auch ein solch schwammig Pulver, und weil es nicht genug Acidum sulphureum und Arsenicum fusibile fixum hat, so wird es in seiner Reduction, so es fix ist, zu Glaß. In solchem Glaß steckt dann das fixeste Metall, der beste Sulphur tingens, deme sein Acidum fusibile entgangen und entwichen ist, welches ein Chymist wohl mercken soll und ein Metallurgus notiren und soll Tag und Nacht nachsinnen, wie er solche 2. Dinge beybringe, 1) ein arsenicalisch d. i. ein mercurialisch flüßig Subject, 2) ein Praecipitans, wie solche denn leicht zu finden.

1723 pp 202–203

The Golden Chain of Homer: 23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them

1723 pp 202–203

Pour more acid upon the same earth, draw it off strongly, and calcine it as before: you will see it is more fusible. Pour still more acid upon it and fix it with that, and it grows increasingly fusible, finally flowing like salt. For emphasis and repeated reminder, the practitioner should know that the more strongly and abundantly acid works in earth, and the more powerfully heat dries and fixes it, the more that acid becomes alkalized, concentrated, and heavy. First it is called salt, then sulphur, finally fixed mercury. Just as mercury was initially a wholly volatile, very light vapour, so afterward it becomes fixed and very heavy as this acid is increasingly alkalized. As it descends toward fixity, its name changes: first vapour; second Gur and vitriol; third sulphur; fourth arsenic; fifth marcasite; sixth metal. Fixed acid becomes mercury, as can be seen in all marcasites, which can be presented as a fixed powder and should properly be called true mercury. When running mercury is precipitated with an acid, it also becomes such a spongy powder. Because it lacks sufficient sulphurous acid and fixed fusible arsenic, in reduction, if fixed, it becomes glass. This glass then contains the most fixed metal, the best tincturing sulphur, whose fusible acid has escaped it. A chymist should mark this and a metallurgist note it, considering day and night how to supply two things: first, an arsenical—that is, mercurial—fusible subject; second, a precipitant. These are readily found.

1723 pp 202–203

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.