Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
Swipe or use the arrow keys.
German & Latin Page · Branch 263 of 504
23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them
German & Latin
1723 pp 203–204Denn der Bley steckt voll Mercurii und ist das edelste Subject, die fixe Pulver zu reduciren und zu Metall zu machen. Allein man muß ihm seinen Mercurium noch mehr verstärcken, sonst ist er gar zu unflüßig, wie aus seinem Vitro zu sehen. Der Bley-Mercurius soll mit seines gleichen Zusatz zu einem flüchtigen Vitro gemacht werden, daß er auch bey einer Kertzen fließt, wie Wachs. Das Praecipitans ist fast jedem bekannt. Denn Eisen praecipitiret Kupffer und die Kupffer Eisen, die Kupffer Silber & Bley, die Silber Gold & Zinn, wie auch der Mercurius Silber und Silber Mercurium. Man muß aber nicht die feinen Corpora nehmen, sondern ihren Unrath. Denn die feinen Corpora praecipitiren im Fluß nicht, sondern mischen sich mit den andern Cörpern, welchen sie beygesetzt werden. Was das für ein Unrath ist, deme dencke einer nach, er ist leicht zu finden und ist nicht allein in allen Kramläden zu kauffen und zu praepariren, sondern in den Bergwercken wirfft man solchen als unnütz hinweg, solchen klaube du aus und mache ihn dir zu Gute. Dicis: Du schreibest wohl die Metallurgiam seu Genealogiam metallorum, wie die Natur per Gradus procedirt Metalla & Mineras zu machen, allein wenn du solche Principia nehmen und ein Metall oder Mineral per eos Gradus heraus bringen soltest, so würdest du wohl darüber anstehen.
The Golden Chain of Homer: 23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them
1723 pp 203–204Lead is full of mercury and is the noblest subject for reducing fixed powders and making them metal. But its mercury must be strengthened further, or it is far too infusible, as its glass shows. The mercury of lead should be made into a volatile glass with an addition of its like, so that it flows like wax even at a candle. Nearly everyone knows the precipitant. Iron precipitates copper and copper iron; copper precipitates silver and lead; silver, gold and tin; mercury likewise precipitates silver, and silver mercury. Yet one must take their refuse, not the refined bodies. Refined bodies do not precipitate in fusion but mix with the other bodies to which they are added. Think about what kind of refuse this is. It is easy to find, buy, and prepare in every dealer’s shop; in mines it is thrown away as useless. Pick it out and turn it to your benefit. You say: “You write well enough about metallurgy, or the genealogy of metals, and how nature proceeds by degrees to make metals and ores. But if you had to take those principles and produce a metal or mineral through those degrees, you would surely be at a loss.”
Socrates
Reading The Golden Chain of Homer · 23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them · B1C23S047 · 1723 pp 203–204
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.
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.