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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 HomerII.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

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German & Latin Page · Branch 352 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 278–279

Nun siehet der Liebhaber, daß so viel Wasser zu coaguliren ein Verstand in der Kunst ist wider die Ordnung der Natur selbst, welche uns überall mit ihrer Lehre vorgehet: Denn was jeder Natur angenehm ist, das nimmt sie geschwinde, begierig und reissend zu sich, und nicht so langsam schreitet zur Perfection zu kommen. Denn im Perficiren eilet es gantz geschwinde und begierig, wie ihr es werdet in Praxi finden. Hieraus siehet man aber: Quod gaudet Natura Naturae propriae, Natura recipiat Naturam, Natura amplectatur Naturam, & contrarium seu non necessarium ipsamet repellat. Daß ich aber nicht in einem Ofen oder ein Regimen ignis continuiret habe, und aus dem B. M. in Aschen, von dieser in Sand, Hammerschlag und offen Feuer springe, und also die Hitze interrumpire; hier gehe ich wieder der Natur nach, die mich lehret, so ich etwas will in die Härte bringen, oder coaguliren, so muß ich nicht immer im Wasser kochen, weil solches alle Dinge erweichet und nicht härtet; und weil ich meine Medicin immer fixer intendire zu machen, so gebe ich auch immer stärckern Feuer-Grad, wie die Natur selbst, weil eine scharffe Hitze kein beständig fixes Corpus macht.

1723 pp 278–279

The Golden Chain of Homer: II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

1723 pp 278–279

The lover of the art now sees that attempting to coagulate so much water is an understanding of the art contrary to nature’s own order, whose teaching goes before us everywhere. What agrees with each nature it receives swiftly, eagerly, and avidly, rather than moving so slowly toward perfection. In perfecting, it hastens swiftly and eagerly, as practice will show. Thus nature rejoices in its own nature, receives and embraces nature, and itself repels what is contrary or unnecessary. I have not continued in one furnace or one regimen of fire, but pass from water bath to ashes, sand, hammer-scale, and open fire, interrupting the heat. Here too I follow nature. It teaches that to harden or coagulate something I must not always boil it in water, which softens all things rather than hardening them. As I intend to make my medicine increasingly fixed, I apply increasingly strong degrees of fire, like nature itself, since a sharp heat does not make a permanently fixed body.

1723 pp 278–279

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.