Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Golden Chain of Homer
A New Translation from the German Edition of 1723
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English Page · Branch 282 of 504
2 How Nature Destroys Animals
German & Latin
1723 pp 217–218Die Animalia verfaulen, werden zu Maden und Würme, diese zu Mücken, und diese nach ihrem termino resolviren sich in primum Ens limbi universalis, das ist, in naturam salino-nitrosam seu Chaoticam, inde in ▽am & vaporem, ex quo ros & pluvia, & regeneratur rursus Nitrum & Sal subtile volatilissimum. Die Animalia sind sehr feuchter und safftiger Natur und Art, voll flüchtigen Saltzes, daher, so bald ihr balsamischer Lebens-Geist verflogen, so gehen sie in ihre Putrefaction, fangen an zu faulen, schwellen auf, fangen an zu stincken. Denn das Volatile hauchet aus und inficiret die Lufft mit heßlichem Gestanck, es wird alles schlüpfferig, feucht und naß. Kürtze halber und einem ehrlichen Menschen keinen Abscheu zu machen, will ich von diesem Regno abbrechen, und solches von denen Vegetabilien besser erklären, weil es fast eins ist. Wer aber Lust hat eine bessere Nachricht zu haben, der gehe nur an diese Gegenden, da verrecket Vieh liegt, wenns ihm beliebt, und betrachte täglich die Veränderungen, so wird er mehr sehen, als ihm lieb ist. Die Maden kriechen in der Menge herum, nicht ohne Gestanck, diese, als sie wohl gemästet, so werden sie in Mücken und Fliegen verwandelt.
The Golden Chain of Homer: 2 How Nature Destroys Animals
1723 pp 217–218Animals putrefy and become maggots and worms; these become gnats. When their appointed time has passed, these in turn resolve into the first being of the universal limbus: that is, into the saline-nitrous or chaotic nature, then into water and vapour, from which come dew and rain, and nitre and salt are regenerated once more, subtle and exceedingly volatile. Animals are by nature very moist and full of juices and volatile salt. Thus, as soon as their balsamic life-spirit has flown away, they enter into putrefaction, begin to rot, swell up, and stink. The volatile breathes out and infects the air with a hideous stench; everything becomes slippery, moist, and wet. For brevity, and to avoid disgusting an honest person, I shall leave this kingdom and explain the matter better through plants, since it is almost the same. But anyone who wants fuller information may, if they please, go to places where dead livestock lie and observe the changes daily: they will see more than they wish. Maggots crawl about in great numbers, accompanied by a stench; when well fattened, they are transformed into gnats and flies.
Socrates
Reading The Golden Chain of Homer · 2 How Nature Destroys Animals · B2C02S001 · 1723 pp 217–218
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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.
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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.