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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

The Golden Chain of Homer6 What Is Finally to Be Concluded From the Preceding Long Chapter

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6 What Is Finally to Be Concluded From the Preceding Long Chapter

German & Latin

1723 pp 312–313

Das vorige Capitel saget nur compendiose universaliter von Zerstörung und Zerbrechung, auch Wiedergebärung aller natürlichen Dinge, principaliter aber von dem regenerirten Chaotischen Wasser, nach welcher Regul alle vegetabilia, animalia & mineralia sich verhalten müssen, und diesen Pfad nothwendig nachgehen, weil sie alle aus einem natürlichen primordio ihrer anfänglichen Mutter entsprossen. Und gleichwie der Artist in voriger separation des Universal-Wassers procediret, daß er ein flüchtiges nach dem andern von dem fixern Theil geschieden, also muß er auch in seinen specificis und individuis, als allen animalien, vegetabilien und mineralien verfahren, solche in solcher Ordnung scheiden, u. wieder zusammen setzen, wie sie von einander gegangen, eine Quint-Essenz heraus schmieden. Weil aber keine separation ohne die putrefaction, es sey nun natürlich oder künstlich, das ist, es sey auf natürliche langsame, oder auf künstliche geschwinde Hand-Griffe practiciret, wie einer selbst will und kan: Denn je geschwinder einer die putrefaction promoviret, desto geschwinder fertiget er sein Werck aus, wie ich denn Anleitung genug am ersten Theil gegeben, wie die Natur selbst vorgehet, weil kein corpus vor der separation und regeneration perfect kommen kan, also kan keine separation perfect die flüchtige Theile von denen fixen zu scheiden ohne distillation vorgenommen werden, wiewohl vielerhand separationes sind; solche aber werden hier nicht verlangt, sondern die einige, welche die Natur je und allezeit weiset und vorhält: Erstlich praeparatio, denn putrefactio seu solutio, fixatio, hernach imbibitio, inceratio, augmentatio, fermentatio, applicatio. Solche gradus hat die Natur, wie sie in diesem und vorigen Tractat vielfältig gelehret ist.

1723 pp 312–313

The Golden Chain of Homer: 6 What Is Finally to Be Concluded From the Preceding Long Chapter

1723 pp 312–313

The previous chapter speaks only briefly and universally of the destruction, breaking apart, and rebirth of all natural things, but principally of regenerated chaotic water. All plants, animals, and minerals must conform to this rule and necessarily follow this path, because they have all sprung from one natural origin, their first mother. In the previous separation of universal water, the practitioner separated one volatile part after another from the more fixed part. In the same way he must proceed with his specific and individual subjects, all animals, plants, and minerals: separate them in this order and reunite them in the order in which they parted, forging a quintessence from them. There can be no separation without putrefaction, whether natural or artificial: whether practised by nature's slow way or by swift manual operations of art, as each person wishes and is able. The faster one advances putrefaction, the faster one completes the work. I have given sufficient guidance in the first part on nature's own procedure. Since no body can come to perfection before separation and regeneration, neither can a perfect separation of volatile parts from fixed be undertaken without distillation. There are indeed many kinds of separation, but they are not required here. Only the one that nature always demonstrates and sets before us is required: first preparation, then putrefaction or solution, fixation, and afterward imbibition, inceration, augmentation, fermentation, and application. These are nature's stages, as taught repeatedly in this treatise and the preceding one.

1723 pp 312–313

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.