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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 HomerI.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

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English Page · Branch 140 of 504

I.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

German & Latin

1723 pp 92–93

Entgegen aber nimm wenig Erden und so viel Acidum und Volatile, also daß die Erde völlig solviret werde, so wird die Erde zu einem Acido per Acidum & Volatile werden. Thue nun diesem Acido ein Volatile in sufficienti quantitate bey, so wird das Acidum per excessum volatilis zu einem Volatile, denn welches excedirt quantitate & virtute, potestatem habet transmutandi alterum in se ipsum. Also Rec. 1. part. Aquæ fortis, 4. oder 6. part. Acidum, 8. part. Spir. vini oder 12. Theile, machs in allem, wie oben, so wirst du sehen eine dem obigen contraire Probe, nemlich, daß du die Erde in ein Acidum verändert hast. Und so du das flüchtige etliche mal cohobirest, so wird das Acidum in ein Volatile verändert. Jetzt ist die andere Probe, aus welcher ein Liebhaber mechanice sich exerciren kan, und solches mit Augen sehen und erfahren, wie die Natur in particularibus arbeitet, also arbeitet sie auch in universalibus. Denn die Ordnung hält sie immer und so lang, bis zu der Schmeltzung des Erdbodens. Durch solche Ordnung macht sie aus den universalibus specifica & individua, nachdem die Principia excediren. Denn eines hat zu viel Volatile, das andere zu viel Alcali, das 3te zu viel Acidum, in einem zu viel, im andern zu wenig, oder in etlichen durchaus mittelmäßig. Nach Unterscheid nun des vielen oder wenigen, so nehmen sie eine Qualität an, und machen oder nehmen eine Differenz von dem andern. Denn alle Creaturen differiren, wie schon gesagt, secundum magis vel minus Volatilis, Acidi & Alcali, seu secundum majorem & minorem volatilitatem & fixitatem.

1723 pp 92–93

The Golden Chain of Homer: I.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

1723 pp 92–93

Conversely, take little earth and enough acid and volatile to dissolve the earth completely. Through acid and volatile, earth will become an acid. Now add a sufficient quantity of volatile to this acid, and the excess volatile will make the acid volatile. Whatever exceeds in quantity and power has the ability to transform the other into itself. Thus take 1 part aqua fortis, 4 or 6 parts acid, and 8 parts spirit of wine, or 12 parts. Do everything as above and you will see an experiment contrary to the earlier one: you will have changed earth into an acid. If you cohobate the volatile several times, the acid will change into a volatile. This is the other experiment, through which the student can exercise himself in material work and see and experience with his own eyes that nature works among universals as she does among particulars. She always maintains this order, until the melting of the earth’s surface. Through it she makes specifics and individuals from universals according to which principles predominate. One has too much volatile, another too much alkali, a third too much acid: too much in one, too little in another, or a thoroughly middling proportion in some. According to these differences of more and less they take on a quality, and establish or acquire a difference from the others. All creatures differ, as already said, by having more or less volatile, acid and alkali, or by greater and lesser volatility and fixation.

1723 pp 92–93

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.