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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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Facing Pages · Branch 145 of 504

I.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

German & Latin

1723 pp 97–98

Nun ad propositum. Hier mercke ein jeder, daß kein Subject in rerum natura, welches nicht seine principia hat, es sey occulte vel aperte, es sey universale vel individuum; und so je eines solle an seinem Principio mangeln, so hat es sein refugium auf sein gleiches Homogeneum oder auf die Universal-Subjecta, als welche potentialiter individua sind, und sich mit allen individuis vergesellschafften und vergleichen, auch darein transmutiren, gleichwie die individua respectu originis universalia sind, auch in ihrer letzten resolution darein transmutiret werden. Hat nun jedes Ding seine Principia, oder in Mangel eines ein solches per homogeneum kan ersetzt werden, so haben sie ja ein Volatile, ein Acidum, ein Alcali. Unter diesen 3en ist das Acidum das Mittel oder Medium conjungendi in allen Dingen. Nun ist auch gewiß, daß sich gleich mit seines gleichen gern vereinigen lasse in allen Dingen, als die Alcalica Salia quæcunque sint Animalia, Vegetabilia, Mineralia mischen sich gern zusammen, die Acida auch, also auch die Volatilia: denn der Spiritus vini oder Spiritus ardens vegetabilium, und der Spiritus Volatilis animalis conjungiren sich gerne zusammen, also auch der Spir. medius illorum, als da ist das Acidum oder [Eßigzeichen], also auch ihre Alcalia. Hinwieder conjungiret sich das [Eßigzeichen] oder [Eßigzeichen]dum vegetabile & homogeneum ohne Wiederstrebung mit den mineralischen Acidis, als Aquafort, Nitrum, Sal, Vitrioli, Alumen, Sulphur, als durch deren fixes Sal.

1723 pp 97–98

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

1723 pp 97–98

Now to the point. Everyone should note that no subject exists in nature without its principles, whether hidden or manifest, universal or individual. If it lacks a principle, it can have recourse to something homogeneous and like itself, or to universal subjects. These are potentially individuals, associate with all individuals, become like them and change into them, just as individuals are universal in respect of their origin, and change into universals in their final resolution. Since everything has its principles, or a missing one can be replaced by a homogeneous substance, each has a volatile, an acid and an alkali. Of these three, acid is the medium, or means of conjunction, in everything. It is also certain that like readily unites with like in all things. Alkaline salts, whether animal, vegetable or mineral, readily mix together; so do acids, and so do volatiles. Spirit of wine, or the burning spirit of vegetables, and the volatile animal spirit readily unite, as do their middle spirits—acid or vinegar—and their alkalis. Conversely, vegetable and homogeneous vinegar or acid unites without resistance with mineral acids, such as aqua fortis, nitre, salt, vitriol, alum and sulphur, through their fixed salt.

1723 pp 97–98

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.