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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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German & Latin Page · Branch 146 of 504

I.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

German & Latin

1723 pp 98–99

Entgegen aber, so schicket sich ein extremum mit dem andern nimmermehr mit seinem Sal oder Alcali: also conjungiret sich der Spir. vini auch nicht, oder sehr hart und gefährlich, auch sehr langsam mit denen mineralischen Acidis & Alcalibus. Wenn ihm aber sein Mittel-Ding beygebracht wird, alsbald & in puncto momenti sind sie beysammen, daß sie ohne Schaden nimmer zu separiren sind, weder durch Feuer noch Wasser. Denn setze dem Spiritu vini rectificato Acetum rectificatum zu, so wirst du gleich seine Vereinigung sehen ohne repugnation dieser beyden. Denn gieb ihnen Alcali, so wirds suavissime solviret und conjungirt, daß sie beyde oder alle 3. in rechtem Gewichte stehen, und so du wolltest per B. M. den Spiritum vini oder Eßig davon scheiden, so wirst du statt ihrer, ob sie auch aufs schärffste von allem Phlegma separiret waren, ein lauteres unschmackbares phlegma separiren, das Ens oder Essentia Spiritus vini seu ejus Sal volatile hat sich durch den Eßig und mit des Eßigs seiner Schärffe auf das Alcali figirt und wirst nach abstraction der Wäßrigkeit finden ein flüchtiges fixes Sal, wie Wachs ohne Rauch, also daß der Spiritus vini und Aceti durch ihr Sal Alcali so fix sind worden, daß sie in offenem Tiegel wie Wachs fliessen ohne Rauch.

1723 pp 98–99

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

1723 pp 98–99

Conversely, one extreme never accommodates itself to the other with its salt or alkali. Thus spirit of wine does not unite with mineral acids and alkalis, or only with great difficulty and danger, and very slowly. But once its medium is supplied they are together immediately, in an instant, so that neither fire nor water can separate them without damage. Add rectified vinegar to rectified spirit of wine and you will immediately see the two unite without resistance. Then give them alkali: it dissolves and unites most gently, so that the two, or all three, stand in their proper weight. Should you try to separate spirit of wine or vinegar from them in a water bath, you will separate only tasteless phlegm in their place, even if they had been most sharply freed of all phlegm. The being or essence of spirit of wine, or its volatile salt, has been fixed upon the alkali through vinegar and its sharpness. After removal of the wateriness you will find a volatile fixed salt, like wax without smoke. Spirit of wine and vinegar have become so fixed through their alkaline salt that they flow like wax in an open crucible without smoke.

1723 pp 98–99

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.