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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 151 of 504

I.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

German & Latin

1723 pp 103

Einige nehmen dieses mit distillirten Aceto imprægnirtes Alcali 1. Theil, und thun darzu 4. Theil calcin. Kiesel-Steine, mischen es wohl unter einander, u. treiben es in einer gläsern Retorten über, erstlich geben sie 2. Stunde gelinde Feuer und denn vermehren sie das Feuer, daß die Flamme um die Retorte schlägt, und damit halten sie so lange an, bis das Sal Tartari in Gestalt eines Nebels oder Geist mit dem Wein-Eßig-Spiritu übergegangen ist. Hier siehet ein Chymist, auf was für eine Manier der Spruch wahr werde: Natura natura gaudet, natura naturam amplectitur, natura naturam vincit & superat. So nun der Artist nicht so viel Acidum nähme, sondern diesem Processui contrariam quantitatem Principiorum, also, daß das Fixum oder Alcali Oberhand hätte, so machte er ein fixes Saltz oder einen fixen Crystall draus, welcher im Feuer als eine Butter fliesset und in eine Quinta Essentia vulgariter fixata, wie die andere Quint-Essent. liquida volatilis est. Also kan er hinter und vor sich machen, wie er selbsten will, und kan eines ins andere transmutiren. Was aber die praxin anbelanget, wie aus allen individuis die Principia geschieden und wieder zusammen gesetzt, oder eins in das andere muß verwandelt werden, stehet im Tractatu de anatomia rerum (hier im II. Theil.)

1723 pp 103

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

1723 pp 103

Some take 1 part of this alkali impregnated with distilled vinegar and add 4 parts calcined flint. They mix it well and drive it over in a glass retort, first applying gentle fire for two hours, then increasing it until flame strikes around the retort. They maintain this until the salt of tartar has passed over with the spirit of wine vinegar in the form of a mist or spirit. A chymist sees here how the saying becomes true: nature delights in nature; nature embraces nature; nature conquers and overcomes nature. If the practitioner took less acid and proportions of the principles contrary to this process, so that the fixed or alkali predominated, he would make a fixed salt or crystal, flowing in fire like butter, into a quintessence commonly termed fixed, just as the other quintessence is liquid and volatile. He can thus work backward and forward as he wishes, transforming one into the other. For the practical separation and reunion of principles from all individuals, or the transformation of one into the other, see the Treatise on the Anatomy of Things, here in Part Two.

1723 pp 103

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.