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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 158 of 504

I.19 · Volatile, Acid and Alkali

German & Latin

1723 pp 108–110

Weiter wird allhier berichtet, daß ein jedes Reich sein eigen Solvens auf dem Rücken trägt und seine Principia hat, und so deren ja eins mangelt, hat mans in copia aus denen Universalien, welche sich allen Naturen associiren und vergleichen, als da ist das Chaotische regenerirte Wasser oder Regen, Thau, Schnee, daraus man in der Noth ein Volatile in quantitate haben kan, und so auch kein acidum oder Alcali vorhanden wäre, so ist das Nitrum ein Universal-Acidum, das Sal ein Universal-Alcali. So diese in Spiritus distilliret werden, so stellen sie einen acidum und alcalinum Spiritum dar, welche sich nach ihrer application allen Creaturen homogen machen. Wer aber verstehet, wie droben genug erkläret, daß die Animalia, Vegetabilia und Mineralia im Centro nicht unterschieden, sondern essentialiter eins seyn, und nur ratione fermentationis (denn hieraus das Magis & minus volatilitatis & fixitatis entspringet) unterschieden seyn, der nun solches verstehet, macht sich in der Natur keinen Scrupel: Denn gefällt ihm eins nicht, so nimmt er proximum huic simile & homogeneum. Hieraus ist probirt, daß das Volatile zum Acido, das Acidum zum Alcali werde, und hinwieder das Alcali zum Acido per Acidum, das Acidum aber ein Volatile werde. Denn eins ist des andern Magnet und eins muß durch das andere transmutirt werden. Denn so ich viel Volatile nehme, so überwindet das Volatile das Acidum, also wird das Acidum zum Volatile; so ich viel Acidum nehme und wenig Alcali, so überwindet das Acidum das Alcali, also daß das Alcali zum Acido werde; und so ich viel Acidum nehme und wenig Volatile, so überwindet das Acidum das Volatile, daß das Volatile zum Acido werde, denn der stärckere überwindet, machet den schwächern sich gleich und unterworffen. Nun ist gewiesen in genere, was die Putrefaction sey und verschaffe: nemlich daß es das fixe flüchtig, und das flüchtige fix mache, theoretice & practice, daß es aus dem Volatili ein Acidum, aus diesem ein Alcali mache, & e contra, aus dem Alcali ein Acidum, aus diesem wieder ein Volatile, ad primam nempe naturam & originem. Weilen uns nun die Putrefaction offenbaret hat das flüchtige und fixe, das Volatile, Acidum & Alcali: so wollen wir examiniren, was denn das volatile, acidum & alcali in genere & specie sey.

1723 pp 108–110

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

1723 pp 108–110

We are further informed here that each kingdom carries its own solvent on its back and has its principles. If one is lacking, it can be obtained abundantly from universals, which associate with and become like every nature: regenerated chaotic water, or rain, dew and snow. From these a volatile can, if necessary, be obtained in quantity. If no acid or alkali is available either, nitre is a universal acid and salt a universal alkali. Distilled into spirits, they present an acid and an alkaline spirit which, according to their application, make themselves homogeneous with all creatures. Whoever understands what has been sufficiently explained above—that animals, vegetables and minerals do not differ at their centre but are essentially one, differing only by fermentation, from which greater and lesser volatility and fixation arise—will have no scruple in nature. If one thing does not please him, he takes the nearest thing like and homogeneous to it. It has thus been proved that the volatile becomes acid and acid alkali; conversely, alkali becomes acid through acid, and acid becomes volatile. Each is the other’s magnet and must be transformed through the other. If I take much volatile, it overcomes acid, so acid becomes volatile. If I take much acid and little alkali, acid overcomes alkali, so alkali becomes acid. If I take much acid and little volatile, acid overcomes volatile, so volatile becomes acid. The stronger conquers, makes the weaker like itself and subjects it. We have now shown generally what putrefaction is and accomplishes: it makes the fixed volatile and the volatile fixed, in theory and practice. It makes acid from the volatile and alkali from acid; conversely, acid from alkali, then volatile from acid once again—back to its first nature and origin. Since putrefaction has revealed to us the volatile and fixed, the volatile, acid and alkali, let us examine what volatile, acid and alkali are in general and in particular.

1723 pp 108–110

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.