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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.22 · The Generation of Plants

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Facing Pages · Branch 179 of 504

I.22 · The Generation of Plants

German & Latin

1723 pp 126–127

Wir wollen jetzt alle übrige Nutrimenta fahren lassen, und wollen allein von dem Universal-Nutriment, als dem Thau und Regen, und dem daraus kommenden Nitro und Sal reden, weil eben die übrigen Nutrimenta von solchen primordialiter entspringen, auch werden sie per Reductionem wieder in solche reducirt, nemlich in Salpeter und Saltz, wie oben zur Gnüge erwiesen. Das Saltz oder der fixe Theil des Nutriments ist nun die Mutter und der Magnet, welcher eben aus dem Salpeter, wie oben gesagt, vermittelst der irdischen und Sonnen-Hitze per Reverberationem zu Saltz gemacht und fixirt wird. Dieses nun attrahiret die Nahrung und vermehret sich aus dem Thau und Regen etc. und gebäret einen Salpeter, welchen sie aus dem verfaulten Regen zu sich nimmt und fest hält, und damit ihn die Hitze der Sonnen und Erden nicht mehr fortjagen kan, so figirt das Saltz den subtilen Salpeter. Solche beyde Salia vermittelst des Wassers solviret, attrahiret die Wurtzel des Vegetabilis, macht es per Digestionem zu einem lautern Spiritu und Dampff und schicket es durch die engen Poros Dampff-weise in den Stengel und Blätter, allwo sie denn ihr Wachsthum wieder nach ihrer Prädestination verrichten.

1723 pp 126–127

The Golden Chain of Homer: I.22 · The Generation of Plants

1723 pp 126–127

For now we shall set aside all other nutriments and speak only of universal nourishment—dew and rain, and the nitre and salt arising from them—because the other nutriments originally spring from these and are also reduced back into them, namely nitre and salt, as sufficiently demonstrated above. Salt, or the fixed part of the nourishment, is the mother and magnet. As stated above, it is made from nitre into salt and fixed through the earthly and solar heat by reverberation. It attracts nourishment and increases itself from dew, rain, and so forth, and gives birth to a nitre that it takes to itself from putrefied rain and holds fast. So that the heat of the sun and earth can no longer drive it off, the salt fixes the subtle nitre. The plant’s root attracts these two salts, dissolved by means of water, makes them through digestion into a clear spirit and vapour, and sends them in the form of vapour through the narrow pores into the stalk and leaves, where they carry out their growth according to their predestination.

1723 pp 126–127

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.