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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.22 · The Generation of Plants

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German & Latin Page · Branch 198 of 504

I.22 · The Generation of Plants

German & Latin

1723 pp 144–145

Nemlich die gebräuchliche Edulcoration und Absüssung aller Corrosivorum ist bisher gewesen mit Spiritu vini rectificatissimo sive alcalisato, daß sie solchen über dem corrosivischen Praecipitat lange Zeit digerirt und circulirt, etliche mal auf und abgezogen, oder aber crude 6. 7. oder 9. mal davon abgebrannt. Denn hat es geheissen, es ist corrigirt und edulcoriret. Aber der Effect hat gewiesen, daß sie solch Correctum mit Zittern und Gefahr dem Menschen in Leib gegeben. Nun aber will ich meine Edulcorationes setzen, mit den Ursachen neben der Demonstration, warum ohne Mittel kein einiges Corrosiv rechtschaffen zu edulcoriren. Nemlich ich habe in diesem Tractat vielfältig gelehret, und dir zu verstehen gegeben das Axioma: non transiri posse ab uno extremo ad alterum sine medio. Diesen Punct mercke doch ein jeder Chymist wohl, und lasse ihm solchen Tag und Nacht im Gemüthe liegen, will er anders in Chymicis was proficiren. Es wissen wohl alle Philosophi & Baccalaurei dieses Axioma memoriter; aber in Praxi können sie es doch nicht, welches Extremum oder Medium sey. Hieraus ist die Welt voll Irrthum, welches doch leicht zu erkennen, auch leicht zu finden. Es soll einem Artisten wohl bekant seyn jedes Dinges Natur und Art, welches er auch leicht sehen kan, ob etwas fix oder flüchtig ist.

1723 pp 144–145

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

1723 pp 144–145

The customary edulcoration and sweetening of all corrosives has hitherto used most highly rectified or alkalized spirit of wine. This was digested and circulated upon the corrosive precipitate for a long time, poured on and drawn off several times, or else simply burned away from it six, seven, or nine times. Then it was said: “It has been corrected and sweetened.” But the result showed that they administered such a corrected preparation to the human body with trembling and danger. I shall now set out my own edulcorations, with their reasons and a demonstration of why no corrosive can properly be sweetened without a middle. Throughout this treatise I have repeatedly taught and explained the axiom that one cannot pass from one extreme to the other without a middle. Let every chymist mark this point well and keep it in mind day and night if he wishes to make progress in chymistry. All philosophers and bachelors may know this axiom by heart; yet in practice they cannot determine what is an extreme and what is a middle. From this the world is full of error, though the distinction is easy to recognize and find. A practitioner should know each thing’s nature and kind, and can readily see whether something is fixed or volatile.

1723 pp 144–145

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.