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I.22 · The Generation of Plants
German & Latin
1723 pp 157–158Denn der Marcasit wird endlich zu einem Metall ausgekocht, wie denn alle Marcasiten nach ihrer Art, einer mehr als der andere, ein fixes Granum metalli hat. Da entgegen der Sulphur und Arsenicum davon fliehen oder in Schlacken gehen. Je fixer nun dessen Corpora werden oder je alcalischer, je strenger das Acidum Vitrioli und Sulphuris wird, je edler und metallischer wird es, wie bey dem Gold zu sehen, daß es das fixeste alcalisirte Corpus ist, und so compact, daß es von keinem Acido will angegriffen seyn. Denn das Acidum sich ehe zu todt daran fressen soll, und alle seine Tugenden vermehren, daß so ferne er das Gold mit dem Spir. Vitrioli solviren wolle, so müste er das Gold zuvor zu einem Marcasit machen, denn wieder zurück zu einem Arsenicum, und den wieder zu Schwefel- und Vitriol-Kieß, oder zum Vitriol, dann würde der Vitriol-Geist sein gleiches gleich solviren radicaliter, und mit sich in einen völligen Liquorem überführen, sonsten aber nicht. Und obschon das Gold in denen Menstruis alcali-acidis zergehet, so ist es doch davon zu scheiden und zu reduciren in seine vorige Gestalt, wie es zuvor gewesen ist, nemlich ein fixes Corpus. Hier aber wie das Gold zurück gebracht wird, wie unten ferner gesagt wird, in seine primam Materiam Vitriolinam und von dannen zu einem Liquore, so ist das Gold wieder zu seinem Ursprung kommen, nemlich zu einem mineralischen Dampff worden. Denn dieser Liquor steiget Dampff-weise herüber.
The Golden Chain of Homer: I.22 · The Generation of Plants
1723 pp 157–158Marcasite is finally cooked into a metal, for all marcasites, according to their kind, contain a fixed grain of metal, one more than another, whereas sulphur and arsenic fly away or pass into slag. The more fixed or alkaline its bodies become, and the more stringent the acid of vitriol and sulphur becomes, the nobler and more metallic it is. Gold shows this: it is the most fixed alkalized body and so compact that no acid will attack it. The acid would sooner consume itself to death upon it and increase all its virtues. Therefore, if one wished to dissolve gold with spirit of vitriol, one would first have to make the gold into a marcasite, then back into arsenic, then again into sulphur- and vitriol-pyrites, or vitriol. Then spirit of vitriol would immediately dissolve its like at the root and carry it wholly into a liquor with itself; otherwise it would not. Although gold dissolves in alkaline-acid menstruums, it can nevertheless be separated from them and reduced to its former condition, a fixed body. Here, however, when gold is brought back—as will be explained further below—into its first, vitriolic matter and from there into a liquor, it has returned to its origin and become a mineral vapour. For this liquor passes over as vapour.
Socrates
Reading The Golden Chain of Homer · I.22 · The Generation of Plants · B1C22S039 · 1723 pp 157–158
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.
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.
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This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.
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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.