Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition
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23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them
German & Latin
1723 pp 189–190Heissen doch die Chymici den schärffsten rectificirten Sp. vini und Urinae ein Corrosiv, der doch in seiner Dilatation eine treffliche Lebens-Ampel-Artzney und Erquickung aller natürlichen Kräffte ist. Also siehet man ja, daß obschon die animalischen und vegetabilischen Geister von jederman genossen werden dilutim vel dilatim, sind sie doch in ihrer Concentration und Rectification von dem Humido superfluo äusserst scharff, da mans in der kleinesten Dosi muß einnehmen. Ist nun in uns und andern Animalien und Vegetabilien eine so grosse Schärffe, wer soll denn zweiffeln von den Mineralien, welche nothwendig müssen 3mal mehr Schärffe, die rohe Erde zu solviren, haben? Ich habe gesagt, daß das Acidum oder mineral-Menstruum corrosivum, das ist, die unterirdische saure und saltzige Dämpffe die Erde solviren und sich dadurch mit samt der Erden zu einer schmierigen Gur machen, welche Gur nun vitriolisch oder alaunisch acidisch ist. Je mehr nun diese Gur durch das allezeit nachsteigende Acidum corrosivum oder chymical-saltzige Dämpffe, oder dampffiges volatilisiertes Sal, denn das simple Wasser oder Phlegma kan dahin nicht kommen, das ist, solche Erde solviren und zu einem Metall machen, ohne das geistliche Saltz, resolviret, digeriret, fermentiret, coagulirt und figiret wird, je mehr und mehr wird es sulphurisch und arsenicalisch.
The Golden Chain of Homer: 23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them
1723 pp 189–190Chymists themselves call the sharpest rectified spirit of wine and urine a corrosive, although in its diluted condition it is an excellent medicine for the lamp of life and a refreshment of all natural powers. Thus, although everyone receives animal and vegetable spirits in a diluted or extended condition, when concentrated and rectified from superfluous moisture they are extremely sharp and must be taken in the smallest dose. If there is such great sharpness in us and in other animals and plants, who should doubt it in minerals, which necessarily need three times more sharpness to dissolve raw earth? I have said that the acid or corrosive mineral menstruum—that is, the subterranean sour and salty vapours—dissolves earth, thereby making itself together with the earth into a greasy Gur, which is vitriolic or aluminous and acidic. The more this Gur is resolved, digested, fermented, coagulated, and fixed by the corrosive acid continually rising after it, or the chymical-salty vapours, or vaporous volatilized salt, the more sulphurous and arsenical it becomes. Simple water or phlegm cannot accomplish this—that is, dissolve such earth and make metal from it—without spiritual salt.
Socrates
Reading The Golden Chain of Homer · 23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them · B1C23S032 · 1723 pp 189–190
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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.