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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 Homer3 How Nature Destroys Plants

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German & Latin Page · Branch 286 of 504

3 How Nature Destroys Plants

German & Latin

1723 pp 219–220

Die Vegetabilia können mit etwas geschmäckerer Lufft als die Animalia observiret werden. Denn diese nach ihrer Verwelckung fallen ab, werden durch Regen und Thau benetzet, durch welche das acidum innatum erwecket wird, das ist, volatilisch gemacht, dieses erlauet, erwärmet u. erhitzet sich, zum Theil durch den eingepflantzten Geist, theils durch beykommende Sonnen- und central-Hitze, welche von unten heraus, wie die Sonne von oben herab ohn Unterlaß ausothemet und strahlet, wie man des Winters in den Kellern dergleichen Erdwärme gar fein spüret. Dieses auferweckte Acidum durchgehet die poros des Krauts, und erwecket oder erhitzet das volatilische zu dämpffen in die Lufft, um alldort chaotisiret zu werden, das fixere und härtere Theil aber erweichet es, machts zu Schleim und Safft, welches sich in die Erde verkriechet und vermischet, um allda eine regeneration zu erwarten und durch die in das fixere chaotische sperma transmutiret zu werden, in Salpeter und Saltz. Es werden auch, so die Hitze zu starck austrocknet, aus dem flüchtigen Theil des Krauts Würme, Maden, und aus diesen Mücken und Fliegen, welches eine Anzeigung ist, daß das vegetabilische Reich intendiret animalisch oder flüchtig zu werden, wie solches bey den noch grünenden Bäumen und Kräutern zu ersehen, da der überflüssige und trieffende Safft anfängt zu faulen, aus welchem denn gantze Wurm-Nester und aus diesen fliegende Raupen und allerhand andere insecta volatilia werden. Und dieses ist die destruction der kleinen Vegetabilien.

1723 pp 219–220

The Golden Chain of Homer: 3 How Nature Destroys Plants

1723 pp 219–220

Plants can be observed in somewhat more agreeable air than animals. After withering, they fall away and are wetted by rain and dew, which awaken the innate acid—that is, make it volatile. It grows lukewarm, warm, and hot, partly through the implanted spirit and partly through the added heat of the sun and the centre. Central heat continually breathes and radiates upward from below, just as the sun does downward from above; in winter one can readily feel such warmth of the earth in cellars. This awakened acid passes through the herb's pores and awakens or heats its volatile part so that it rises into the air as vapour, to become chaotic there. It softens the more fixed and harder part, making it slime and juice, which creep into the earth and mingle with it, awaiting regeneration there and transformation by the earth into the more fixed chaotic seed, saltpetre and salt. Also, when the heat dries too strongly, worms and maggots arise from the volatile part of the herb, and from these come gnats and flies. This indicates that the vegetable kingdom tends to become animal or volatile. One sees the same thing in trees and herbs that are still green, when the abundant, dripping sap begins to rot: whole nests of worms arise from it, and from these flying caterpillars and all kinds of other winged insects. Such is the destruction of small plants.

1723 pp 219–220

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.