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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 HomerII.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

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Facing Pages · Branch 386 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 311

So aber einem solchen Universal-Saltz die Lufft benommen wird, und doch immer imbibiret wird, wie die Laboranten in Gläsern thun, imbibiren und abstrahiren, so wird das vegetabilische Wachsthum verhindert, und weichet und tritt ab in eine mineralische Natur, nemlich durch das continuirliche Imbibiren, Abstrahiren und Reverberiren, so wird es immer fixer, irdischer und steinhaffter, welches wir auch also verlangen. Solche Steinigkeit aber ist nicht wie ein Stein, dem das Humidum radicale salinum so äusserst benommen ist; sondern wir verlangen zu unserer Medicin eine saltzige Steinigkeit, eine balsamische Saltzigkeit, als welche allein mit ihrer Fixigkeit und Feurigkeit unsere Leiber erfrischet, und vor der Putrefaction bewahret, einsaltzet, balsamiret und erhält. Derowegen wer nun begehret diesen Natur-Weg zu gehen, der folge der Natur, so fehlt er auch nicht; hat er aber noch bessere Wege, so gehe er dieselben. Vom dritten Wege ist keine Weitläufftigkeit zu machen. Denn die Faecum separatores werden solche selbst vor angenehmer halten, als die vorige.

1723 pp 311

The Golden Chain of Homer: II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

1723 pp 311

If such a universal salt is deprived of air but continually imbibed—as laboratory workers imbibe and draw off in glasses—vegetable growth is prevented and yields to a mineral nature. Continual imbibing, drawing off, and reverberating make it increasingly fixed, earthy, and stony, which is precisely what we desire. Yet this stoniness is unlike a stone from which saline radical moisture has been removed to the utmost. For medicine we seek a salty stoniness, a balsamic saltiness, which alone by its fixity and fieriness refreshes our bodies, protects against putrefaction, salts, embalms, and preserves them. Whoever desires this natural path should follow nature and will not fail; if he has better ways, let him take them. No lengthy discussion of the third way is needed. Those who separate dregs will themselves find it more agreeable than the preceding methods.

1723 pp 311

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.