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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 Homer6 What Is Finally to Be Concluded From the Preceding Long Chapter

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German & Latin Page · Branch 390 of 504

6 What Is Finally to Be Concluded From the Preceding Long Chapter

German & Latin

1723 pp 314–315

Was nun die flüchtige Theile anlanget, das soll er vor einen flüchtigen Saamen halten; was aber das Acetum oder Acidum betrifft, soll er vor das medium oder halb fix und halb flüchtigen Saamen, als das Saltz oder nitrosum in universalibus, in specificatis vor das Sal resolutum essentiale oleosum oder [acet]osum halten. Das Oleum auch also, denn es ist das Oehl ein coagulirtes und condensirtes, concentrirtes Acidum, das Acidum ein resolvirtes Oleum. Die Kohle soll er vor das fixere Theil aestimiren, als ein irdisches oder coagulirtes Oehl, so sie aber in Asche oder Sal alcali verändert wird, soll er vor die fixeste partes, als ein Sal praecipitatum, alcalisatum, fixatum halten, weil die Kohle durch das violente schnelle Calcinir-Feuer kan gar fix und Feuer-beständig gemacht werden, als in einer Asche. Denn so man das Oehl und die Kohle reibet, und in ala cucurbitam in cinere selbem seine humidität benimmt, so wird auch eine Kohle daraus; So man aber starck treibet, so wird aus dem Oehl ein liquor [acet]osus oder Acetum herüber distilliret; So man aber die Kohle ins offene Feuer bringet, so wird mit Abgange eine Asche und Saltz draus. Solche principia muß ein Artist wissen, und vornehmlich in diesem Tractat. Denn so ein Laborant nicht weiß, was ein Volatile, was ein Acidum, oder Kohle, oder Asche und Alcali ist, wie weiß er sich in seinen vorfallenden Irrthümern zu helffen und zu recolligiren?

1723 pp 314–315

The Golden Chain of Homer: 6 What Is Finally to Be Concluded From the Preceding Long Chapter

1723 pp 314–315

As for the volatile parts, he should regard them as a volatile seed. Vinegar or acid he should regard as the intermediary, or half-fixed and half-volatile seed: as salt or the nitrous principle in universals, and in specified subjects as the essential dissolved salt, oily or acetous. The same applies to oil: oil is a coagulated, condensed, concentrated acid, and acid is a dissolved oil. He should consider coal the more fixed part, an earthy or coagulated oil. But if it is changed into ash or alkali salt, he should regard it as the most fixed part, a precipitated, alkalized, fixed salt. For violent, swift calcining fire can make coal entirely fixed and resistant to fire, as ash. If oil and coal are rubbed together, and the material is deprived of its moisture in a cucurbit in ashes, it too becomes coal. But if driven strongly, an acetous liquor, or vinegar, distils over from the oil. If the coal is brought into an open fire, it becomes ash and salt, with a loss of material. A practitioner must know these principles, especially in this treatise. For if a laboratory worker does not know what the volatile, acid, coal, ash, and alkali are, how can he help himself and recover when errors arise?

1723 pp 314–315

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.