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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 Homer8 the Anatomy of Plants

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German & Latin Page · Branch 413 of 504

8 the Anatomy of Plants

German & Latin

1723 pp 340–341

Wenn nun das vegetabile also separiret, so geschiehet die conjunction eo modo & ordine, wie bey dem Regen-Wasser und animali gesagt, und kan auch in allen so tractirt werden, nach allen obigen unterschiedlich offenbarten Wegen und Manieren oder Processen, wie in dem Regen-▽ und animalien gelehret ist, welches zu repetiren nicht nöthig ist, um Weitläufftigkeit zu vermeiden. Ich muß dem Liebhaber eine Kunst spendiren. Nemlich es haben sich viele Chymici bemühet, das Sal volatile vegetabile zu erlangen, habens doch nicht treffen können, welches doch ein sehr leichtes Ding ist. Als wenn du das Kraut zu maceriren und putreficiren einsetzest, so laß es so lange stehen, bis Maden und Würmer darinne wachsen, welches bald geschiehet, und so du dieses hast, so distillire aus einem hohen Kolben in B. M. so steigt ein animalisch-urinosischer Spiritus über, und hänget sich das Sal volatile im Helm an &c. Dieses ist die ratio & causa evidens, daß das vegetabile zu einem animale worden, als welches animalische Reich mehr und voller Sal volatile stecket. Dieses notire der Leser wohl, er wird speculando viel andere Sachen erlangen, die er lange zu suchen sich bekümmert hat.

1723 pp 340–341

The Golden Chain of Homer: 8 the Anatomy of Plants

1723 pp 340–341

Once the vegetable has been separated in this way, conjunction takes place in the manner and order stated for rainwater and the animal subject. In all respects it can be treated according to the various routes, methods, or processes disclosed above for rainwater and animals. There is no need to repeat these and become too lengthy. I must give the lover of the art a skill. Many chymists have laboured to obtain the vegetable volatile salt without succeeding, although it is a very easy matter. When you set the herb to macerate and putrefy, let it stand until maggots and worms grow in it, which happens soon. When this has occurred, distil from a tall flask in a water bath. An animal-urinous spirit comes over, and the volatile salt attaches itself to the head, and so on. This is the evident reason and cause showing that the vegetable has become animal, since the animal kingdom is richer in volatile salt. Let the reader note this well: through reflection he will obtain many other things that he has long been troubled to find.

1723 pp 340–341

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.