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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 Homer10 the Tree of Dulcification and the Mineral Arcanum

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Facing Pages · Branch 442 of 504

10 the Tree of Dulcification and the Mineral Arcanum

German & Latin

1723 pp 374–375

Wenn du nun das corrosiv also dulcificiret hast, und ad oleum abstrahiret, so thue es in eine Retorte und distillire in ein süß lieblich angenehm Oehl über, welches alle animalia und vegetabilia ohne die geringste Gefahr geniessen können, und heist Quint-Essenz, Magisterium, Arcanum minerale, von wem du es genommen hast. Wilst du aber solch Oehl coaguliren in einen saltzigen Stein, fix und flüchtig wie Butter, so thue es in einen hohen Kolben, mit Helm und Vorlage, setze es ins B. M. ziehe ihm das humidum superfluum per gradus ab, denn die Essenz steigt im B. M. nicht leicht über, hernach setz in Aschen, und treibe die humidität, welche im B. M. nicht steigen wollen, per lentos gradus ab, so wirds immer dicker und dicker, daß es im Feuer fliesset als Oehl, und in der Lufft gestehet als Eiß: so hast du es nun in liquido & sicco. Darum dancke GOtt. Nun mercke, je schärffer dein acidum und Spir. vini ist, je geschwinder dulcificiren sie; je schwächer, je langsamer. Die Schärffe aber bestehet in dem, daß das Aqua recolacea, oder das phlegma, so viel möglich, geschieden werde, auf daß der Spir. vini und acidum möglichstens concentriret sey. Wiederum so mercke der Liebhaber, so er das Minerale oder corrosivische oder mineralische Essenz will zum vegetabilischen Werck nur appliciren, und nicht zu denen animalien, so ist nicht vonnöthen, wiewol es auch nicht schadet, den Spiritum & acidum urinae, so dann Spiritum vini & acidum vegetabile beyzusetzen, sondern nur den Sp. vini und acidum vegetabile. So ers aber nur zu der mineralischen Natur verlanget, so hat er das dulcificiren gar nicht vonnöthen, so er nicht will. Weil aber die Herrn Medici je und allezeit beflissen sind, das Heyl ihres krancken Nächsten zu suchen, und auf andere transmutationes wenig acht haben, so müssen sie das corrosiv auf vorbeschriebene Weise dulcificiren.

1723 pp 374–375

The Golden Chain of Homer: 10 the Tree of Dulcification and the Mineral Arcanum

1723 pp 374–375

Once you have dulcified the corrosive in this way and drawn it down to oil, put it in a retort and distil it over as a sweet, lovely, agreeable oil that all animals and plants can consume without the least danger. It is called the quintessence, magistery, or mineral arcanum of the subject from which it was taken. If you wish to coagulate this oil into a saline stone, fixed and volatile like butter, put it in a tall flask with head and receiver and set it in the water bath. Withdraw its superfluous moisture by degrees, for the essence does not readily rise there. Then set it in ashes and slowly drive off the moisture that would not rise in the bath. It grows thicker and thicker, flowing like oil in fire and setting like ice in air. You have it both liquid and dry. Thank God for it. Note that the sharper your acid and spirit of wine, the faster they dulcify; the weaker, the slower. Sharpness consists in separating recolacean water or phlegm as far as possible, so that spirit of wine and acid are as concentrated as possible. The lover of the art should also note that, if he wishes to apply the mineral, corrosive, or mineral essence only to a vegetable work and not to animals, he need not add spirit and acid of urine along with spirit of wine and vegetable acid, although it does no harm. Only spirit of wine and vegetable acid are needed. If he desires it solely for mineral nature, he need not dulcify it at all unless he wishes. But physicians continually seek the recovery of their sick neighbour and pay little attention to other transmutations. They must therefore dulcify the corrosive in the manner described.

1723 pp 374–375

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.