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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 445 of 504

10 the Tree of Dulcification and the Mineral Arcanum

German & Latin

1723 pp 378–379

Wenn man ein subjectum allem sicciret, und gantz trocken coaguliret, so ist der Geist, als wenn er todt wäre oder schlieffe, denn sein Mittel, Gehäus, Instrument oder aqua recolacea ist ihm benommen; Wenn er aber wieder eins bekommt, entweder ab universalibus, Lufft, Thau, Regen, Wasser, oder specificiret, das ist, wenn er den vegetabilischen oder mineralischen subjecten beygebracht oder eingegeben wird als eine Medicin, da erlanget er wieder ein humidum superfluum, oder seines gleichen specificirtes Instrumentum aquae, welches ihn wieder auferwecket zu agiren, da er denn entweder das vegetabile oder Minerale rariret oder destruiret, nachdem er appliciret und praepariret wird. Nun sage ich, je mehr der Universal-Geist von seinem aqua recolacea geschieden wird, je fixer und concentrirter er wird, und so dieser fixe und concentrirte Geist oder Samen per calorem excessivum wieder spiritualisch gemacht wird, so ist er ein lauteres Feuer und geflügelter Drache, der alles in seinen Rachen verzehret: Daher der Spiritus Nitri, Aquafort, Sp. Salis ein lauteres verzehrendes Feuer ist, und so lange er ein solches Feuer ist, so ist er allen individuis, meistens denen animalibus und vegetabilibus zuwider. Weil aber Mittel vorgezeiget sind, solche seine tobende Grausamkeit zu besänftigen und in eine angenehme Sanfftmuth zu bringen, darff er deßwegen nicht viel Scrupel machen.

1723 pp 378–379

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

1723 pp 378–379

When a subject is thoroughly dried and coagulated until entirely dry, the spirit is as though dead or asleep, because its medium, dwelling, instrument, or aqua recolacea has been taken away. But if it receives one again, either from the universals—air, dew, rain, water—or in a specified form, that is, when it is applied or administered as a medicine to vegetable or mineral subjects, it acquires superfluous moisture again, or a correspondingly specified watery instrument. This awakens it once more to act, and it then either rarefies or destroys the vegetable or mineral according to how it is applied and prepared. Now I say: the more the universal spirit is separated from its aqua recolacea, the more fixed and concentrated it becomes; and if this fixed, concentrated spirit or seed is made spiritual again by excessive heat, it is pure fire and a winged dragon that consumes everything in its jaws. Thus spirit of nitre, aqua fortis, and spirit of salt are pure consuming fire; and as long as it is such a fire, it is hostile to all individual things, especially animals and vegetables. But since means have been shown for calming its raging cruelty and bringing it to a pleasing mildness, the practitioner need not have many scruples on that account.

1723 pp 378–379

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.