Diotimos Library · Renaissance Collection · Bilingual Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
The 1599 German text with a new English translation, introduction, glossary, and notes.
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Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 39
Early New High German
p. 39grosses schweren trawen. Ja wol! Wenns dem Lügener zum schweren kömpt / er schwüre dem Teuffel ein bein abe. Man lasse sich ohne gutē grund / von warheit MAGNESIAE, nichts weise machen noch vberreden. Der gestalt wird mancher hinter das Liecht der Warheit vnuerführet bleiben.
Höret / lieben Herrn cauillatores vnd grobe freunde / fahret doch etwas gemach / jhr werffet sonsten gar vmb; Pralet vnd Triumphiret nicht ante Victoriam! Ich rathe / jhr hieltet ewere / euch selbst eigene eingebildete meinungen / gegen diese gegenwertige vnd andere mehr Meine hieruon Naturgemesse Schrifften / vnd ponderirtet, considerandis consideratis / allerfleissigst / Ob auch in ewren euch imaginirten materijs, jhr vngezwungen / vnd nicht gleich als
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 39great swearing. Oh yes indeed! When it comes to swearing, the Liar would swear a leg off the Devil. Let no one, without good grounds, be talked round or persuaded out of the truth of MAGNESIA. In that fashion many a man will remain unmisled behind the Light of Truth.
Hear me, dear Sirs cavillers and coarse friends: do go a little more gently, or else you will overturn the whole thing altogether. Do not boast and triumph before the Victory! I advise that you hold your own, self-imagined opinions up against this present writing of mine and others besides, which conform to Nature; and that you weigh them, the things to be considered having been considered, with all diligence: whether in the materials you have imagined for yourselves you find — unforced, and not as if
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 39
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum argues that alchemy has one universal subject, that this subject cannot be extracted from the metals, and that nothing in the work can begin without recognizing it. This complete reader begins with the supplied seven-part introduction and orientation, then presents every printed page of the 1599 German treatise opposite its new English translation.
Historical Text and Translation
The German reading text is a fresh diplomatic transcription from 600 dpi images of the Magdeburg copy printed by Johann Bötcher in 1599. It preserves Khunrath’s capitalization, word division, authorial marginal keys, glosses, errata, and three unnumbered closing pages: the errata leaf, owl emblem, and colophon.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared the new English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, collation, and editorial apparatus. The translation follows Khunrath directly, retaining his technical vocabulary, changes of register, repetitions, rhetorical questions, and distinctions between German, Latin, and coined terms.
Rights
Heinrich Khunrath’s 1599 German work is in the public domain. The 2026 English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, editorial arrangement, and related matter are original to this edition and remain © 2026 Diotimos.