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 51
Early New High German
p. 51setztes alles / auch noch weiter erweisen würde / das in wolangedeutetem CATHOLISCHEN Natürlichen ENTE oder WESEN / vber der Erden / gleich eben von der jenigen ALGEMEINEN MATERIA Catholisch sey / woraus die NATVR (jhrem ordentlichen Lauff nach) jedere zeit gezeuget habe / vnd / in Algemein / noch zeuge alle Metalla in der Erden.
Wann man nun dieses alles / wie obstehet / erweisen würde / Als / helt manse nicht vnbillich dafür / würde gnugsam dargethan sein / dz solch nunmehr offt angedeutes ENS, oder aber in demselbigen DINGE / sey de MATERIA rerum omnium Materialium* PRIMA, eaq; CATHOLICA siue VNIVERSALI, von der ERSTEN vnnd ALGEMEINEN aller Materialischen
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 51-ther to demonstrate all the aforesaid, that it is Catholicly in the well-intimated CATHOLIC Natural BEING or ESSENCE, above the Earth, of just that same UNIVERSAL MATTER out of which NATURE (according to her ordinary course) has at every time begotten, and universally still begets, all the Metals in the Earth.
If, then, one were to demonstrate all this as stands above — why then, it is not unreasonably held, it would have been sufficiently set forth that such an ENS, so often now intimated, or else in that same THING, is of the FIRST MATTER of all Material things*, and that a CATHOLIC or VNIVERSAL one; of the FIRST and UNIVERSAL MATTER of all Material things,
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 51
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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.