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 72
Early New High German
p. 72jhren zubereitungen sich zeigen lassen möchten / beweisen / (das man auff rechtem Wege der NATVR sey / zum LAPIDE Philosophorum, oder aber zu einer der vntern Metallen verwandlungs Tinctur zukommen) alleine nichts! Es gehöret noch ein ander vnd mehrer grund aus der NATVR darzu. Farben alleine seind hierinnen sehr verfürliche Zeichen / vnd in diesem negotio gar fehlbare beweisungen; dieweil sonsten auch viel dinge / wie Philosophorum Lapis, sich wunderbarlich viel färbicht in præparationibus / erzeigen: dauon die erfahrnen Chymici wol wissen. Winde dich / drehe / beuge / vnd disputiere es hinder sich vnd vor sich / wie du wilt / so ist es nicht anders. Etliche sonstē gute Leute / seind in dem wahn / das der Geist Gotes mit dem Bundzeichen des Regenbogens gebe seine eusserliche
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 72their preparations, prove of themselves nothing at all (namely, that one is on the right Way of NATURE, to come to the STONE of the Philosophers, or else to a transmuting Tincture of the lower Metals)! Another and a fuller ground out of NATURE belongs to it besides. Colours by themselves are herein very seductive Signs, and in this business thoroughly fallible proofs; since many other things besides, like the Philosophers’ Stone, show themselves wonderfully various in colour in preparations: whereof the experienced Chymists know well. Wind yourself, turn, bend, and dispute it backwards and forwards as you will — it is not otherwise. Certain otherwise good People are under the delusion that the Spirit of God, with the Covenant-sign of the Rainbow, gives His outward
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 72
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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.