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 83
Early New High German
p. 83künstlich, resolviret werden möchten / so wehren dannoch solche wasre† nicht aquæ Corporum Primateriales, darmit alleine / ad Regenerationem & Plusquamperfectionem eorum, an vnd für sich selbst / zukommen; Dieweil SIE per Fontinam pri - materialem Catholicam, in qua sola est FIMVS Philosphorum Chymicorum, ad Opus hoc, putredinalis, ad putredinem talem, quæ mater est corruptionis ac destructionis eiuscemodi, ex quali oritur Generatio noua, & per consequens REGENERatio, noch nicht gebracht worden sein.
Dann auch aus Arnoldi de Villanoua Naturgemessen sehr reichen Zeugnis / ist man gewiß / Quod AQVA Philosophorum Primaterialis Metalla dissoluat, & magno NATuræ consensu, ea in Primam transferat ma-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 83artificially resolved: yet even so such waters† would not be the Pri-material waters of Bodies, with which alone one may come to their Regeneration and More-than-perfection, of and for themselves. Since THEY have not yet been brought through the Catholic pri-material Fountain — in which alone is the DUNG of the Chymical Philosophers, putrefactive for this Work, unto such a putrefaction as is the mother of corruption and of destruction of that kind, out of which arises a new Generation and consequently REGENERATION.
For from Arnoldus de Villanova’s Nature-conforming and very rich testimony too, one is certain That the Pri-material WATER of the Philosophers dissolves Metals, and, by the great consent of NATVRE, carries them over into the First mat-
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 83
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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.