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 100
Early New High German
p. 100riren / vñ conseruiren; als auff Metalla, dieselben ( FERMENTATIONE philosophica) zu Plusquamperficiren, das sie hernacher auch Krafft / Macht vnd Gewalt haben / Sich (PROIECTIONE philosophica auff die vnteren Metallen) in momento zu MVLTIPliciren, vnd solcher gestalt / jhres gleichen früchte / zu bringen vnd zu geben.
Diesem Wege nach lesset MATERIA PRima CATHOLica plusquam perfecta, h. e. LAPIS Philosophorum Plusquamperfectus, sich auch / nach seiner vollkommenē zu Bereitung / specificiren, von denen special füncklein der NATur specierum illarum metallicarum, puta / Argenti, auri; oder aber anderer Mineralischen / Vegetabilischen vnd Animalischen hierzu insonderheit gereinigten vnd subtil
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 100-store and conserve them; as upon Metals, to More-than-perfect them (by the philosophical FERMENTATION), so that afterwards they too have force, might and power to MVLTIPLY themselves in a moment (by the philosophical PROIECTION upon the lower Metals), and in such fashion to bring and to give fruits of their own kind.
Along this Way THE FIRST CATHOLIC MATTER more-than-perfected — that is, the More-than-perfected STONE of the Philosophers — lets itself also, after its perfect Preparation, be specified by those special sparks of NATVRE of those metallic species, namely of Silver and of gold; or else by other Mineral, Vegetable and Animal things especially cleansed for this purpose, and subtly
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 100
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.