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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English Page · Branch 108 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 101
Early New High German
p. 101præparirtē Materialium, liquoribus / &c: mit welchen ER in FERMENTatione philosophica Vnione indissolubili vereiniget wird: Bleiben vnd Wircken auch also vereiniget allezeit vnzertrenlich beysammen vnd miteinander / nach Eigenschafft vnnd Art der damit vereinigten Materiæ. Er / der VNIVErsal STEJN / verwandelt auch (nach Lehre aller wahren Chymischen Philosophorum) in Fermentatione Philosophica / vnd exaltiret das Silber vnnd Gold in einem Nu vnnd Huy ad statum Plusquamperfectionis, ohne vorhero gegangene obengemeltē Reduction in materiam Primam; (Mit welcher Symbolicè zuuergleichen vnnd daraus Naturgemeß - künstlich zuuerstehen ist / das Geheimnus der jenigen Verwandlung der ent-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 101prepared Materials, by liquors, &c. — with which HE is united in the philosophical FERMENTATION, by an indissoluble Vnion. And so united they remain and work always inseparably together and with one another, according to the property and kind of the Matter joined with it. He, the VNIVERSAL STONE, also transmutes (according to the Teaching of all true Chymical Philosophers) in the Philosophical Fermentation, and exalts Silver and Gold in a Now and a Whisk to the state of More-than-perfection, without any preceding Reduction into the first matter such as was mentioned above. (With which is to be compared Symbolically, and out of which is Nature-conformingly and artfully to be understood, the mystery of that Transformation of the de-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 101
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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.