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 114 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 107
Early New High German
p. 107ma genuina ac vera hat es manchem sonsten fürtrefflichen / vnnd sehr embsigen Chymico bishero gemangelt; Hetten sie / mit Silber vnd Golde/ aus offtermel-† meltem pri- materialischen fundamento MAGNESiæ auch Azothisch procediret / so möchten ihre/sonsten schöne vnd tieffsinnige Labores/ jhrem hoffen nach/vielmals fruchtbarlicher abgelauffen sein/als / leider/ geschehen. Man visitire doch nur alle Chymische Proceßbücher / so wird man darinnen gar selten CHAOS siue MAGNEsiam Sapientū, nemblich/ MATERIam METALLorum PRIMAM/ mit jhrem Eigenen Nahmen, quod habet apud vulgus, wie Hermes redet / ausdrücklich genant/viel weniger derselbigen ware Resolutionem vnnd Brauch/recht vñ ausdrücklich finden. Ich habe viel dergleichen /
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 107genuine and true — this is what many an otherwise excellent and very diligent Chymist has hitherto lacked. Had they, with Silver and Gold, proceeded Azothically as well out of the oft-mentioned† pri-material foundation of MAGNESIA, then their otherwise fine and deep-thoughted Labours might, as they hoped, many a time have run out more fruitfully than, alas, has happened. Let a man but visit all the Chymical Process-books, and he will very seldom find in them CHAOS, or the MAGNESIA of the Wise — namely, the FIRST MATTER of the METALS — expressly called by its Own Name, that which it has among the common sort, as Hermes speaks; far less will he find its true Resolution and Use, rightly and expressly set down. I have many of the like —
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 107
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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.