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 118 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 111
Early New High German
p. 111mit heiliger Biblischer Schrifft / Schrifftgemeß concordiren / au-thentisch gehalten werden; sonsten nicht. Non igitur, quis dicat, sed quid dicatur, est attendendum. Num benè, vel malè
¶ Man spricht / das geschriebene Recht habe eine wächsene Nase / Man könne es drehen wie man wolle: Solches möchte auch wol gesaget werde / von der Chymischen Philosophorū Schrifftē: Sintemal jhre dicta võ CHao oder MAGnesia VNIVErsali auff alle Materias in der Welt / zum beweis / scheinlich können gedrehet vnd gedeutet werden. Omnia enim (res miranda!) possunt prædicari de MAGNEsia VNIVERSali. Quarè & OMnia Nomen eius apud Philosophos; propterea, quòd sit id, ex quo materialia omnia. Darumb es weit sicherer
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 111concord with holy Biblical Scripture, Scripture-conformingly, are held authentic; otherwise not. It is therefore not who says a thing, but what is said, that is to be attended to — whether well, or ill
¶ It is said that the written Law has a nose of wax: that one may turn it as one will. The like might well be said too of the Chymical Writings of the Philosophers, since their sayings concerning CHAOS or the VNIVERSAL MAGNESIA can, to all appearance, be turned and construed onto every Matter in the World, by way of proof. For ALL THINGS (a thing to wonder at!) can be predicated of the VNIVERSAL MAGNESIA. Wherefore ALL THINGS is its Name among the Philosophers; and that because it is that out of which all material things are. Therefore it is far safer
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 111
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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.