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 116
Early New High German
p. 116zusatz/ daraus eröffnet/ verhanden sein solle / ist sehr verdechtig / vnd fast fehlbar: Man Separire die in Præparatione adhibirten Wassere/Spiritus oder Liquores daruon / so wird sichs finden/was für ein klarer Wesseriger Mercurius Lunæ vel Solis, per se, bleibet. Zum Dritten/ das Saltz daraus belangende / deme wird nicht wiedersprochen / das mans haben könne?
¶ Was aber were es dann nun mehr / sagt mir lieben Herrn / wann schon (posito hoc, non tamen simpliciter concesso /) ermelte drey DINGE / Nemlich Sulphur, Sal vnd Mercurius† aus Metallischē Silber oder Golde/von euch angedeuteter gestalt / vnterschiedlich gehabt werden möchten oder könten / Als derer beyder/aus materia Metallorum Prima vel Argentificè vel Aurificè speci-
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 116should be at hand, opened out of it — that is very suspect, and well-nigh fallible. Let a man Separate from it the Waters, Spirits or Liquors employed in the Preparation, and it will then be found what sort of clear Watery Mercury of the Moon or of the Sun remains of itself. As to the Third, touching the Salt out of it — it is not gainsaid that one may have it.
¶ But what more would it then be, tell me, dear Sirs, even if (this being posited, yet not thereby simply granted) the said three THINGS — namely Sulphur, Sal and Mercurius† — might or could be had severally out of Metallic Silver or Gold, in the manner you have indicated: seeing that both of these, out of the First matter of Metals, either Silver-makingly or Gold-makingly speci-
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 116
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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.