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 127
Early New High German
p. 127ge / ohne adhibition materiæ Pri-mæ, Lapidem Philosophorum ( wie gesagt) zuerlangen vermeinen. O in der NATVR vnerfahrnen! SAL Metallorum ist zu eweren fürhaben wol gut / wanns vormittelst MERCVRIO Metallorum Pri-materiali duplici Catholico Regeniret vñ Plusquamperficiret / erlanget vnd zu wege bracht worden ist. Verkehret (vermittelst GOTTES Gnade vnd Segen) das reinste der gantzen massæ des Silbers in fixes, ohne rauch Wachsflüssiges Saphyrisch / vnd des Goldes in dergleichen Rubinisch Saltz oder Saltz Steine / durch das (so wol Aller Metallen in Allgemein / als LAPIDIS Philosophorū VNIVERSALIS) Primaterialische SALIS Sapientiæ, gedoppelte Mercurialisches SALTZ - FONTINLEIN / So in MAGNESIA
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 127-ys, think to attain the Lapis Philosophorum (as has been said) without the application of the materia Prima. O ye unpractised in NATURE! The SALT of the Metals is indeed good for your purpose — when it has been got and brought to pass by means of the Pri-material, twofold, Catholic MERCVRY of the Metals, Regenerated and More-than-perfected. Convert ye (by means of GOD’S Grace and Blessing) the purest of the whole mass of the Silver into a fixed, smokeless, Wax-flowing Sapphirine, and that of the Gold into a like Rubine Salt or Salt-Stone — by that Pri-material, twofold Mercurial SALT-FOUNTLET of the SALT of Wisdom (the fountlet as well of All the Metals in general as of the VNIVERSAL LAPIS Philosophorum) — which in MAGNESIA
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Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 127
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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.